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
Slow Kill
Fields of the Nephilim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So cold, first light
Up here on the bridge of night
Forsake me but listen
So lonely
So lonely
So lonely
Up here on the bridge of night
To fall it would be so nice
Chase this misery out of this town
Bury my face into the ground
Now jump
Now jump
Jump
Into a smile mesmerised
She wants you
She wants you
Up here I can see for miles
Such a fire as burns inside
I'm up here because I wanted to die
I'm up here like a dying messiah
I'm up here because I wanted to die
I'm up here
I lie here
The pain
Don't cry
Now jump
Now jump
Jump
The lyrics to Fields of the Nephilim's song Slowkill are a haunting portrayal of the emotional pain and loneliness that the singer is feeling. The opening lines, "Don't cry on the bridge of starving / So cold, first light" suggest that the singer is in a state of desperation, possibly considering suicide. He is standing on a bridge, a classic symbol of a transitional state between life and death, and the juxtaposition of the words "starving" and "cold" further emphasise his feelings of emptiness and isolation.
As the song continues, the singer shares his feelings of loneliness, repeating the word "so lonely" several times. He appears to be searching for a reason to keep on living, asking the question "for what?" but finding no answer. The line "To fall it would be so nice" suggests that death would be a release from his pain and suffering, but he resists jumping from the bridge.
The singer's attention is drawn to a woman who he describes as being "mesmerised" by his smile, and he imagines that she "wants" him. However, this brings him no comfort, and he continues to feel trapped in his own misery. The repeated phrase "Now jump" is a refrain that emphasises the singer's internal conflict and the temptation to end his life.
Overall, the lyrics to Slowkill are a potent and disturbing depiction of emotional pain and the need for human connection. The singer is isolated and alone, yet still unable to take the final step into the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't cry on the bridge of starving
Don't let your tears flow when you are in a state of starvation and hopelessness
So cold, first light
It's freezing and the morning has just begun
Up here on the bridge of night
I am on top of a bridge in the middle of the night
Forsake me but listen
Abandon me, but please lend me your ear for a moment
So lonely
I feel incredibly isolated and alone
For what
I don't know why I'm feeling this way
To fall it would be so nice
I yearn to jump off this bridge and end my pain
Chase this misery out of this town
I want to escape the sorrow and despair of this place
Bury my face into the ground
I want to bury my face in the ground and forget everything
Now jump
I want to take my own life by jumping off this bridge
Into a smile mesmerised
The thought of ending it all puts a twisted grin on my face
She wants you
Death is beckoning to me and I am tempted to answer her call
Up here I can see for miles
I have a clear view of my surroundings from atop this bridge
Such a fire as burns inside
I feel a passionate flame burning within me, pushing me towards death
I'm up here because I wanted to die
I chose to come here with the intention of taking my own life
I'm up here like a dying messiah
I feel like a doomed savior, beyond help or redemption
I lie here
I am lying on the bridge, contemplating my fate
The pain
The agony and suffering that I feel inside me
Now jump
Once again the suicidal urge overwhelms me, and I want to jump
Now jump
The temptation to end it all is too strong to resist
Jump
The final leap into darkness and oblivion
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARL MCCOY, TONY PETTITT, CARL WISKER, NOD WRIGHT, PAUL WRIGHT, ALEXANDER JAMES WRIGHT, PAUL ALEXANDER WRIGHT, PETER YATES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
T. McCoy
Now I'm crying
on the bridge I'm starving
so cold, feel this night
up here on the bridge at night
forsake me, don't listen
Slow, slow, slow bleed for a while
up here on the bridge at night
to fall would be so nice
I waste this misery on this town
I'll bury my face into its ground
now jump, now jump
j j j j j jump!
People smile mesmerised
she wants you, she wants you
up here I can see for miles
judging flies by their size
I'm not here cos I wanted to die
I lie here like a dying messiah
I'm not here cos I wanted to die
I lie here, I lie here
I waste this misery on this town
I'll bury my face into its ground
now jump, now jump
j j j j j jump!
Don't cry, don't cry
don't cry, don't cry
(don't cry)
now jump, now jump
j j j j j jump!
.......................................................
Ralph Guy
My favourite song off a terrific debut album. There's not a bad track on Dawnrazor.
Lᛜᚹ
damn right, I'd even say there is no bad song on any of their albums! Even Fallen is awesome, although I think Carl said it was kind of an unfinished project, I still think all the songs on that album are great, Zoon also perfect, and Mourning Sun is a masterpiece. Of course Elizium, and The Nephlim, goes without saying those albums are perfect.
Martin Hollmer
This is perhaps one of my first real favorite songs as a kid when I realized the power of music
Eduardo Moroni
Absolute masterpiece, one of the best albums ever made
Paul Snell
The problem with the band was the secret to their success too. What you have here is an immensely competent guitar band overshadowed by their lead vocalist. I saw the Fields live when I was 17 and I still listen to them now. The reason being the guitars are simply awesome
Jose Fernández
Great album
Trevor Hodge
really beautiful song
Ian Miller
Hammer... Best 90's ever
Marcio Futmar
great song
T. McCoy
Now I'm crying
on the bridge I'm starving
so cold, feel this night
up here on the bridge at night
forsake me, don't listen
Slow, slow, slow bleed for a while
up here on the bridge at night
to fall would be so nice
I waste this misery on this town
I'll bury my face into its ground
now jump, now jump
j j j j j jump!
People smile mesmerised
she wants you, she wants you
up here I can see for miles
judging flies by their size
I'm not here cos I wanted to die
I lie here like a dying messiah
I'm not here cos I wanted to die
I lie here, I lie here
I waste this misery on this town
I'll bury my face into its ground
now jump, now jump
j j j j j jump!
Don't cry, don't cry
don't cry, don't cry
(don't cry)
now jump, now jump
j j j j j jump!
.......................................................