Arsis was started by James Malone and Michael "Mike" Van Dyne in 2000, who met while attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

During this time, Arsis toured heavily, sharing national stages with Six Feet Under, Full Blown Chaos, Misery Index, Mortician, Incantation, The Chasm, Necrophagist, Cattle Decapitation, Neuraxis, Alarum, Job for a Cowboy, Animosity, Ion Dissonance, Dead to Fall, Misery Signals, The Faceless, All Shall Perish, Napalm Death, and A Life Once Lost, and performed on the main stage at the 2004 Maryland Deathfest, the 2006 New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, and the First Annual California Metalfest.

[3] The band's main composer, singer/guitarist/songwriter James Malone, wrote and performed all the guitar, vocal, and bass work on the first studio album, A Celebration of Guilt, as well as the follow-up, A Diamond for Disease.

[6] The band signed to Nuclear Blast just before original drummer Van Dyne left to pursue a degree in medicine; he was replaced by Darren Cesca.

Noah Martin, who played bass on United in Regret, and Ryan Knight were also added to the lineup to complete the touring cycle and record We Are the Nightmare (2008), their first album with Nuclear Blast.

[citation needed] On March 18, 2009, Malone issued a statement explaining and apologizing for recent tour cancellations and lineup changes, citing personal reasons.

Soon after, it was announced that original drummer Mike Van Dyne would return (although due to career commitments, his ability to tour with the band may be limited).

[13] On March 13, 2012, Arsis released a demo song entitled "Choking on Sand" featuring Malone on vocals and both guitars and Noah Martin on bass.

In 2014, Willowtip Records reissued Arsis' A Diamond for Disease EP and United in Regret album with bonus live video tracks and expanded artwork.