After starting off as a high-school thrash-metal band, in the mid-1990s Shihad went on to become New Zealand's most successful hard-rock band.

They moved to Los Angeles to try and crack the American market, changing their name reluctantly to Pacifier after 9/11 because their label was worried Shihad sounded too much like Jihad. They released one album in 2002 as Pacifier with a more commercial 'American' sound, but didn't make it, so they returned to New Zealand and changed their name back to Shihad.

Having returned to their roots, in name and location, their sound also reverted back to their usual harder rock / metal style.

On November 13, 2024 the band announced they were splitting up, with a their final tour to take place February/March 2025