Falien [Limited Edition, Import]

The new Fields of the Nephilim album may well sound a little rough around the edges, but there is a good reason for this. Rather than being a new studio album, Fallen is a collection of outakes and demos released by the record company, having waited several years for Carl McCoy to submit new material, and is not officially endorsed or supported by the band. Being the perfectionist that he is, Mr McCoy is likely to be unhappy with this release. The recording is patchy in places and some tracks just don't feel complete.

However, far from being a blemish on the almost immaculate FoTN back catalogue, Fallen is not without it's merits. For the Fields to look back and attempt to emulate past success would be a pointless exercise for the band, who always prefer to look forward. What we're left with is several very impressive songs created over a number of years with a dark metal edge and dripping with atmosphere. Though it's more melodic and not as extreme as Zoon, Fallen retains the more modern, harsher sound, complete with thunderous double-bass drumming and fast, chunky riffs. Highlights include Hollow Doll, Premonition and the outstanding closing track, One More Nightmare.

Fallen is not for everyone - fans of the older work will likely feel obliged to buy it and some will be disappointed. The band have hinted that the TRUE fourth Nephilim release is forthcoming, but until then Fallen is a worthwhile purchase, especially if you liked Zoon and can accept the 'album' for what it is.

There has been a lot of hullabaloo over this CD. the loyal following of the nephilim have been waiting for an "offering" from their deity Carl McCoy for too long. The record company want to throw a few scraps to them, but carl the perfectionist only want his loyals to get the master piece they deserve. The CD has been collated from a few demos, studio ideas and odds and ends created lately, and as soon as the disk starts to play, it becomes obvious these recordings are unfinished. However, if this IS a "taster" of the new works, then it is a reassurance to the die hard Nephs that Carl and Co still maintain to be able to write powerful, dynamic and fresh rock music. Opening with "Dead to the World" (probably the most worked on / nearest to completion track on the LP), the obligatory sound FX from some horror movie blend into a looped melody that transforms seamlessly into a metal industrial jack hammer, tailing off nicely to "From the Fire". This track is an eye opener. It is a reflection of a great track, guts and all, but this recording clearly is missing some embellishments. A great progression, so malleable that it could build and build escalating in a head exploding climax. Perhaps if this is reworked, it may become "finished". Thirst follows on as a second part to From the Fire, clearly just a turn around of FTF (a play around idea?.... i think so). Darkcell AD follows. a power version of the old classic, no longer subtle but dark, angry and powerful. Was this the track the band "got back together" with. Track 5 subsanity, great discordant jangling guitars backed with a pounding mechanical drum, this could almost be "Killing Joke with a really bad attitude". Hollow Doll keeps the Killing Joke guitar settings, but falls into an elizium-esque register. Still experimenting with texture, Fallen is a classic example of ambience and mood though aural presentation. Still a working project "Deeper" is slightly patchy, not dynamically consistent with the multi track layers - still some great ideas but all over the place. Premonition, flirting with the backwards loops and quasi-orchestration is going to be a great base to something one day. It almost like a movie sequway. One More Nightmare - the classic Trees Come Down but Industrial. Still as powerful, but new and improved to be angrier. This track alone could almost be the wrath of god himself - fantastic, just needs polishing. so in a nutshell, if you are a Nephy unable to wait for what is in store for us, this is a great little taster. It shows the direction, register and thinking of Carl and Tony, and is a clear indication of what to expect, and at around a tenner is worthy of every penny (even if Carl doesn't want us to buy it). However, if you are looking to have a recording of one of the most dynamically structured, competent, powerful, textured and enthralling bands of all time, although this CD demonstrates that these qualities are still very much present, you may want to wait until they are polished and are presentable as their master intends.

Speaking as a fan of the band, it is good to see some new (and not so new) material. However, it didn't bode well to see that it was not being endorsed by the band, who claim they weren't ready for it to be issued. To be honest, it does have a slightly unfinished feel about it; both the music and the sleeve design. The latter is definitely not up to the normal standard and as for the former....
Well, on first listening I was not enormously impressed but having now listened a few times I am growing to like it more and more. It does not reach the peaks of "The Nephilim", but it has got some good tracks. "Hollow Doll" and "Fallen" are the stand out new tracks and the reworks of "Darkcell" and "Trees Come Down" are both excellent. The rest of it is a bit samey but not at all bad providing you like heavy guitar backed up with electronic effects and Carl McCoy's distinctive voice.
Creatively a step forward from "Zoon" but they've got a way to go to hit their previous heights. If you are a fan then get it. If you don't know then get "The Nephilim" and if you like that then try "Fallen".