Customer Reviews

Zoon

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was, and still am, a fan of the Fields (and all of the other requisite late 80's dark/death rock/"goth" bands) for more than a decade and a half before Zoon. I don't care for death metal, outside of the obvious humor factor (sorry guys, but its funny stuff). But this album is something which is both the natural evolution of those predecessors and something almost mind-bendingly unique. There is NOTHING like Zoon in all of popular (and not-so-popular) music. It is frightening in its intensity, to be sure... but the metal overtones are less Cannibal Corpse and more Psalm 69-era Ministry. The lyrics and vocal are incomparable. If you like 'Chord of Souls' by FOTN, you will have a good handle on where McCoy is heading, but lyrically, this record is a savage, yet strangely beautiful journey to the heart of the collective unconscious. Other pundits have, not without reason, found elements of Sumerian mythlogy (re: the Descent of Inana) here, as per 'Elizium,' but the immediate subtext is more obviously Greek, which represents something of a change from earlier McCoy / FOTN lyrics. Gone are the clear references to Sumer and Akkad ('Pazuzu' notwithstanding), as well as the more straightforward tips of the hat to Lovecraft and the Cthuluhu mythos. In their place, we find a terrifying (and sometimes stomach-churning) tale of rage and revenge brought about, apparently, by the displacement of one culture's religion for another- all seemingly in the form of a reborn angel of death, in the Old Testament vein (think Passover mixed with World War III). The blanks are wide enough for the listener to fill in their own details, but the overall experience is stunning and not to be missed in any case. My advice? Buy it now. Its not an easy record to come to grips with, but the journey is more than worth it.

It has been almost 10 years since I first heard this masterpiece and I can certainly reveal, "How my opinion has changed!" When I first bought this I had been waiting for almost five years for something new from Fields of the Nephilim. The previews of the time had prepared me for the fact that this would be more "intense" and that Carl McCoy was operating under a new moniker: a re-spelled "Nefilim." I also remember just how disappointed I was when this thing came thundering through my high-end audio system. "Oh great," I thought, "another freaking sell-out!" Before casting this one into my "CDs to be Traded Bin," I recall just how much I thought this was an ill-fated attempt of Carl MCoy to cash in on the current Death Metal trend.

It's rather amusing to see another reviewer compare this to Napalm Death because, at the time, I shared the same opinion. Let me say now, though, that this is as close to Napalm Death as Megadeth is to Barry Manilow!

First, for those who truly appreciated the "sound" of the original lineup, "Shine" and "Melt" would fit rather nicely. In fact, these two tracks sound almost as though they were lifted straight from a recording session circa 1988. They blend seamlessly, however, into the fiery, bombastic soundscape of the rest of the album. "Zoon," like most other FotN releases, functions essentially like one really long track with various "movements" ---- a symphony if you will.

If you are taken aside at first by the assault of tracks like "Xodus" or "Venus Decomposing," bear in mind that this is only a natural progression of what was being revealed in earlier releases. If older songs like "Preacher Man" made you raise your fist and nod your head, these truly have you pumping your fist and banging your head. Yet, "Zoon" is a much greater accomplishment than anything the competitors can contribute. It cannot even be compared to the likes of Napalm Death or Cannibal Corpse.

Do yourself a favor and buy it today. If you already own it and have forgotten it, put it back in the CD player!

First let me say that no band, no matter how good they are, should make 2 albums that sound the same. That stagnant attitude is death for musicians, as it is for all creative people (do you want the sequel to your favorite book or movie to be exactly like the first, or did you want a progression?)For those of you expecting Elizium II, you will be disappointed. I personally think this is one of the best CDs I've ever heard--it's playing right now and I usually have it in my CD changer. That being said, it is exactly as it should be, fiery, angry, music written by those angels cast out for the sin of lust. The great thing is, the entire CD is awesome, not just 1 or 2 songs like so many CDs today. Carl weaves an intense blend of love and sorrow into his music. He makes music not for some commercial purpose, but for himself and his fans, and the message comes across loud and clear. I personally wish the Nefilim had made a follow-up to Zoon, as I would have loved to see how it would progress from there.

After 2 years this cd is hardly ever out of my cd player. It is my favourite cd ever and friends of mine who normally do not like this style of music generally agree with me.. buy it now, turn the lights off and enter a world like you have never experienced before!!!

Without question, this is my favorite piece of music of all time. Sure I love F.O.T.N. as well, but there is something so unique about "Zoon" that it takes my breath away. It inspires my own visual art. Call it metal if you want to, to me it is just uncategorizable...McCoy is a genius. Do not just listen to this once and cast it aside, because it is music that will attach itself to you, and grow and become with each listening, I kid you not. I wait impatiently for the day he comes out with another solo project...if you have an artistic soul, I think you must appreciate this masterpiece of chaos and rare beauty...

The work of the former frontman of the Fields of the Nephilim, Carl McCoy, this album abandons the softer, quieter sounds of the Fields and assaults with an almost Black Metalish approach. Different, but definately a good album. Check it out; you won't be sorry.

This is my all-time favourite album. Never before have raw power and emotion been presented with such style and originality, not to mention superb lyrics. On the face it may sound like just another speed metal album, but there's so much more to this. From the brilliant, more subtle "Shine" to the ferociousness of tracks like "Pazuzu", Zoon takes you on a musical tour of power you'll never forget and will keep coming back to.

This is truly one of the best albums I have ever heard. The stunning array of McCoy's vocals, combined with the different guitar tones, and rythmic drums make it a real experience. It's the kind of album that may not seem good at first, but gets better and better every time you listen to it. In my opinion, the Zoon tracks are the best. If you're into heavy metal, industrial, goth, or anything like that, BUY THIS ALBUM!

Simply one of the best creations of godkind...

From the opening sequence of Still Life to the dropping of the curtain of Coma, Zoon is awesome. I found it just as awe inspiring as all his last incarnations of music and Pagan crooning. Shine has the lyrics of a ballad of sorts ("this is the place where love has broken down"), while The Catching of the Butterfly flutters ethereal fingers down one's spine. If you are an ex-Nephilim fan this album will sit with pride by the others. Carl McCoy has shown that his imagination and skill as a lyricist haven't faded like "Venus Decomposing".