Written by the band's managers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, the song's lyrics are based on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

The Herd, comprising 16-year-old guitarist Peter Frampton, keyboardist Andy Bown, bassist Gary Taylor and drummer Andrew Steele, signed with Fontana Records in early 1967.

[2][3] However, the band's managers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, known for their success with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, positioned Frampton as the frontman.

[7] Regarding the song's Greek mythology theme, Michael Beale of the Birmingham Mail considered the success of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" proof "that there is room at the top of the chart for something different".

[9] The Herd promoted the single with a television appearance on BBC1's Dee Time (7 September)[11] and radio sessions on the Light Programme's Pop North and Swingalong.

Writing in the New Musical Express, Derek Johnson considered "From the Underworld" "a remarkable disc", praising it as "beautifully scored" and "the most serious and thoughtful composition yet from the Howard-Blaikley team".

"[10] Ray Connolly of the Evening Standard wrote "a good, interesting record with some nice mythical-sounding trumpets, but personally I prefer the way Kathleen Ferrier used to sing about Eurydice.

"[17] Interviewed for the Melody Maker column "Blind Date", Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys compared the chants in "From the Underworld" to the Yardbirds' "Still I'm Sad".