The band started in July 1996, when Mark (guitars) and Edward (vocals) Tagliaferro joined up with another three guys to put together a rock/pop band. By mid-1997, after various line-up changes, drop-outs and kick-outs the two ended up with Fredrick Bowman (formerly "No Name Yet") on drums. The three decided to change the musical direction and started to experiment different forms of Death Metal. The next two years were the darkest for the band. Edward decided to fill in the missing guitar post as well as keep the main vocals. The worst problem the band faced was that they were unable to find a bassist. The time was spent adapting and trying to settle into the new style. In this respect Horace, Noel and Alan from local Maltese band "Amentia" helped them greatly. In the meantime the first songs were written. By the end of this two year period the musical style seemed to settle into "Old School" Death Metal with Power, Trash and Grind influences.

Inspired from the film "Arachnophobia" the name "ARACHNID" was proposed by Mark and agreed to by the rest. Arachnid is the scientific classification for creatures with eight legs. Insects like ants have six legs, but spiders and scorpions have eight. The word comes from Greek mythology when Athene punishes an impudent maiden called Arachnae who challenged the goddess into a weaving contest. Athene turned her into a spider, the master of all weavers, giving her name to the animal. In November 1999 a bassist was finally found, a set was decided on and the first gig came in August of 2000 at the 'Metal Mind' Concert. In December of the same year the band took part in the "Rock'in the Woods" Festival. After this gig, on the advice of a number of well-wishers, Edward decided that he should concentrate completely on vocals so another guitarist was needed. Shortly after in January 2001 Kurt Pace, joined to fill in this post. In April of 2001 together with Lithomancy the band played a gig at "Rock Cafe'" to a very appreciative audience.

After this gig the band went on a short break because Kurt had exams. After this break the bassit did not turn up for rehearsals again. Deciding that they could not wait for him, another bassist was found but he lasted only a month. Eventually in October 2001 Mario Mifsud came into the band as bassist. Apart from teaching the him the old material, new material was started on. A song was finished and another two were half-ready when Nicky invited the band to take part in the "Grim Reaper Festival" on the 9th of February. The show was excellent and a good following to the band was noticed. Many who attended the previous gigs commented on how much improvement they noticed.

Following this gig, during a discussion, it was realised that Frederick couldn't continue with the band. We started looking for a drummer immediately knowing though that it would be a difficult job. Four months later we realised that we would have to resort to a drum machine even though we would still keep a sharp lookout for a drummer. In September Kurt felt the pressures of University were going to be too much to cope with and he decided to leave the band. Almost immediately we recruited a new member who lasted only a few months before deciding to change the kind of music he wanted to play and left. We decided to go one with one guitarist for our gig in April 2003, as we were wasting too much time teaching the new material to new recruits.

Because of the injury to Mark's knee, the band had to pull back a step for a few months. In this time, most of the old songs were re-arranged. Changes were made primarily because we now had very few limitations because of the drum machine, and because we felt the need to refresh the material. In October of the same year, we finally managed to gig with Beheaded, an event we had been trying to organise for a while. After that very good show, Campos presented himself to join as our second guitarist and we jumped on the opportunity. Once again our riffs could be complete as many of them have different guitar parts. In February of 2004 we played another excellent gig with Martyrium. In June 2004, Mario left the band because he could not find enough time for the band. Oliver M. Grech joined in his place shortly after. In September of the same year Stephan Abela joined the band as a drummer.

Finally the line-up was once again complete and a gig was done with the newly solidified line-up with Martyruim in November 2004. Plans for a first recording started immediately after this gig and a the band played for the first time with a foreign band, Godsize, together with Slit in March 2005. A week later, on 18th March, the band entered the studio to cut 5 tracks for a demo cd.

Another gig was done with Anomaly in April and the mixing, mastering, duplication, sleeve printing, etc. of the demo took 3 months. We launched our first release "Weaving The Web" on 7th July @ Signals (our gig place since the Beheaded gig) and it was a great launch party. We recieved several positive comments on the demo which of course we were very pleased with. In August 2005 we played at the annual festival organised by Reciprocal Records - 1565 Broadband Gathering.

In September 2005 Arachnid embarked on their first tour, prior to which we did a gig with Weeping Silence. We played in the following events in the Lorraine region of France. * 16th September: Squaw Bar in Yutz with Dark Prophecy and Yayeth Corpse * 17th September: Espace Culturel in Rombas with Dark Prophecy, Dawn Blood, and Yayeth Corpse * 18th September: Salle Ochs in Metz with Dark Prophecy and Martyrium

On Sunday we made some history as it was the first time two Maltese Metal bands met and played together abroad. The tour was a great experience and we really enjoyed it. We did not come back rich, but the reception from the people was incredible.

After a busy and satisfactory year Arachnid took things a bit easy but are already preparing for the next gig with some new material.

8th Jan 06 - Played @ the Alley with Slit. 30th June - Played @ Liquid club with Abysmal Torment + Erythuria, an event named "The art of Death". 4th Aug - Played @ Poxx bar with Slit and UK band You've been lied too. This was to be the last gig that Mark played with the band, who left due to personal reasons.

www.myspace.com/arachniddeath is launched at the end of September, two months later, in the 6th of November Edward becomes a father to a baby boy.

In December 2006 Arachnid played @ Remedy with Angelcrypt, first gig with one guitarist and in the 3rd of Feb 2007, Aracnid played @ Naasha with X-vandals.

In February 2007, ARACHNID entered the studio (this time we chose guys who knew what they were doing - www.devilsbasement.com) once again to record a full-length album - "Compelled To Distort". This took 3 months to finish and we coninued refining the sound until a week before the launch gig, which was held on 7th July 2007. We enjoyed the whole process, from the recording to the launch. CD is available in the merch section.

During the Summer of 2007 we organised the ExtremeMalteseMetal festival which was held on 15th September at the Montekristo Wine vaults, Qormi. Featuring 10 of the best extreme local bands on 2 stages with hardly a break between bands running from 6pm til 2 a.m. and with an attendance of 400 (+100 performing musicians); it was a huge success.

ARACHNID Then took part in the Hard Rock cafe' Battle of the Bands in October 2007. We got some very positive comments from the judges in spite of being the first band of such a genre and the only one that year. The band then took 2 months of hibernating rest after an exhausting year before performing with INSURGENCE in Feb 2008 and with German Deathsters DEW SCENTED in a mini festival in March 2008.

In March 2008 Arachnid performed with legendary Thrash Metal band Dew Scented. It was also the day that Edward, co-founder of Arachnid decided it was time to end the 12 year journey there for personal reasons. We wish him the best of luck for the future. But despite everything Arachnid started looking for a new vocalist immediatly.

In April 2008, Roderick Mifsud joined Arachnid as their new front man and again the line up was complete.

Source : http://www.arachnid-web.net/