Highland is comprised of three Armenian-Americans from Los Angeles, California. Narek and Gevork met in 2005, and shared a mutual interest in music and ideology. In 2006, they met Michael after witnessing him perform at a local venue in L.A., and later contacted him regarding forming a band. Shortly after, the three of them started a speed/thrash metal band called Raze.
Raze eventually began recording a demo but never finished the process due to a change in musical style. After a two-year hiatus, the three of them decided to form a black metal band, and in 2008, Highland was born.