During their brief, late-'90s existence, Germany's Encryption attempted to combine the technique and aggression of death metal with the melodic inclinations and commercial potential of power metal. Unfortunately, however, overwhelmingly positive reviews couldn't overcome the band's short-armed independent distribution methods. Nevertheless, vocalist Norbert Hartmann, guitarists Christian Klein and Manfred Herzog (later replaced by Stefan Muller), bassist Oliver Göß, and drummer Johannes Klein were apparently onto something with 1996's "The Cryptogram" demo and their two albums, Shrouded in Mystery (1997) and Perishing Black Light (2000), because several subsequent groups (Into Eternity, Scar Symmetry, etc.) proceeded to experiment with similar musical combinations. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide