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jackhammer · 01-13-2010, 04:54 PM

Fields of The Nephilim

Gothic music is unfortunately a genre of music that is ripe for criticism. The monotone vocals, melancholic lyrics and unfashionable riffs. However FOTN stood out from the crowd from the beginning. Their first full length release Dawnrazor featured photography from Richard Stanley (film director- Hardware, Dust Devil etc) which capitalised on the bands spaghetti western look with dry ice and dirt encrusted weatherbeaten leathers that gave the band an almost farcical look which detracted from the music.

Despite the monotone vocals of Carl McCoy, the band played an epic blend of Post Punk minimalism coupled with a Pink Floyd like atmosphere that still sounds unique to this day and it's hard to truly compare them to any band. You had the superlative complicated rhythms of drummer Nod Wright coupled with a two guitar attack with heavier riffs under pinned by a constant, languid guitar lick that gave their music a dynamic sound that was rarely heard in the scene at that time.

The major problem with FOTN is mainman Carl McCoy's propensity for shrouding the band in mystery and imbuing lyrics with mysticism and nods to ancient forgotten religion. This caused the band to split up in 1991 with only 3 full length albums to their name.

So why are they important to me? Bridging the gap between anger, heaviness and melancholia, their sound was rich in atmosphere and menace yet laced with tenderness at times it fitted my frame of mind at the time.

FOTN have since gone on to become one of the U.K's most talked about and cherished cult bands who count Metallica and many Black Metal bands as a huge inspiration.

A band out of sync even in the late 80's they however earn a place in fans hearts and still have a sound that they can wholly call their own.

Probably my favourite FOTN track. Absolutely love that drum track:

01-13-2010, 04:54 PM	#73 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Fields of The Nephilim Gothic music is unfortunately a genre of music that is ripe for criticism. The monotone vocals, melancholic lyrics and unfashionable riffs. However FOTN stood out from the crowd from the beginning. Their first full length release Dawnrazor featured photography from Richard Stanley (film director- Hardware, Dust Devil etc) which capitalised on the bands spaghetti western look with dry ice and dirt encrusted weatherbeaten leathers that gave the band an almost farcical look which detracted from the music. Despite the monotone vocals of Carl McCoy, the band played an epic blend of Post Punk minimalism coupled with a Pink Floyd like atmosphere that still sounds unique to this day and it's hard to truly compare them to any band. You had the superlative complicated rhythms of drummer Nod Wright coupled with a two guitar attack with heavier riffs under pinned by a constant, languid guitar lick that gave their music a dynamic sound that was rarely heard in the scene at that time. The major problem with FOTN is mainman Carl McCoy's propensity for shrouding the band in mystery and imbuing lyrics with mysticism and nods to ancient forgotten religion. This caused the band to split up in 1991 with only 3 full length albums to their name. So why are they important to me? Bridging the gap between anger, heaviness and melancholia, their sound was rich in atmosphere and menace yet laced with tenderness at times it fitted my frame of mind at the time. FOTN have since gone on to become one of the U.K's most talked about and cherished cult bands who count Metallica and many Black Metal bands as a huge inspiration. A band out of sync even in the late 80's they however earn a place in fans hearts and still have a sound that they can wholly call their own. Probably my favourite FOTN track. Absolutely love that drum track: __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”