In 1994, Snorre was sentenced to 8 years in prison for "being an accomplice" in the murder of Øystein Aarseth. However, according to Aarseth's killer, Varg Vikernes, Ruch was merely "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

After a long period of silence due to Ruch's imprisonment, Thorns reappeared in 1999 with the split album Thorns vs. Emperor, consisting mainly of old Thorns songs performed by Emperor and vice versa. Thorns Vs Emperor was meant to introduce Thorns to the scene and to a newer audience, unaware of Thorns' earlier efforts. Then, in 2001, the long awaited debut album Thorns was released, which featured famed Norwegian drummer Hellhammer, as well as vocals by Satyricon's Satyr and Dødheimsgard's Aldrahn.

In October 2007, Greek label Kyrck Productions released the Stigma Diabolicum compilation, which featured both the Grymyrk and Trøndertun demos, as well as material from the Stigma Diabolicum demos Lacus de Luna and Luna des Nocturnus and two tracks ("Thule" and "Fall") from a 1991 Thorns rehearsal.

A follow up to the 2001 debut was announced in September 2008. The band line up has undergone significant changes since the 2001 album. Snorre is still handling the guitars and Aldrahn will be performing all the vocals on the upcoming album. Bassist Jon Wesseltoft, guitarist Christian Broholt, and drummer Kenneth Kapstad have joined the band.