AEF started the Boreal project somewhere around 2003, avoiding the spotlight due to a limited discography and private existence. "The Battle of VOSAD" was crafted during a time of turbulence in AEF's life, leading to unexpected adventures into the wild. Inspired by the wilderness surrounding him in the Pacific Northwest, AEF would record music intermittently and then drive through some incredibly far out places in the wilderness, listening to it over and over, leading to dozens of in-progress cassettes.