Formed in Cork City in August '99 By Michael O'Sullivan (Miscreant), as Renewal. With Colin O'Brien on guitar and Pete Lawlor (Abhor) on bass, though Denis Coveney (Flatline) did fill in for a while after Pete had a near fatal motorbike accident. With Shane O Brien on drums this line up then recorded various rehearsal demos (one of which did manage to get bootlegged), and eventually in late 2000 went into the Studio to record "Old World Order", their debut album on Acheron Records.
At this stage the band began changing direction to the more familiar death metal sound that characterises their style today. Shane decided to leave the band and a replacement was found in the person of John Desmond (Junkyard, Pedestal). When it came to their attention early in 2002 that other bands called "Renewal" existed, the band decided to change their name to Carnún Rising. Their Iron Maiden influenced pagan/melodic/brutal (depending on who you believe) death metal still retains a highly thrashing element and the band's overtly and unashamed Metal attitude comes across clearly in the live situation. In 2003 the band released their first album under the name Carnún Rising, "At the Dawn of a New Dark Age" on Acheron Records. The album received great reviews from all quarters, including 9/10 from Metal Observer. Tracks from the CD also appeared on the Thrash or be Thrashed (an International Tribute to Thrash) compilation (Blackfish Records), the Mother of Mercy compilation (Motherofmercy.com) and Intoxicated Vol. II. Also in 2003 John left the band for personal reasons, and there was a break in live shows while they found a new drummer.
In January 2004 Cathal Murphy (Pagan Reign, Mael Mórdha, Karnayna) took over behind the kit. In the same month, Carnún Rising headlined the METAL am der RUHR festival in Mulheim, Germany, and a week later supported Entombed at The Village in Dublin. They also played with Abaddon Incarnate at the launch of their new album in Cork. In September '04 Carnún Rising supported Desaster at the Star Club in Mulheim. The track "Reign of Darkness" from "At the Dawn..." was released on the Metalworks Magazine compilation.
In March 2005, the band recruited a third guitarist in the person of Ian O'Sullivan (Hallowed, Miscreant) to cope with the demands of their more complex new material.
Carnún Rising played a number of All-Ages shows in Cork in 2006, including one with Dismember, and a sold out headline show at the famous Half moon Club and finally finished off the year by headlining the Acheron Winterfest. They are in the process of recording their next album, BITURIGES, which will be preceded by the VERCINGETORIX ep.
All Hail the Horned one!!!