Chicago Death Metal act CIANIDE was created as a trio of singer / bassist Mike Perun, guitarist Steve Caroll during 1988. An early vocalist would be SEVERED's Bill Thurman but he would depart prior to any recording. Caroll also operates as the lead vocalist for Black Death Thrashers LORDES WERRE appearing on their 1999 'Demon Crusades' album.

After an opening 1990 demo, entitled 'Funeral', featuring Carlos Mendoza on drums, CIANIDE, having newly inducted drummer Jeff Kabella, struck a deal with the Grindcore International label for their 1992 debut 'The Dying Truth'. Second effort 'A Descent Into Hell' during 1994 included a version of SLAUGHTER's 'Death Dealer'.

Kabella left in 1995 and was replaced by Andy Kuizin for 1996's limited edition demo release 'Rage War'. The group would also make their presence felt on the Dwell Records CELTIC FROST tribute album 'In Memory Of Celtic Frost' with their interpretation of 'Dawn Of Meggido'. Second guitarist Jim Bresnahen was drafted for 1998's 'Death, Doom And Destruction'. That same year CIANIDE paid tribute to MASTER by covering 'The Truth' for a 7" single released through Lost Horizon. The Cryonics label would re-issue the 'Rage War' sessions as a regular CD release in 1999.

Paying homage to TWISTED SISTER, the band donated their take on 'Tear It Loose' to the 2001 tribute album 'Destroyer' on Dwell Records. A further split single, released in 2002, would be shared with NUNSLAUGHTER. The group trimmed down to a trio in 2003 with the departure of guitarist Jim Bresnahen.

CIANIDE's 2004 rehearsal recordings album 'Dead And Rotting', released on CD through the Polish Time Before Time imprint and on vinyl by From Beyond Productions limited to 666 hand numbered copies and seeing a further SLAUGHTER rendition in 'Metal Never Bends'. From Beyond Productions also compiled a demo retrospective entitled 'Ashes To Ashes'. That year the group also cut tracks for a split 7" in union with SCEPTER through Hells Headbanger Records. A brand new studio album, billed as 'Hell's Rebirth', would at first be projected for issue via Merciless Records but the band parted ways with the label, instead signing these recordings over to From Beyond Productions. The same label also scheduled a 2005 compilation of archive demos and unreleased tracks.