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Fields of the Nephilim

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Fields of the Nephilim
Fields of the Nephilim performing live in 2017
Fields of the Nephilim performing live in 2017
Background information
OriginStevenage, Hertfordshire, England
Genres
Years active1984–1991, 1998–present
Labels
Spinoffs
MembersCarl McCoy
Gav King
Adam Leach
Tony Pettitt
Past membersJohn 'Capachino' Carter
Paul Wright
Alexander 'Nod' Wright
Peter Yates
Gary Wisker
Andy James
Lee Newell
Tom Edwards

Fields of the Nephilim are an English gothic rock band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 1984. The band's name refers to a biblical race of angel-human hybrids known as the Nephilim.

Career

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Early years (1984–1991)

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Vocalist Carl McMcoy performing in 2017

The band's 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 in 1986 to release "Power" and "Preacher Man", and their first album, Dawnrazor, which topped the Indie chart in 1987.[1] The next release, "Blue Water", was the first Fields of the Nephilim single to reach the UK Singles Chart (number 75).[2] It was followed by "Moonchild", the lead single from the second LP The Nephilim, which reached number 28 in the UK chart.[3]

Psychonaut was released in May 1989 and peaked at number 35;[2] the ten-minute track indicated a slight shift for the band toward a more experimental and intense sound. This single/EP was a precursor to the polished and highly produced Elizium album (1990). Produced by Pink Floyd / David Gilmour engineer Andy Jackson[4] (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)" (this version is on the CD single only and differed from the 7" vinyl format of the same release), released in November 1990, peaked at number 37.[2]

In 1991, the band played their final gigs, a two-day 'Festival of Fire' in London. The final releases of this era are the live CD Earth Inferno and the video Visionary Heads, followed by the compilation Revelations.

Departure of McCoy and hiatus (1991–1998)

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Frontman McCoy left the band in 1991.[5] The remaining members, together with singer Andy Delaney, chose not to continue with the "Fields of the Nephilim" name and instead recorded under the name Rubicon.[6] The band released two albums before disbanding: What Starts, Ends in 1992 and Room 101 in 1995.

Meanwhile, Carl McCoy formed a new project called Nefilim[7] in 1991, after the disbanding of Fields of the Nephilim.

The band played some gigs in 1993, showcasing new material. According to McCoy,[8] the release of their debut album, Zoon, was delayed for several years due to disagreements with the record label. Zoon was eventually released in 1996 and featured a distinctly heavier sound[9] than McCoy's previous works.

Reunion and Fallen (1998–2002)

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On 15 August 1998, McCoy and original bassist Tony Pettitt held a press conference[10] at the Zillo Festival in Germany, announcing their future plans to collaborate under two separate monikers, Fields of the Nephilim (along with the Wright brothers) and The Nefilim (an altered spelling of McCoy's solo project).[11]

According to different original band members, the band was rehearsing and writing the next Fields of the Nephilim album (with the exception of Yates). However, the anticipated reunion of the original band line-up never happened.

In May 2000, McCoy released "One More Nightmare (Trees Come Down)," the first Fields of the Nephilim single with their new label, Jungle Records. It contained newly worked versions of "Trees Come Down" and "Darkcell," both originally released on the Burning the Fields EP in 1984. Between June and August 2000, the band made four live appearances at European festivals: Woodstage, Eurorock, Roskilde, and M'era Luna music festivals.

In 2002, Jungle Records and Metropolis Records released the album Fallen. The release was not authorized by the band and consists of unfinished recordings from 1997–2001, the 2000 reworkings of "Trees Come Down" and "Darkcell," and a previously unreleased demo by The Nefilim. The release has been disowned by the band for many years,[12] and only one song from it, "From The Fire," has been performed live.

Mourning Sun and Ceromonies (2005–2014)

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Fields of the Nephilim performing live in 2008

Fifteen years after Elizium, McCoy released Mourning Sun, his fourth full-length studio album under the name Fields of the Nephilim. The album had seven original songs, with a cover version of Zager and Evans's "In the Year 2525" included as a bonus track on the first 5,000 copies.

In interviews following the release of the album Mourning Sun, McCoy mentioned collaborating with ghost musicians, but only John "Capachino" Carter is officially credited on the album.

In 2006, some European venues announced that a tour was to take place, although this was never officially confirmed. In spite of high ticket sales, none of the gigs occurred.[13] Through the band's official website, McCoy emphasized that he had not confirmed these dates with promoters or venues, and reiterated that people should not buy tickets for such events until official announcements through the band's website confirmed that such live performances were to go ahead.

In May 2007, McCoy performed as Fields of the Nephilim for the first time in seven years, at the London Astoria. According to the band's website, the event was filmed by video director Richard Stanley,[14] who had directed videos for the original band's singles; however, due to quality issues with the audio recording and filming, it was abandoned.

Ceromonies was the culmination of a two-night event sponsored by Metal Hammer magazine in which the band played material spanning their career. Performed at London's O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, the band performed to sell-out crowds. The 'Ceromonies' line-up for this event that featured on the live album and DVD was McCoy, Carter, King, Edwards, and Newell. Highlights of this period included the band's biggest-ever headline show to date at the 2008 M'era Luna Festival, where the 'Ceromonies' line-up performed in front of over 23,000 people. The rapturous encore from this show, "Last Exit for the Lost," was also included on Ceromonies.

In June 2008, a DVD entitled Live in Düsseldorf 1991 was released. Sacred Symphony released the DVD and double CD box set as well as a double LP vinyl version of Ceromonies (Ad Mortem Ad Vitam) on 16 April 2012, consisting of recordings and footage from the two concerts. The vinyl version does not come with the live DVD.[15] It was also released as a collectible box set coming in a wooden box with the Ceromonies logo and title branded on the wooden lid.[16]

2014–present

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Tony Pettit (left) and Tom Edwards (right) performing in 2014

On 1 July 2014, Carl McCoy announced that the band was back in the studio "...recording and compiling the most important elements created and gathered."[17] In December 2014, the band debuted two new songs live onstage, "Earthbound" and "Prophecy".[18] "Prophecy" was produced, engineered, and mixed by Carl McCoy and mastered by Maor Appelbaum. The single was released as a 7" vinyl single and as an online single on the Sacred Symphony label, available only as a download on iTunes on 17 March 2016. It was promoted as a band single, but the track did not feature Pettitt. News reports said that a release on both CD and vinyl, containing exclusive artwork and bonus material, would follow,[19] though this did not happen.

Tom Edwards died in 2017 from heart failure while touring in the US with Adam Ant.[20]

Drummer Lee Newell announced that he quit the band, citing personal reasons regarding a move to the US. All shows up until July have been canceled with no explanation from the band, though promoters have issued statements and apologies to fans. As yet, there is no word from the band’s management on whether a replacement drummer has been secured or if any existing shows will be fulfilled.

July 6th - M'era Luna organizers [21] have officially announced via social media that Fields of the Nephilim will not be performing at this year’s festival. Again, no word from the band’s representative, Noise Management.

Musical style and imagery

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Fields of the Nephilim's initial sound incorporated elements of hard rock, gothic rock, heavy metal, and psychedelic rock, and comprised a bass- and guitar-driven sound underpinned by McCoy's growled vocals. Lyrically, the band incorporated themes concerning magic (specifically chaos magic), the Cthulhu Mythos, the Sumerian religion, and the works of Aleister Crowley.

The band had a "dust and death" image, associated with characters from Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns and often wore cowboy dusters with a weather-beaten look during photoshoots. This weather-beaten look was attained by dusting themselves down with, by their own admission, Mother's Pride flour.[22] This also proved problematic for the band as in May 1988, Nottinghamshire Police detained the band while a suspect substance was tested for drugs. This was later determined to be nothing but flour from the stage set.[23]

Legacy

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The band's logo

In 2001, Nod and Paul Wright formed a new band, Last Rites. They released two full-length albums: Guided by Light (2001) and The Many Forms (2005).

Pettitt performed in The Eden House and NFD.

Cian Houchin has performed and recorded albums as the frontman for Saints of Eden.[24]

Fields of the Nephilim have been cited as an influence by musicians including Watain, Katatonia,[25] Enslaved,[26] Harald Nævdal of Immortal and Old Funeral[27] and Mille Petrozza of Kreator.[28]

Parody

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From 1988, during the band's period of mainstream attention following the release of Dawnrazor and Psychonaut, the music newspaper Melody Maker published various spoof articles about the band. This culminated in a regular feature called The Nod Corner, which purported to be written by Nephilim drummer Nod Wright and which took a satirical view of the band's baleful and dramatic image, usually portraying McCoy as a prima donna who exploited and bullied Nod. Wright appeared to take the spoof graciously.[29]

Members

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Gavin King (left) and Carl McCoy (right) in 2013

Current lineup

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  • Carl McCoy – vocals (1984–present)
  • Tony Pettit – bass (1984–1991, 1998–2000, 2013–present)
  • Gavin King – guitar (2007–present)
  • Adam Leach – guitar (2018–present)

Former members

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  • Gary Wisker – saxophone (1984–1985)
  • Peter Yates – guitar (1985–1991)
  • Paul Wright – guitar (1984–1991, 1998–2000)
  • Alexander "Nod" Wright – drums (1984–1991, 1998–2000)
  • Gizz Butt - guitar
  • John "Capachino" Carter – bass (drums/guitars/keys/vocals – studio) (2000–2009)
  • Andy James - guitar
  • Tom Edwards – guitar (2008–2016, died 2017)
  • Lee Newell - drums (2007-2023)

Timeline

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Discography

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Main article: Fields of the Nephilim discography

References

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  1. ^ Sutherland, Steve (16 January 1988). "A fistful of dynamite". Melody Maker. p. 24. ISSN 0025-9012.
  2. ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 199. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Collins, Andrew (30 November 1991). "Bluffer's Guide to Goth". New Musical Express. p. 30. ISSN 0028-6362.
  4. ^ "Biography". Andy Jackson Music. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Sumerland: Press: Melody Maker, October 1991". sumerland.net. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Sumerland: Press: Rubicon, Legacy, 1992". sumerland.net. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Sumerland: Press: Nefilim in Zillo, 1993". sumerland.net. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  8. ^ Carl McCoy in Orkus Magazine, 1998, mentioning the album "could have appeared four years earlier". Accessed through Sumerland on 28 July 2009.
  9. ^ "Nefilim – Zoon – Reviews – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Sumerland: Press: Zillo Press Conference". sumerland.net. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Sumerland: Press: Zillo Press Conference". Sumerland.devin.com.
  12. ^ "News". releasemagazine.net. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  13. ^ "View topic – Nephilim Tour Cancelled? :: Heartland :: The Sisters of Mercy Forum". Myheartland.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Other Works: Music Videos [Between Death and the Devil]". Everythingisundercontrol.org. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  15. ^ "FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM released Ceromonies 2-CD live album". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Fields of the Nephilim Ceromonies Collector Box-Set". Fields-of-the-nephilim.com. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  17. ^ "FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM". Fields-of-the-nephilim.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  18. ^ "Fields of The Nephilim debut two new songs". Post-punk.com. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Fields Of Nephilim announce new single – first since 2005 – available today". Louder Than War. 17 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Fields of the Nephilim / Adam Ant guitarist Tom Edwards dies aged 41". Side-line.com. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Unfortunately, Fields Of The Nephilim and Cassandra Complex had to cancel…". facebook.com. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Sumerland: Press: Sounds, 1988". sumerland.devin.com. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Flour power Neph 'busted'". New Musical Express. 28 May 1988. p. 3. ISSN 0028-6362.
  24. ^ "Rock Realms Interview – Saints of Eden". Rockrealms.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Celebrate: Fields of the Nephilim's 'The Nephilim' at 25". PopMatters.com. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  26. ^ "ENSLAVED TO RELEASE THE SLEEPING GODS - THORN COMPILATION IN NOVEMBER; CONTAINS RARE AND EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Immortal Interview mit Demonaz zu "The Seventh Date Of Bashyrkh"" (in German). Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Kreator Two Sides Of Music Business". Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Sumerland: Press: Melody Maker, December 1989". sumerland.devin.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020.
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