Having previously performed under the name Evil Cunt, the group first adopted the name Satanic Slaughter in 1985. The group went through several guitarists and other lineup changes in its early years before releasing its first demo, One Night in Hell, in 1988. The group split late in 1989 due to lead guitarist Ztephan "Dark" Karlsson's imprisonment for assault. In 1992, the group re-formed with former members of Seance, and began playing again in November 1994.