FOTNIt’s the solstice, blessed be. The 1st day of summer and it’s been pissing it down all day, no make that all month. It also is the first of 2 special ceremonies by Fields Of The Nephilim, the second to be held at Shepherds Bush Empire (and yes the rest of the country is weeping) on 21st Dec.

Before we get to them it’s time for a band who are not your typical Victorians The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing (and that’s the last time I’m typing that out). This was a great choice of support as far as I was concerned having loved their last couple of albums but never managing to catch them live. They play loud, brash and gobby punk rock to get us in the mood and comedian Andrew O’Neil is wearing a period dress but informs us that he only lives down the road in Tufnell Park so will be walking home. Whether he will change first is undeclared. We are given lessons in science and history courtesy of songs about Charlie Darwin which evolves into a right bouncy workout. All three at the front are singing and cracking yokes but it’s ex Creaming Jesus vocalist Gerhard ‘Andy’ Heintz taking centre stage and being main compere here. The audience is divided by those who knew the band, those who did not and those wondering what the hell was going on with all this comedy at a Goth gig. ‘Turned Out Nice Again’ is topically about the weather and provides some thundering thrash, whereas ‘This House Is Not Haunted’ puts the willies up us in a spooky fashion. Another bloody election song is ‘Doing It For The Whigs’ and comes across like a 19th Century agit-prop song of revolution that Wat Tyler and Chumbawamba would be proud of. ‘Rats Lice And Fleas’ has us not knowing whether to dance or itch and a song about gin sees a rush to the bar. Everything goes completely off the rails at the end courtesy of a number about Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the band did great and everyone’s a bloody comedian.

Darkness descends and humour is dispensed. The air smells of liquorice which is odd until I realise it’s some vaping twat and finally Fields Of The Nephilim stalk on stage. We had been promised a return to Elyzium and the austere and ghostly tones of Dead But Not Dreaming fill the venue. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 26 years since I and many others first grabbed this on vinyl and when we are picked up and bounced around by ‘For Her Light.’ Carl McCoy’s voice harmoniously spreads like tentacles infecting each and every one of us and filling up every space available. Guitars are sinuous, bass is thick and drums beat out their urgent tattoo. Addressing a couple of points, no it may not have been the full original band who recorded the album but it sounded incredibly well rehearsed and every bit as good as back in the day. Also from where I was standing close to the speaker stage left, the sound was crystalline, powerful and every bit as good as I could have wished for. Atmosphere is thick and cloying as the stage lights bathe the band in monochrome hues. The Elyzium material which we got in its entirety transfixes me and I am totally rooted to the spot, held in its grasp as things slowly built and enrapture towards that inevitable explosion when everything quakes, trembles and takes off. The pit gets fired up but for once I don’t feel the need to join in, happy to observe and soak up the music. When Sumerland catches in its emotional gaze as hippy as it sounds it felt as though the band were really invoking the spell of the solstice with these songs and I could certainly have ‘stayed here in paradise’ listening all night but it was eventually time to move on to the second part of the set.

Seguing into Psychonaut saw them do this in style. Although there were no large constructed human pyramids there were a few unable to resist the urge to stand on shoulders and it was great to see we are not all too old to partake in such activities. I was really enjoying the fact that the band were playing such lengthy tracks tonight, it meant you really got caught up in the emotion and atmosphere, completely engrossed in it all. Moving forward a bit the brighter warmth of Mourning Sun blossomed into life feeling like we were coming out the darkness. It’s jubilant and upbeat, spreading rays of hope and very much another perfect solstice song. Then an hour after the band had come on we got a craggy “thank you very much” from McCoy and they were gone. Naturally they were not getting away without an encore and came back invigorated with new song ‘Prophecy.’ This is a contrast to everything else played, short, sharp and volatile. It rocks out as does the audience. I know a lot of people have been unsure about this as a representation of a new album but guess we are still going to have to be patient and wait until the day comes that it is completely unveiled. I have to say that the chuggy nature reminds a bit of old band The Batfish Boys, who remembers them? It also has guitarist Gav King forgetting himself and moving off his spot as he furrows away, who does he think he’s playing for Conflict? The inevitable greatest hit Moonchild has to follow and yep it’s always going to be a crowd pleaser. Dawnrazor sounds evil and malevolent and sends shivers like chainsaws down the spine and then Last Exit For The Lost is just what is needed to leave us sated and realising that this has been an excellent show just like the one last December. It seems the Nephilim get even better with age and long may they continue to do so. New album, still waiting?!

Pete Woods