The band's name refers to magnetic fields and the biblical Nephilim race. Their sound was innovative in the gothic scene, incorporating heavy metal elements to make a hard, bass and guitar driven sound underneath McCoy's growled vocals. Lyrically, they incorporated mystical themes, especially relating to Sumerian Mythology, Hebrew Mysticism, and Aleister Crowley.
Their debut release the "Burning the fields EP" was released in 1985 showing the raw power and melody that began to earn them a big underground following. They signed to Beggars Banquet in 1986 to release "Power" and "Preacher Man". Both singles were alternative rock hits, and "Dawnrazor", their debut album did similarly well. "Dawnrazor" was a powerful, albeit standard gothic rock collection of modern horror-film themed songs, standout songs were "Dust" (a live favourite), "Vet for the Insane" a quieter melodic showcase for Yates' guitar and McCoy's gruff, dramatic vocals, and the powerful ten minute title-track.
The single "Blue Water" was subsequently released reaching the main UK charts for the first time, and making a big impact on the Independent chart listings for their label Situation Two. The following year the single "Moonchild" was released followed by their assured second album "The Nephilim". Displaying a more confident and polished sound, the band cemented their status as one of the biggest underground acts on the circuit. The standout tracks were "The Watchman" (later released as a single), "Phobia" (a live favourite), "Love under will" and the anthemic "Last exit for the lost". The following live dates with the more sophisticated light show and effects, and of course the larger venues, highlighted their inexorable rise in popularity and confidence.
"Psychonaut" was released in 1989; 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" album. Produced for the first time by ex-Pink Floyd producer Andy Jackson (taking over from previous band producer Bill Buchanan), the opus represented the band at the zenith of their creativity and powers. The album was preceded by the single "For Her Light" which again followed the bands custom of charting highly one week courtesy of their army of followers, then dipping out of the chart listings the next.
To the shock of their following, Carl McCoy left the band in 1991, and in a subsequent interview uttered the immortal words "I am the Nephilim...". The remaining band members formed Rubicon, while McCoy began a new group called Nefilim. "Zoon" was released in 1996, an album that largely disappointed followers of his former band. The collection of mostly hard metal and speed-metal tracks pointed in a new direction, but one that ultimately still awaits a follow-up.
The band reformed in 1998, and a collection of out-takes and assorted unreleased recordings, "Fallen" was released in 2002 exciting many of the followers who had grown used to reading about imminent new material, but then disappointed as the tracks were definitely not new material. The album has been disowned by the band who insist that the album was released by their old record label without their wishes or permission.
Live dates penciled in were canceled in 2003 as the band insist they will only tour with new material, refusing to join the other bands of their generation touring to old audiences playing old material. The anticipation amongst their following - The Watchmen, grew awaiting new material, taking their individual and intense sound and lyrics to new spaces and dimensions.
A new album "Mourning Sun" was released in Europe on November 28, 2005, with the North American release scheduled February, 2006. The hitherto hinted at reformed line-up hadn't materialized, and the Carl McCoy led and penned collection of new material received mixed reviews.
In 2007 FotN had gigs in London and at Ville Valo's Helldone Festival in Finland. In 2008 they've played in Warsow and Athens and headlined the Wave Gotik Treffen Festival in Leipzig, Germany. They also performed at M'era Luna 2008 in Germany. At all gigs Carl McCoy was the only member of the original line-up.
The Wright brothers have released two albums and an EP under the name Last Rites playing an ambient sounding dark rock. A third album is currently planned. Tony Pettit is currently a member of the goth rock/metal outfit NFD, also with two released albums. Peter Yates is featured on both NFD-albums as a guest musician.
In 2009 Tony Petitt under the name The Eden House released a collaborative album "Smoke and Mirrors" featuring former members of Fields of the Nephilim Nod Wright, Peter Yates and Paul Wright as well as former producer Andy Jackson.
Official site: http://www.fields-of-the-nephilim.com
In the Year 2525
Fields of the Nephilim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(In The Year 2525)
(3535)
(4545)
(5555)
In the year 2525
If man is still alive
They may find...
(In The Year 2525)
(3535)
(4545)
(5555)
In the year 3535
Ain't gonna need to tell the truth tell no lies
Everything you think do and say
Is in the pill you took today
In the year 4545
Ain't gonna need your teeth won't need your eyes
You won't find a thing to chew
Nobody is gonna look at you
(In The Year 2525)
(3535)
(4545)
(5555)
In the year 5555
Your arms are hanging limp at your sides
Your legs got nothing to do
'Cos some machine is doing that for you
In the year 6565
Ain't gonna need no husband won't need no wife
You'll pick your son pick you pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube
(In The Year 2525)
(3535)
(4545)
(5555)
In the year 7510
If God's a-comin' he ought to make it by then
Maybe he'll look around and say
"I guess it's time for the Judgement Day"
In the year 8510
God is gonna shake his mighty head
He'll either say "I'm pleased where man has been"
Or tear it down and start again
In the year 9595
I'm wondering if man's gonna be alive
He's taken everything this earth can give
And he ain't put back nothing...
(now it's been 10,000 years)
(man has cried a billion tears)
(for what he never knew)
(now man's reign is through)
(but through the eternal night)
(the blinding starlight)
(so very far away)
(maybe it's only yesterday...)
(In The Year 2525)
(3535)
(4545)
(5555)
In the year 2525
If man is still alive
He's taken everything this world can give
And that'll be soon
(???)
(???)
(end of the road)
[For the first Heaven and the first Earth have passed away]
[???]
[so far from hell]
(so far from hell)
(it's all fading)
(the light)
(the warm safe)
(warm soul)
(we cannot show)
(the warmth to our soul)
(for we will burn)
(before we're free)
You cannot live through this
Like death is our warm kiss
We changed the chance
Ruled the dance
Your blood is on our lips
And we can't go further
And no further now
No it ain't much further
Ain't much further now
In "In the Year 2525", Fields of the Nephilim imagines the future world where man is so reliant on technology that he no longer needs his body parts or tells the truth. The exploration of the far-flung future is done through the use of the powerful dark lyrics that suggest that humanity's dependence on technology could lead to its downfall. The song starts on a hopeful note, wondering if man and woman could survive into the year 2525. However, as the song progresses, it becomes abundantly clear that reliance on technology could lead to a dehumanized future. In the year 3535, people will need to consume a pill that will control all aspects of their lives, while no teeth, nor eyes will be needed in the year 4545 as machines would do everything.
As the song continues, humanity's dependence on technology becomes more apparent, with people selecting their children from tubes and limbs just hanging at the sides, the machines doing everything for them in the year 5555. The song concludes with foreboding messages. In the year 9595, it is unclear if man will be alive as humans have taken everything the Earth had to give with nothing being put back. The eternal night is blinding, and the world is fading with blood on their lips. Man has ruled the dance, unable to show any warmth to their soul, before they are free.
Line by Line Meaning
In the year 2525
Looking at the future, time moves forward to the year 2525
If man is still alive
Questioning if humanity can survive this long
If woman can survive
Questioning if women can survive this long with man
They may find...
The unknown awaits them in the future
In the year 3535
Jumping forward in time to 3535
Ain't gonna need to tell the truth tell no lies
Lying becomes unneeded to fabricate the truth
Everything you think do and say
All your thoughts, words, and actions are predetermined and controlled
Is in the pill you took today
Your life is predetermined through pills
In the year 4545
Time moves forward again to the year 4545
Ain't gonna need your teeth won't need your eyes
Human body parts are no longer needed
You won't find a thing to chew
Food as a necessity is no longer needed
Nobody is gonna look at you
Appearance no longer matters
In the year 5555
The future moves 1000 years past the previous year
Your arms are hanging limp at your sides
Human mobility is no longer required
Your legs got nothing to do
Movement is now predetermined for humans
'Cos some machine is doing that for you
Machines are controlling human movement
In the year 6565
Predicting the year 6565 of the future
Ain't gonna need no husband won't need no wife
Human relationships are no longer necessary
You'll pick your son pick you pick your daughter too
Humans are born from glass tubes
From the bottom of a long glass tube
Human birth will be controlled by science
In the year 7510
Jumping forward over 900 years to 7510
If God's a-comin' he ought to make it by then
Questioning if God will come by this time
Maybe he'll look around and say
God observes the state of humanity
"I guess it's time for the Judgement Day"
Judgement Day may come in the year 7510
In the year 8510
Predicting the year 8510 of the future
God is gonna shake his mighty head
God will make a decision about humanity's fate
He'll either say "I'm pleased where man has been"
God will be pleased with humanity's progress
Or tear it down and start again
God will start humanity anew if not pleased
In the year 9595
Predicting the future 4000 years after the previous year
I'm wondering if man's gonna be alive
The uncertainty of humanity's survival at this point
He's taken everything this earth can give
Humanity has consumed all of Earth's resources
And he ain't put back nothing...
Humanity has depleted Earth's resources without giving back to it
(now it's been 10,000 years)
Time continues to pass, now over 10,000 years since the first year mentioned
(man has cried a billion tears)
Humanity has experienced a significant amount of pain and grief
(for what he never knew)
Suffering for unknown reasons
(now man's reign is through)
Humanity's rule on Earth is coming to an end
(but through the eternal night)
Though it may seem like the end, there is still hope in the darkness
(the blinding starlight)
Hope shines brighter than anything else in the darkness
(so very far away)
Hope may seem out of reach
(maybe it's only yesterday...)
Hope may be closer than expected
If man is still alive
Humanity's survival is still being questioned
He's taken everything this world can give
Humanity has consumed all life and resources within the world
And that'll be soon
Humanity's time is running out
(???)
Unknown
(???)
Unknown
(end of the road)
Humanity has reached the end
[For the first Heaven and the first Earth have passed away]
Quoting from the Bible, showing the apocalypse has occurred
[???]
Unknown
[so far from hell]
Hell is no longer close, but rather all around
(so far from hell)
Hell is distant but always present
(it's all fading)
Everything is vanishing
(the light)
The light is disappearing
(the warm safe)
Safety and warmth is fleeting
(warm soul)
The soul, symbolizing life and humanity, is also fading
(we cannot show)
Humanity can no longer display emotions
(the warmth to our soul)
Emotions bring warmth to the human soul
(for we will burn)
Instead, humanity is destined to burn in its own destruction
(before we're free)
Freedom is no longer attainable or is lost
You cannot live through this
Surviving this point is impossible for humanity
Like death is our warm kiss
Humanity's fate is similar to death or destruction's embrace
We changed the chance
Humanity caused its own destruction and lost their chances
Ruled the dance
Humanity had control over its own fate
Your blood is on our lips
Others are responsible for humanity's fate
And we can't go further
The end is near, no progression is possible
And no further now
Humanity has come to its limit
No it ain't much further
There is no much time left for humanity now
Contributed by Grace M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.