Fields Of The Nephilim
Elizium

THE REVIEW

The Fields Of the Nephilim, as I define them: "the third rib of gothic dark" not that this is relevant, of course, but in general opinion, they are considered one of the most prominent groups in the entire gothic scene along with the 'Sisters of Mercy' and the 'Clan of Xymox'.

Led by the charismatic and fascinating Carl McCoy, the solo singer, and Tony Pettit, the formidable bassist capable of captivating riffs that leave you speechless. The sound of the Fields is essentially "different" from the aforementioned "cousins" but equally effective in their entirety. They are capable of uncontrolled moments of pure madness as in the fabulous SUMERLAND, or of intellectually engaging the listener with the refinements of WAIL OF SUMER (an authentic manifesto to daydreaming).

McCoy's voice is raw, sometimes almost vulgarly coarse but as penetrating as few. The band's stage presentation is a whole program: black spots dressed in leather with cowboy hats (by Carl's own admission, the group has always been fascinated by westerns, especially by Sergio Leone) so imagine what comes out of it: an APOCALYPTIC scenario where they act as Knights...
On stage (especially McCoy), they seem like obsessive ghosts, launched into almost tribal movements that reek of ritualism... Their career is more than enviable. They were born in England in the early 80s (the golden years!!) and presented themselves to the public with an album that sparked much discussion: "LAURA" with the album cover designed by the singer himself (it's unsettling!) a raw album that already outlines its gothic and funerary nuances...

But "ELIZIUM" is of a completely different mold: it's the band's consequent maturation both artistically and musically, it's an intellectual album that transmits a lot on a cerebral level... It opens with Dead but Dreaming, which is an excellent opener, followed by the danceable FOR HER LIGHT, proceeding then with an ANTHEM to introspection AT THE GATES OF THE SILENT MEMORY, a long song worthy of respect to end the side with the evocative SUBMISSION. The madness of our Friends begins to show with the stunning SUMERLAND capable of obsessing and dragging you with Pettit's majestic bass line and McCoy's cavernous voice. But the next track is drool-worthy: WAIL OF SUMER... A masterful sonic composition that delights your ears!! This is genius!! A daydream where it is truly impossible not to be completely captivated and fascinated!!

The FIELDS of the NEPHILIM were then disbanded in the mid '90s by McCoy himself, increasingly lost in his madness as it seems he manifested mental disorders that led to the disbandment. But they would be reunited (by fate?) at the end of the '90s with a cyber/death project that has absolutely nothing to do with the previous masterpieces.

A historic band that unfortunately, in my opinion, never really enjoyed the true success it deserved.