The Norwegian Prog metallers Vicinity was founded by Kim-Marius H. Olsen, Frode Lillevold and Kristian Nergård in 2006. Vocalist Alexander K. Lykke soon joined the blend making the first complete lineup. The band wrote and later recorded a demo in 2007 at Skansen Lydstudio in Trondheim, but it was the following year’s recording of the EP Diffusion of Innovation that the band found it’s true style, writing longer, more technical progressive compositions. In one week, the EP was recorded at Toproom Studios and mixed by Børge Finstad, but released two years later (2010) by Pug-Nose Records. The EP received good reviews (8/10 Icon Music Mag) and the review in Metal-Norge.com claimed that “This beats anything I’ve heard from local bands in this genre, especially considering that this is such a young band”.

In the time that followed the band focused more on live playing, and performed at several places in Norway. In 2010 the band also participated at the Wacken Metal Battle contest. In 2012 the band felt that they had written enough good songs to record their debut album; Awakening. Drums were laid down in Trondheim Studio in February. In the following months bass, guitars and vocals were laid down, making this the debut recording of the new bass player Pierre-Nicolai H. Schmidt-Melbye, who joined the band after Nergård’s departure in 2009. Reidulf Wormdal joined the recording as a session keyboard player to add a little extra spice to the mix. The album was mixed by André Alvnizi and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Katatonia, Opeth, Enslaved).