Biography
Among Britain's 1980s goth rock acts, Fields of the Nephilim projected the strongest sense of conviction. Carl McCoy delivered their enigmatic, occult-themed material in a low, rasping vocal style. Onstage the band moved through pools of low lighting and artificial fog, dressed in dark frontier attire modeled on western outlaw clothing. They also outlasted most of their contemporaries, continuing until McCoy departed for a solo venture in 1991.
The group came together in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 1984. McCoy joined guitarists Paul Wright and Peter Yates, drummer Nod Wright, saxophonist Gary Whisker, and bassist Tony Pettitt. After numerous concerts the band issued the EP Burning the Fields at the end of that year. Whisker exited shortly afterward, leaving the remaining members to record for Beggar's Banquet—the same label that had already released material by Southern Death Cult and Bauhaus. The singles “Power” and “Preacher Man” appeared in 1986; the latter reached number two on the independent listings and helped build anticipation for the debut album Dawnrazor, issued in 1987. Although the LP performed strongly on the indie charts, it was the later single “Blue Water” that finally placed the band on the national pop singles survey. In June 1988 the second album The Nephilim climbed to number twelve on the pop albums chart, while its single “Moonchild” peaked at number twenty-eight; a live video, Forever Remain, was also released that year.
“Psychonaut,” issued in May 1989, entered the Top 40, yet Elizium (1990) proved to be the band’s final studio album. The double live set Earth Inferno followed the same year, and the singles “For Her Light” and “Sumerland (Dreamed)” both registered on the charts. In October 1991 McCoy withdrew, retaining the group’s name. Yates, Pettitt, and the Wright brothers recruited vocalist Alan Delaney and issued What Starts, Ends (1992) under the name Rubicon. McCoy formed Nefilim and released the album Zoon in 1996. Beggar’s Banquet compiled a two-disc overview titled Revelations in 1994. No new material surfaced until the unauthorized collection of outtakes Fallen appeared in 2002. The band resumed activity with Mourning Sun in 2006 and maintained a steady live schedule through the 2000s and 2010s. Recording sessions took place in 2014, yielding the singles “Earthbound” and “Prophecy,” intended for an album then known under the working title The Darkness Before Dawn.
The group came together in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 1984. McCoy joined guitarists Paul Wright and Peter Yates, drummer Nod Wright, saxophonist Gary Whisker, and bassist Tony Pettitt. After numerous concerts the band issued the EP Burning the Fields at the end of that year. Whisker exited shortly afterward, leaving the remaining members to record for Beggar's Banquet—the same label that had already released material by Southern Death Cult and Bauhaus. The singles “Power” and “Preacher Man” appeared in 1986; the latter reached number two on the independent listings and helped build anticipation for the debut album Dawnrazor, issued in 1987. Although the LP performed strongly on the indie charts, it was the later single “Blue Water” that finally placed the band on the national pop singles survey. In June 1988 the second album The Nephilim climbed to number twelve on the pop albums chart, while its single “Moonchild” peaked at number twenty-eight; a live video, Forever Remain, was also released that year.
“Psychonaut,” issued in May 1989, entered the Top 40, yet Elizium (1990) proved to be the band’s final studio album. The double live set Earth Inferno followed the same year, and the singles “For Her Light” and “Sumerland (Dreamed)” both registered on the charts. In October 1991 McCoy withdrew, retaining the group’s name. Yates, Pettitt, and the Wright brothers recruited vocalist Alan Delaney and issued What Starts, Ends (1992) under the name Rubicon. McCoy formed Nefilim and released the album Zoon in 1996. Beggar’s Banquet compiled a two-disc overview titled Revelations in 1994. No new material surfaced until the unauthorized collection of outtakes Fallen appeared in 2002. The band resumed activity with Mourning Sun in 2006 and maintained a steady live schedule through the 2000s and 2010s. Recording sessions took place in 2014, yielding the singles “Earthbound” and “Prophecy,” intended for an album then known under the working title The Darkness Before Dawn.
Albums
Dawnrazor
2025
Singles & Mixes
2013
Genesis & Revelation
2007
One More Nightmare
2007
Fallen
2002
From Gehenna To Here
2001
Elizium
1999
Revelations
1994
Earth Inferno
1991
The Nephilim
1988
Burning the Fields LP
1985
Singles
