Nefilim was a

gothic metal Gothic metal (or goth metal) is a fusion genre combining the aggression of heavy metal music, heavy metal with the dark atmospheres of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different ...

studio project formed by

Carl McCoy Carl Douglas McCoy (born 15 January 1963) is a British singer who is the frontman for the gothic rock band Fields of the Nephilim. Biography McCoy frequently uses mystical and occult references in his lyrics. Samples of Aleister Crowley's v ...

with John "Capachino" Carter in 1992 after the disbanding of

Fields of the Nephilim Fields of the Nephilim are an English gothic rock band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 1984. The band's name refers to a biblical race of angel-human hybrids known as the Nephilim. Career Early years (1984–1991) The band's debut 1 ...

. It featured McCoy on vocals and keyboards and John Carter on bass, guitars and drums. The album title track "Zoon" was written during this period, as were now-famed demos including "Red Harvest777", "Chaochracy" and "Subsanity (Sensorium)". After a year Carter and McCoy parted company, and McCoy went on to recruit Paul Miles on guitar, Simon Rippin on drums and Cian Houchin on bass. The lineup released one album, ''Zoon'' (1996), which was more influenced by

death metal Death metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep death growl, growling vocals; aggressive ...

and

industrial metal Industrial metal is the fusion of Heavy metal music, heavy metal and industrial music, typically employing repeating Heavy metal guitar, metal guitar riffs, sampling (music), sampling, synthesizer or music sequencer, sequencer lines, and Distor ...

than McCoy's previous releases with the Fields of the Nephilim, though similar themes of mysticism are prevalent, seen in songs like "Pazuzu (Black Rain)", which refers to the Assyro-Babylonian god also known as "king of the demons". Rippin and Miles would later go on to form Sensorium, while Houchin would go on to form Saints of Eden. McCoy and Carter would later re-establish Fields of the Nephilim as a living entity which still performs today.

Members

– vocals, keyboards (1992–1996) * John "Capachino" Carter – bass, guitars and drums (1992–1993) * Paul Miles – guitar (1993–1996) * Simon Rippin – drums (1993–1996) * Cian Houchin – bass (1993–1996)

Discography

''Zoon'' (1996)

''Zoon'', Nefilim's only studio album, was released in April 1996 by

Beggars Banquet Records Beggars Banquet Records is a British independent record label. Beggars Banquet started as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin and is part of the Beggars Group of labels. History In 1977, spurred by the prevailing D ...

(Catalogue number BEGA172). The album saw a move away from the rich soundscapes that characterised earlier works from

towards a darker, more industrial/

sound. McCoy has stated that the album was in

development hell Development hell, also known as development purgatory or development limbo, is media and software industry jargon for a project, concept, or idea that remains in a stage of early development for a long time because of legal, technical, or artistic ...

for several years, due to restrictions from the record label. The album is dedicated to Scarlett McCoy, Carl McCoy's daughter. The album is a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

, and while McCoy remained largely silent about the themes, one possible explanation is that the story revolves around the Watchers and the

Book of Enoch The Book of Enoch (also 1 Enoch; Hebrew language, Hebrew: סֵפֶר חֲנוֹךְ, ''Sēfer Ḥănōḵ''; , ) is an Second Temple Judaism, ancient Jewish Apocalyptic literature, apocalyptic religious text, ascribed by tradition to the Patriar ...

. The word "zoon" is derived from Greek, meaning "living creature" or "beast".

Track listing

#"Still Life" #"Xodus" #"Shine" #"Penetration" #"Melt (The Catching of the Butterfly)" #"Venus Decomposing" #"Pazuzu (Black Rain)" #"Zoon, Parts 1 & 2: Saturation" #"Zoon, Part 3: Wake World" #"Coma"

Singles

*Xodus (1995) *Penetration (1996)

References

External links

Official website of Fields of the Nephilim and Nefilim
* *
Paul Miles now runs a recording studio in North London
British industrial metal musical groups British gothic metal musical groups British death metal musical groups {{UK-rock-band-stub