Dolour was formed in Seattle, Washington, releasing their debut 7" in mid-1998 on Theory Records, and two self-released EPs before releasing their first album Waiting For A World War in April 2001 on Sonic Boom Records.

By the release of Waiting for a World War, Dolour had become a solo project for Tutmarc.

The self-produced New Old Friends (2004) was released on Made In Mexico Records in November 2004.

In 2005, A Matter of Time: 2000-2005, an anthology, was released by Japanese label Quince Records.

During 2004-2006 Dolour produced two separate albums, Hell or Highwater and Storm & Stress, which were combined and released on Japanese label Quince Records as The Years in the Wilderness in 2007.