Karnayna Doom/Death / Co. Kildare

Doom/Death Metal with melodic Celtic styled riffing held together with dramatic keyboards and fierce heavy vocals, first formed in Leixlip, Co. Kildare in 1993 by guitarist Phillip O’Mahony and bass player Ciaran O’Neill, under the name TARANIS. They released the “Lords Of The Sky” rehearsal tape under this name in 1995, before re-branded themselves KARNAYNA.

Band members came and went in the early years, including Aaron Murphy (INHUMANE, KINGDOM, ARCANE SUN) and Robert Buggle (UAIGNEAS, MAEL MÓRDHA, DREAMSFEAR). Gigs were played, and more demos were released but there was never a fully stable line-up until 1999 when Phillip and Ciaran were joined by vocalist Darren Moore (MOURNING BELOVETH, MORPHOSIS), Dermod Smyth on keyboards and Cathal Murphy (CARNÚN RISING, HALLOWED, PAGAN REIGN, MAEL MÓRDHA, PRIMORDIAL [live]) on drums. More gigs ensued and many hours were spent in the rehearsal room in preparation for their next untitled demo, which was recorded in March 2000 and released later that year.

The band eventually evolved into OLD SEASON in 2003.