Customer Reviews

Mourning Sun

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Dear Carl,

10 years... we have waited 10 years for this album. We have waited for YOUR touch, YOUR story, YOUR blessing. That other "album" that came out between Zoon and now... well, we KNOW it wasn't YOURS. We could tell... I have one thing to say to you - thank you.

If the opening portion of this review isn't enough of an indicator, I will make it plain and simple for those reading - I admire and respect the mind of Carl McCoy. In other words - I am a pretty big fan of the Nephilim in all its incarnations.

In FotN speak - McCoy has proven his statement - "I am the Nephilim." After he said these immortal words, our boys dropped off the radar. The Nephilim are back... and McCoy is looking alot like the 5th Horseman.

If you have never heard of the Nephilim, feel free to purchase this album - this is where the Nephilim has evolved to. This is the now of Carl McCoy.

I have seen some people liken this to Elizium. While there are certain similarities, I think it is fairly myopic to say there is no musical progression from then til now. Elizium was a smooth progression from "The Nephilim"... just as that album was a progression from "Dawnrazor". With each album we heard Carl tell us that his vision was becoming clearer... I read where he stated that it took him three albums to get that message across. It was almost a coaxing of will that created those albums. Always over the top, always bombastic, the Nephilim ARE larger than life. He also stated that with his Nefilim release of Zoon, he said what he wanted to with one album... Where his first message was a gradual and melodic surge, his second message reflected an explosive urgency... almost volcanic in nature. Fans of the Fields of the Nephilim were thrown back and many shunned the album as Carl's experiment with Death Metal...

Mourning Sun is the next step. We hear the melodic elements of early the Fields v1.0, but we also hear some of the harshness of Zoon. There is an urgency here...

My first listen to this album was difficult - I was hoping for Elizium v2.0. I needed to put it away for a few days after the first couple of listens and see if what happened. It didn't take long. I accepted the fact that Elizium was the past... that Zoon was the past. McCoy was back with lessons learned. I started to hear bass lines in my head... lyrics started to creep into my consciousness again... "I'll fly again!" "We didn't fall from Heaven, we didn't fall for you!" Hello?

Roots... Welcome to the Requiem for our first Gods... welcome to a mourning for the Simurgh. This is the past given homage. Combine the writing of Andrew Collins, religions, and the mystical ponderings of Mr. McCoy, add a dash of genius, a pinch of incredible song writing, and just a touch of over the top production and showmanship... and you have the idea. From this end, here we find the new beginning in a New Gold Dawn. THis is our future.

Mourning Sun is nothing short of phenomenal. When I am not listening to it, I miss it. The energy in this album will take you by the hand and lead you to where McCoy wants you to go. For a first listen, I highly recommend a good set of speakers.. you first need to FEEL this album... after that. Put it aside for a day or two. Things will start calling to you from the layer upon layer that you heard.. the next time, listen with headphones and a glass of your favorite mellowing intoxicant. Absorb this album as a whole and you will find something that music these days just fails to offer any more-

THIS ALBUM HAS A SOUL.

If you think the vocals are over the top, listen closer... It isn't an act. It isn't an affected attitude. The Preacherman has indeed returned. His Watchers are thankful.

I always get in a special mood,when I hear the voice of mr. mccoy. Bought my first album in 1989, "Dawnrazor", and have been a diciple since then. Waited 10 years for this album, which was released on my 34 yrs. birthday. It's still hypnotizing, elegant and complex, but I FOR SURE MISSES THE WRIGHT Brothers, whom has left the band long ago. The album is a lot better than ZOON, that i definately finds was a deroute from the nephilims musical universe, now wre back in the dreaming universe from the times before we were born. It's beautyfull, dark, emerging and declining in the way that only FOTN can do it. Buy it, and send them a mail, to go on concert. (none has been announced yet)

Let's all "Celebrate" the "Power" this album reveals. For some fans, this is nothing short of "Paradise Regained" and they will gladly sink into the "Submission" this album demands. Leave all doubts "At the Gates of Silent Memory" and join Fields of the Nephilim on this latest journey. Once you buy this album, I promise "There Your Heart Will Be Also." Okay, sorry, enough of my cheesy silliness! If I'm trying to make a point with all of this, then it is to say that "Mourning Sun" sounds nothing like any of its predecessors, yet, at the same time, it sounds like ALL of them---all of them simultaneously, I might add!

So . . . am I suggesting that one track on this album might sound like something from "Dawnrazor" while another sounds like something from "Elizium"? Well, no, not exactly. What I am suggesting is that all of the ingredients that went into the band's former albums are found here in one recipe. It's sort of a shepherd's pie, if you will . . . no, I got it . . . Cajun gumbo! I don't mean to imply that "Mourning Sun" is a "one size fits all," but I am confident that all fans will be satisfied and will find the elements most palatable from former albums contained herein.

"Straight to the Light" --- McCoy gets the album going at full steam with this one! Those unfamiliar with the band might think this is Death Metal, but we all know better. Still, this one reminds me of "Zoon" more than any other. It is actually preceeded by "Shroud (Exordium)," but "Shroud" is a rather lengthy introduction to the album and is mostly instrumental save for some background voices---think "Intro (the Harmonica Man)" or "Still Life."

"New Gold Dawn" --- Originally, this one was my favorite track since it sounded most like something from "The Nephilim." "The Nephilim" was the first album I ever bought from the band and so I'm naturally inclined to it.

"Requiem XIII-33 (Le Veilleur Silencieux)" --- This one sort of slows the pace down a bit and, at times, is quite reminiscent of what we all loved about "Elizium."

"Xiberia (Seasons In The Ice Cage)" ---- INSTANT CLASSIC ALERT!!! INSTANT CLASSIC ALERT!!!
This song, hands down, is one of my favorites and not only from Fields of the Nephilim, but from all bands of all time! This is a "Stairway to Heaven" caliber song----epic and timeless!!! Want to take a journey that at times reminds you of "Dawnrazor," then "The Nephilim," then "Zoon," and all with "Elizium" going full blast at the same time? Try this one!!! Seriously, as much as I've liked many of the band's other songs through the years, this is now my favorite!!!

"She" ----coming down from the frenzied, cosmic orgasm of the previous track, "She" brings us back to earth. It's a beautiful earth, but still dark and filled with uncertainty. Clocking in at over nine minutes, this is one of the album's longer epics.

"Mourning Sun" ---- The title track, at over 10 minutes in length, is the longest on the album. It goes without saying that this is another epic. Awesome song, awesome journey!

"In the Year 2525" ---- This is a cover song that McCoy makes into his own, if you know what I'm saying. Not found on the original release, it is included here an obligatory "bonus track." I can't say yet how much I like it or whether it actually fits thematically with the rest of the album. Time will tell. Remember though, it is a bonus track!

"She" (track #6) is the best song recorded in this century, so far (94 years to go though:). I like lots of bands that one would put in the Nephilim genre (the Sisters of Mercy, Mission) and others that are quite different - Metallica, the Cult... None of them have released a song as good as "She " since 2000. The song is very well done - the guitars and keyboards are not over the top, and yet they are extremely powerful. The production is fantastic, and Carl is at his best.

The other songs are good as well - I don't skip any when I listen to this cd. But be careful - don't just put this cd in your computer when you're doing work and hope to get the full effect. Get the headphones or crank it up in your car, so that you can hear all the instruments and subtle arrangments in the background. This is a real gem!

The latest from the pioneers of Gothic music is like a vicious storm that steadily kicks up a second wind that attains the might of a battering ram. Nephilim maestro Carl Mccoy has resurfaced after a four year hiatus & his vision hasn't been altered whatsoever. While leaving behind some the more harsh metallic & industrial experiments on "Zoon", The Nephilim's new album is quite rooted & has all the classic elements like the guttural, sonic flames of their debut, "Elzium". "Mourning Sun" is a well deserved return from the godfathers of dark, alternative rock & as is the case with all of their albums, this should be played from beginning to end & loud. Highly recommended if you enjoy bands like Diary of Dreams, Ikon, or Elusive.

I have been listening to Fields of the Nephilim since 1990, and I can honestly say I never until a few months ago really think I understood the underpinnings of the whole project. If you think you know what McCoy is talking about but not sure, I would like to make a few suggestions:
a) Read Zecharia Sitchin's books esp "The 12th Planet"
b) Read David Icke's "Children of the Matrix"

Then, listen to--in this order: "Elizium," "Zoon" (by "Nefilim"), and then "Mourning Sun"...

You may be surprised at what you discover...

As you can tell, I am a huge Neph fan, and man is it great to have them back.

This album isnt as good as their older stuff, but I like it for the most part. McCoy can set a mood and there is an energy here that is alluring like most of their stuff. She and 2525 are my favorites.

It just is hard to listen to. It is way too compressed...everything is equally loud, and that makes it impossible to listen to for any long period of time. Dawnrazor, and The Nephilim for instance didnt have this problem. Never thought a band like the FOTN who seem to maintain a large amount of control over their production would fall victim to the LOUDNESS WAR...google it.

Thank you, McCoy...for this latest sumptuous offering...awesome Masterpiece..."We're Here"... indeed they are......so thanks, it was worth the wait...don't ever stop....Addendum: recently bought the limited edition, which has the awesome cover of "In the Year 2525"--get that one, it's well worth it...

I saw them play back in 1988 at what was Zombie zoo in LA. A very unique and powerful band. After collectting all their albums I still enjoyed them all these years. I then purchased this album , seeing the first output in so long, I was completely in shock as to the depth. This has brought them back, while bringing us into a new layer of feelings and emotions. It is completely mesmorizing.

This album is excellent, with a very dark and cold sound, it is really made to be listened to right through and creates an epic soundscape. Having liked "shine" off the Zoon album, I expected, or hoped for something a bit heavier, but after listening to this several times I realised you can be very Dark without being heavy. Sure the mixing is different to what you would expect but it's done to create a certain ambience, as my review title states, this is art not entertainment, this is not party music, its more like Bathories hammer heart, Agalloch's Ashes against the grain, or devin townsend's Terria, it's a sort of chill out album, a sound scape to escape reality for a while, not to entertain your friends, an interesting emotional place to go. Worth buying if you like Mr McCoys vocals and sounds, its as chilling as the cover artwork.