Esslingen, Baden-Württemberg, based melodic Metal band SAIDIAN was founded by keyboard player Markus Bohr under the formative title of ARIA during 2004. The band comprises ex-BRAIN DANCE singer Markus Engelfried, CITIZEN KANE and PUMP guitarist Rodrigo Blattert, former HORNY SPEED bassist Manuel Glassmann and the KARKADAN credited Stefan Dittrich on drums.

The band entered Maranis Studios, owned by former SANVOISEN singer Vagelis Maranis, in mid 2004. Maranis would handle production duties for a debut album, 'For Those Who Walk The Past Forlorn'. The group duly hooked up with Hardbeat Media Services and scored a deal with the AOR/ Metal Heaven label to issue the 'Phoenix' album in September 2006. Guest artists included SAVATAGE and JON OLIVA'S PAIN frontman Jon Oliva and SINNER and PRIMAL FEAR credited drummer Klaus Sperling.