Fields of the Nephilim

Biography/History

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Fields of the Nephilim (1984-1991, 1998-present): a Heavy Metal band from Stevenage, Hertfordshire , UK.

nglish gothic rock band Fields of the Nephilim formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England in 1984. The band's name is derived from the Biblical race of giants or angel-human hybrids, known as Nephilim. The band's look and seminal sound proved influential, especially in the genre of gothic.

Their initial sound uses elements of hard rock, gothic, heavy metal, and psychedelic rock, comprising of a bass and guitar driven style highlighted by McCoy's growled vocals. Lyrically, the band incorporates themes concerning magic (specifically chaos magic), the Cthulhu Mythos, the Sumerian religion, along with the works of Aleister Crowley. The band boasted a "dust and death" image, associated with characters from Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns and often wore cowboy dusters with a weather-beaten look during photo shoots.

The act would start under the membership of Carl McCoy (vocals), Tony Pettitt (bass), Gary Wisker (saxophone) and Paul Wright (guitar) with Nod' Alexander Wright replacing drums, and Peter Yates adding a new guitar, their debut EP, Burning the Fields (1995). Dawnrazor (1987) and The Nephilim (1988) followed.

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These efforts were followed up with Psychonaut, released in May 1989; a single that peaked at UK 35. This ten-minute track displayed a 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 (1990) that followed.

In 1991 McCoy left. The remaining members, along with singer Andy Delaney, chose not to continue with the "Fields of the Nephilim" name and recorded instead under the name Rubicon whereby they would release two albums before disbanding, What Starts, Ends (1992) and Room 101 (1995).

Meanwhile, McCoy formed a new group called Nefilim with John "Capachino" Carter in 1991 featuring McCoy on vocals and multi-instrumentalist Carter on bass, guitars and drums. This act would only last a single year resulting in their one and only recording, Zoon released several years later in 1996.

Late 1998 would see Fields of the Nephilim reform under the membership of Carl McCoy (vocals), Tony Pettitt (bass), Paul Wright (guitar) and 'Nod' Alexander Wright (drums). Wright would leave two years later, with Carter returning to handle bass/drums/guitars/keys/vocals in 2000 to release Fallen (2002) and Mourning Sun (2005).

Back in 2001, Nod and Paul Wright formed a band, Last Rites where they released two albums, Guided by Light (2001) and The Many Forms (2005).

In 2007, a major membership change would see Gavin King take guitar and Lee Newell on drums. The following year, the second guitar would be assumed by Tom Edwards until 2017 when he was replaced by Adam Leach. The arrival of Andy James on the other guitar in 2012 would also see the arrival of Ceromonies live + DVD set.

Tom Edwards died in 2017 from heart failure, whilst touring in the US with Adam Ant.

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