Fields of the Nephilim

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Fields of the Nephilim
Background information
Origin Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Genre(s) Gothic rock
Hard rock
Years active 1984 – 1991
2004 – present
Label(s) Beggars Banquet – Spv
Website Official site

Fields of the Nephilim is a gothic rock band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 1984. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Carl McCoy, saxophonist Gary Whisker, Tony Pettitt on bass, guitarist Paul Wright and drummer Alexander "Nod" Wright. Following the release of the debut EP Burning the Fields, Wisker left the band to be replaced by Peter Yates as second guitarist. The band's name refers to (magnetic) fields and a biblical race of giants or Angel/Human hybrids, known as the Nephilim. Although they never received substantial mainstream success, the band's seminal sound proved highly influential, especially on the genres of gothic rock, gothic metal and doom metal. The band's occult themes and early, raw sound most probably influenced quite a few Black Metal bands as well. Moonspell, Celtic Frost, Tiamat, Katatonia and Paradise Lost are just some bands that cite the Fields as an inspiration.

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] Early Years

Fields of the Nephilim's initial sound incorporated elements of hard rock and psychedelic rock, and comprised a bass and guitar driven sound underpinned by McCoy's growly vocals. Lyrically, the band incorporated mystical themes, referencing The Cthulhu Mythos, Sumerian Mythology, Chaos Magic and Aleister Crowley.

The band has a "dust and death" image, and often associated with characters from Sergio Leone's "spaghetti westerns" and often wore cowboy clothes with a weather-beaten look during photo shoots. Their debut EP, Burning the Fields, was released in 1985 by Situation Two Records (an imprint of Beggars Banquet Records). The band "upgraded" to Beggars Banquet Records in 1986 (1986 in music) to release "Power" and "Preacher Man". The next release "Blue Water" was the first Fields of the Nephilim single to reach the UK charts (#75). It was followed by "Moonchild", lead single from the second LP The Nephilim which reached number 28 in UK charts. The band's tours used a light show and visual effects.

"Psychonaut" was released in May 1989 and peaked at number 35; this ten minute track indicated a slight shift for the band toward a more experimental and intense sound. This single/EP was a candle-bearer for the polished and highly produced Elizium (1990 in music) album. Produced by ex-Pink Floyd producer Andy Jackson (taking over from previous band producer Bill Buchanan), the album was preceded by the single "For Her Light", which clipped the British Top 40 in its first week of release. A remixed version of "Sumerland (Dreamed)" released in November 1990 peaked at number 37.

[edit] Departure of McCoy

Frontman Carl McCoy left the band in 1991 after paying the rest of the band's members for the rights to the Nephilim name. The remaining members, together with singer Andy Delaney, formed Rubicon, while McCoy began a new group called Nefilim, releasing Zoon in 1996. This collection of mostly speed-metal tracks, pointed in a new Sepultura-like direction. Rubicon disbanded after two albums; What Starts, Ends and Room 101. Nod and Paul Wright formed a new band, Last Rites, while Carl McCoy and Tony Pettitt worked on Fields of the Nephilim/Nefilim along with musicians Cian Houchin and Paul Miles. After Nefilim disbanded, Houchin went on to create Saints of Eden.

Last Rites has released two full-length albums to date, Guided by Light and The Many Forms. Pettitt is now working with the band NFD along with former Sensorium vocalist Peter "Bob" White and Nefilim drummer Simon Rippin. NFD released the full-length No Love Lost in 2005 and a second, Dead Pool Rising, in 2006. There were disputes over back royalties and a perception that Nefilim and Rubicon were little more than means to playing out their contracts.

[edit] Recent Years

Fields of the Nephilim "officially" reformed in the late 1990's. Fallen, a collection of out-takes and assorted unreleased recordings, was released in 2002. However, the prologue single, One More Nightmare, contained newly worked versions of old material (new versions of "Trees Come Down" and "Darkcell" that were originally intended for a film soundtrack). Band members claim that the album was released by the label, Jungle Records, without their permission.

"One More Nightmare (Trees Come Down)" and the follow up "From The Fire" delivered the band its first appearances on the world's charts since the 1990s. Carl McCoy had posted the track on the net to download for free the year before. Fifteen years after Elizium, Carl McCoy has his fourth full-length studio album under the name Fields of the Nephilim. Mourning Sun was released in Europe on November 28, 2005, with the North American release scheduled for April, 2006. The album synthesizes Elizium and Zoon. The album has seven original songs and a cover of "In the Year 2525" -from Zager & Evans- for the first 25,000 copies only.

According to their official website, the band will tour in 2006. However, even though recent dates began to appear, these have now been officially cancelled. According to the band's official website, the band are set to play at the London Astoria on May 24th 2007.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Title UK Indie Chart Position UK Chart Position
May 1987 Dawnrazor #1 dnc
Sep 1988 The Nephilim #2 #14
Sep 1990 Elizium #22
Apr 1991 Earth Inferno (live) #39
Nov 2005 Mourning Sun

[edit] Singles

Year Title UK Indie Chart Position UK Chart Position
Oct 1986 "Power" #24 dnc
Apr 1987 "Preacher Man" #2 dnc
Jul 1987 "Burning The Fields (EP)" #2 dnc
Oct 1987 "Blue Water" #1 #75
Jun 1988 "Moonchild" #1 #28
May 1989 "Psychonaut" #2 #35
Jul 1990 "For Her Light" #54
Nov 1990 "Sumerland (Dreamed)" #37
Sep 2002 "From The Fire" #62

[edit] Other releases

  • Returning To Gehenna, Oct 1987 (compilation)
  • Laura, 1991 (compilation)
  • BBC Radio 1 - Live in Concert, 1992
  • Revelations, 1993 (compilation)
  • Zoon, 1996
  • From Gehenna To Here, 2001 (compilation)
  • One More Nightmare (Trees Come Down A.D.), 2000
  • One More Nightmare, 2002
  • Fallen, 2002 (unofficial demos)
  • Genesis and Revelations , 2006 (unofficial release & DVD)

[edit] Videos

  • Forever Remain, 1988 (live)
  • Morphic Fields, 1989
  • Visionary Heads, 1991 (live)
  • Revelations, 1993
  • Revelations/Forever Remain/Visionary heads, 2002 Compilation DVD

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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