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Arcane Sun was an atmospheric doom/death metal band from Dublin, Ireland, active from 1996 to 2000. Emerging from the ashes of The Fifth Dominion, the band fused avant-garde sensibilities with emotional depth, crafting music steeped in love, sadness, and existential longing.

Originally known as The Fifth Dominion (1994–1996), the band transitioned into Arcane Sun with a refined vision: to explore the melancholic and introspective side of extreme metal. Their sound blended doom-laden riffs, death metal intensity, and avant-garde flourishes, often accompanied by poetic lyrics and dynamic arrangements. Themes of depression, romantic sorrow, and spiritual yearning permeated their work, positioning them within the lineage of emotionally driven doom acts.

 

• Other contributors included Aaron Murphy, Brian Carroll, Joe Haughey, and live/session musicians such as Ciarán MacUiliam (Primordial) and Adrian Butler (ex-Mourning Beloveth)

Their most notable release was a self-titled full-length album Arcane Sun (1998), issued via Ars Metalli, which received underground acclaim for its emotional weight and compositional ambition. The band also appeared on compilations such as Circle of the Tyrants (1997) and Ablaze (1998–1999), further cementing their presence in the European doom/death scene.

Arcane Sun disbanded around 2000, leaving behind a legacy of introspective heaviness and poetic despair. Their music remains a cult artifact — a lament carved in sound, where doom meets dream.

 

 

Timeline Summary Formed in 1996 in Dublin, Ireland (as continuation of The Fifth Dominion). Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal with avant-garde elements. Themes: Love, sadness, depression, introspection. Label: Ars Metalli. Key release: Arcane Sun (1998). Compilation appearances: Circle of the Tyrants, Ablaze. Disbanded circa 2000. Notable members: Paul Kearns, Feargal Flannery, Mark († 2025). Predecessor: The Fifth Dominion (1994–1996).

• • Paul Kearns – vocals

  • Feargal Flannery – guitars, bass, keyboards

  • Mark – drums († 2025)

• Eden Eclipsed Demo 1996 1 (65%)
  Arcane Sun Full-length 1998 2 (85%)
  Fade Full-length 2012