Fields Of The Nephilim – live at Sheffield University 1988 – BBC Radio 1 –
Fields Of The Nephilim in concert tonight. One of those bands who made a huge impression on the Goth community, but not in the mainstream, where they’ve only skirted the charts.
This version of the band, considered the classic lineup, went from 1987 until their first split up in 1991. They’ve since reunited (in 1997) and are continuing pretty much where they left off.
Don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of growling vocals, and Carl McCoy epitomizes that style of singing, which might explain a decided lack of commercial appeal. This concert, from 1988 comes around the time of their 4th album, Blue Water.
Although the band were very popular in Goth circles, outside of that genre, they were the objects of a goodly amount of ridicule and spoofing. From 1988, during the band’s period of mainstream attention following the release of Dawnrazor and Psychonaut, the British music newspaper Melody Maker began to run 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 on the band’s baleful and dramatic image. Nod Wright appeared to take the spoof graciously.
From what I am able to gather and recollect, Fields Of The Nephilim weren’t issued in the U.S. and were largely unknown here, except in Goth circles and imports.
However you feel about the band, they have been very influential in Goth circles; providing inspiration for such bands as Sólstafir, Watain and Katatonia, and no doubt others since.
If you aren’t familiar with Fields Of The Nephilim, give this concert a spin and see what you think. If you are familiar with them, then this concert should bring back a few memories.
