Dawnrazor/The Nephilim/Elysium/Earth Inferno/Singles and Mixes (5 Albums

Oh I’m loving this - a little return to my roots

I remember buying The Nephilim when I was about 14 and loving it instantly, not least because my family hated it. I had all the vinyl and regret getting rid of it. This is not as lovely as those original albums and 12 inches were but revisiting these songs over the decades, I think Fields of the Nephilim got a rough deal from the music press for trying to do something different.

This box set contains just about everything you really need as essential FOTN. 3 excellent studio albums, a truly captivating live album, and a load of other extra tracks, some essentialDawnrazor is presented on CD in the correct order, hasn’t lost any impact 36 years later. On the same Cd, amongst the other essentials are the singles “Preacher Man” and “Blue Water”, arguably of superior quality to anything on Dawnrazor.The best is yet to come; The Nephilim, the 1988 album is simply one of the best albums ever released under both the goth or rock genre in general.Elizium, it could be argued is the best thing The Nephilim recorded, in places it’s very ethereal and haunting, at times it rocks very hard indeed, it has elects of being a prog rock type concept album, and should be listened as a whole. At the end of the CD is perhaps the definitive Nephilim track, the 10 minute epic “Psychonaut Lib iii”, enough saidEarth Inferno is an excellent recording, capturing The Nephilim at their height as a live band, they spilt up in the aftermath of the Elizium tour, and in all honesty, some will disagree, they’ve never been the same since quality wise and as a live or recording band. The line up of Carl McCoy,Tony Petit, Paul Wright, Pete Yates abd Nod Wright were a truly gifted incarnation of the band one of those barre examples of a rock band with extreme chemistry.The final CD has various mixes and is a welcome addition, some of these tracks are previously difficult to track down on CD or otherwise unreleased.A truly great collection, no rock music collection shoukd be without the Nephilim; “Forever Remain”

Unbeatable value set to get started with FotN. Although all the songs are here this is some sort of remaster not just a collection of original releases so the sound is slightly different: generally a bit more bassy and changed EQ settings but its really a mixed bag sometimes with reduced hiss and an increase in quality but othertimes its overdone resulting in reduced fidelity, it does change the tone of some tracks. The old CD release of Dawnrazor seems better than the one provided in this boxset tending to have a bit more tonal range but other albums had more noise (hiss) and benefit from the remaster. Also its worth noting some of the songs are different versions than what appeared on the original releases; for serious fans I'd probably suggest looking out for the original releases as well if you're looking for the best sound & fidelity overall.

Without doubt the finest Gothic band to have walked the earth in dusty boots!This box set is just the best £15 anyone could spend, it contains the first three albums, live cd and rarities disc.Dawnrazor (1987) displays great promise and includes some great songs but sounds like a collected body of songs rather than being an album proper. The sound is kinda generic for Beggars Banquet at the time so the band don't sound as unique and coherent as in subsequent albums; next is The Nephilim (1988) and the magic begins. Moving, haunting, emotive, this album sweeps you along bathed in strings, hypnotic bass and then Mc.Coy's sublime vocals. A truly great album which with songs like 'Moonchild' and the brooding yet epic 'Last Exit...' how could it get better? Well, strangely enough with 'Elysium' (1990). This is the masterpiece, this album from its opening note to the final fade is just beyond praise, still for me the epitome of the gothic genre. All the mood, atmosphere and depth of the previous album but here is a warmth and serenity that wraps around you and takes you somewhere otherworldly.As amazing now as it was the first time I heard it! Then comes 'Earth Inferno' (1991), a live album that shows that this band can capture all the facets that make their music so captivating even on stage. Well recorded for the time and with all the essential songs 'Earth Inferno' is a great testament to the creativity and musicianship of the band (particularly with this original line-up).The bonus disc 'Singles & Mixes' is a little treasure box of alternate versions and mixes (all good, not messed with too much)!Often imitated, these are the godfathers of gothic music (along with Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy etc of course), later releases on other labels are 'Zoon' (1996), 'Fallen' (2002) (a conroversial release as Carl Mc.Coy claims the album was unfinished and not ready for consumption (it was released during a rift between Mc.Coy and Jungle Recs.) but is actually very good!! 'Mourning Sun' follows in 2005, a new line-up and a cleaner sound,(title track amazing)! Then most recently 'Ceremonies' (2012), a wonderful live collection also with DVD that leaves me gasping for more. New material is promised. Soon I hope!