Mourning Sun - Dark Publications

Location: Home » music » General » Mourning Sun

Similar Items:

•	Elizium
•	Fields of the Nephilim - Revelations/Forever Remain
•	The Nephilim
•	Dawnrazor
•	Zoon

Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
With their first brand new studio recordings in almost 15 years, The Fields Of The Nephilim triumphantly return with limited edition of Mourning Sun. This is classic Nephilim music ( no pseudo-hip experiments here ) and anything but an accidental stringing together of arbitrary songs it is a fascinating work of art, revealing encompassing complexity in its overall context. The first studio album since their legendary early '90's release Elizium, is another haunting sonic journey which leads the listener into an uncharted world of mysteries and secrets that band mastermind Carl McCoy has been famous for in the past twenty years. It links spherical sonic images with driving rhythms, telling stories of a still uncharted future. "The lyrics of Mourning Sun are the words of today that give me a glimpse of tomorrow," explains McCoy, adding: "The whole thing is about looking forward as opposed to dwelling in the past". Includes the bonus track 'In The Year 2525' plus an exclusive bonus video track. Streamhammer. 2005.

Album Details
Limited Edition Release Will Contain the Bonus Track "a Conversation of - in the Year 2525" Along with a Video Clip

Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Eventually grows on you... December 5, 2005
7 out of 11 found this review helpful

...First let me say I've been a fan of FotN/Nefilim/Nephilim A.D. since 1987-- eighteen years now. I like Zoon, and although we all know the reasons the quality of Fallen is so poor, I still like it, too. But just because this is a FotN release doesn't mean I have to give it a perfect 5 stars; I only give it four stars.

...The music is great. I disagree with others that say the songs are too long. I don't think the songs are too long. I like long songs. I give it 4 stars for one reason: McCoys vocals are mixed too loudly into the songs. By the time the third song, "New Gold Dawn," starts, you want to turn the volume down, or skip to another song, hoping he isn't overpowering the music on another song.

..."Straight in to the Light" sounds like the faster material on "Fallen." Others complain that the lyrics are too "metal:" "Look up/ Look down." I like the aggressive lyrics. For me the weakness of the song is the chorus: "Straight in to the light/ Straight in to the light/ you and I will fly again/ you and I again." There's just nothing there. A stronger chorus would make the song so much better.

... "New Gold Dawn" is the track that suffers the most from McCoy's over-amped vocals. The song would be much better without his unaccompanied sililoquy at the beginning of the song.

...I love the soundeffects, except for one: a baby crying. Yes, I know the lyrics relate to a Watcher/Angel's rebirth in corporeal form after banishment: "Come home/ Malach now/ To your father/ Now cover his face so that he may not see the light/(baby crying)/ That's the one:/ Malach menoodehah [means,'banished angel'] I return you/"). Still, it doesn't work here. Baby crying just does not belong in aggressive music.

... I love the themes, the music, the "aural soundscapes". As others have said, there are elements vaguely reminiscent of Elyzium, but I felt the album is more like the "Chaocracy"-Zoon-Fallen era than pre-91 FotN.

..."Xiberia" is the most "Zoon-ish" cut on the album and since I love Zoon, it's my favorite track. Xiberia is fastpaced and brutal. Others complain it is too "electronic." To me, it's the best cut on the album, period. My foot can't keep out of the gas pedal when it comes on in my car, and the safety switch in my amp keeps shutting it down at home because I keep cranking it too loudly!

...Certainly the second half of the album ("Xiberia," "She," and "Mourning Sun") is the better half. "She" and "Mourning Sun" are epics that rise apprpriately FotN-style. "She" is the track that reminds me most of Elyzium. "Mourning Sun" is most reminiscent of the material on "Fallen."

...The album is very good. The soundbites and samples are awesome. Just wish the vocals were turned down a couple of decibels... Carl's voice always added its best, eeriest effects when you had to struggle to hear what he was saying.

5 out of 5 stars

Exordium and terminus. December 11, 2005
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

The previous reviewers have, for the most part, expressed views reasonably similar to my own (although I can't hear any stylistic or formal similarity between 'Straight to the Light' and anything off of 'Dawnrazor'!). Long story short, if you are a long time fan of McCoy's work, you will definitely find something to enjoy on this record. I would, however, add the following caveat: Apart from a few seconds here and there, mostly buried in the mix, there is virtually no lead guitar, distorted or otherwise, (or lead anything, for that matter) on this entire record. The guitars have been buried deep in the mix, as almost pure texture... even the solo in 'She' (an excellent moment, btw) is largely hidden behind the low-end/rhythm instruments, while the record's hardest track, 'Xiberia' (also outstanding) has likewise relegated its guitar to the very bottom of the mix.

Overall, 'Mourning Sun' is a largely keyboard-driven affair, always striving for atmosphere over catchiness, which is why no single was marketed. McCoy himself said that the songs were not to be listened to individually, but as a whole. That might be why the decision was made to include the vaguely poppy cover of Zager & Evans, 'In the Year 2525,' which is probably as close to tongue-in-cheek as McCoy is likely to get (well, aside from the utterly bizarre decision to record Roxy Music's ode to physical love with a blow-up doll, 'In Every Dream Home a Heartache'...).

At any rate, the pronounced de-emphasis of the guitar was probably a necessary means to distance this project from the uber-metal of 'Zoon'. Fans of the old FotN's Tony Pettit and his distinctive bass stylings will find much to like in the recurring bass riff that drives songs like 'Straight to the Light,' or the slower, mid-range heavy bass (a la 'Celebrate') of 'She.' McCoy's vocals are also exceptional, being more in line with 'Elizium' than 'Zoon' this time around, although the "look up! look down!" bits in 'Straight to the Light' are pure death metal ;)

One other point unremarked upon by the other reviewers... the paper, upon which the booklet was printed, is of the highest quality I have ever encountered in a commercial CD release- it appears to be the same paper used for upper end graphic novels, which probably increased the production cost of this limitied edition disc. Odd's are, they will likely revert to regular paper for the non-limited release, so if you're into presentation, make sure to buy the limited edition. All in all, it is a fine record, which has gotten better with every listen, as its subtleties have wormed their way into my brain... I had initially planned on giving it four stars because it didn't immediately grab me by the throat, as did 'Zoon', 'Dawnrazor', and the eponymous 'Nephilim' LP, but I have since decided that this reaction is unfair to the source material. 'Elizium' also required the listener to be patient and let itself unfold in its own time and in its own way. This record clearly recquires the same level of dedication... it is neither quick, nor easy, but it can be deeply rewarding, if given the chance.

Edit: Amazon says that the limited edition includes a video. It does not. However, the previously mentioned bonus track, 'In the Year 2525,' is well worth springing for the limited edition.

5 out of 5 stars

Good Mourning Mr. McCoy.... June 8, 2006
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Dear Carl,

10 years... we have waited 10 years for this album. We have waited for YOUR touch, YOUR story, YOUR blessing. That other "album" that came out between Zoon and now... well, we KNOW it wasn't YOURS. We could tell... I have one thing to say to you - thank you.

If the opening portion of this review isn't enough of an indicator, I will make it plain and simple for those reading - I admire and respect the mind of Carl McCoy. In other words - I am a pretty big fan of the Nephilim in all its incarnations.

In FotN speak - McCoy has proven his statement - "I am the Nephilim." After he said these immortal words, our boys dropped off the radar. The Nephilim are back... and McCoy is looking alot like the 5th Horseman.

If you have never heard of the Nephilim, feel free to purchase this album - this is where the Nephilim has evolved to. This is the now of Carl McCoy.

I have seen some people liken this to Elizium. While there are certain similarities, I think it is fairly myopic to say there is no musical progression from then til now. Elizium was a smooth progression from "The Nephilim"... just as that album was a progression from "Dawnrazor". With each album we heard Carl tell us that his vision was becoming clearer... I read where he stated that it took him three albums to get that message across. It was almost a coaxing of will that created those albums. Always over the top, always bombastic, the Nephilim ARE larger than life. He also stated that with his Nefilim release of Zoon, he said what he wanted to with one album... Where his first message was a gradual and melodic surge, his second message reflected an explosive urgency... almost volcanic in nature. Fans of the Fields of the Nephilim were thrown back and many shunned the album as Carl's experiment with Death Metal...

Mourning Sun is the next step. We hear the melodic elements of early the Fields v1.0, but we also hear some of the harshness of Zoon. There is an urgency here...

My first listen to this album was difficult - I was hoping for Elizium v2.0. I needed to put it away for a few days after the first couple of listens and see what happened. It didn't take long. I accepted the fact that Elizium was the past... that Zoon was the past. McCoy was back with lessons learned. I started to hear bass lines in my head... lyrics started to creep into my consciousness again... "I'll fly again!" "We didn't fall from Heaven, we didn't fall for you!" Hello?

Roots... Welcome to the Requiem for our first Gods... welcome to a mourning for the Simurgh. This is the past given homage. Combine the writing of Andrew Collins, religions, and the mystical ponderings of Mr. McCoy, add a dash of genius, a pinch of incredible song writing, and just a touch of over the top production and showmanship... and you have the idea. From this end, here we find the new beginning in a New Gold Dawn. This is the future.

Mourning Sun is nothing short of phenomenal. When I am not listening to it, I miss it. The energy in this album will take you by the hand and lead you to where McCoy wants you to go. For a first listen, I highly recommend a good set of speakers.. you first need to FEEL this album... After that, put it aside for a day or two. Things will start calling to you from the layer upon layer that you heard.. the next time, listen with headphones and a glass of your favorite mellowing intoxicant. Absorb this album as a whole and you will find something that music these days just fails to offer any more-

THIS ALBUM HAS A SOUL.

If you think the vocals are over the top, listen closer... It isn't an act. It isn't an affected attitude. The Preacherman has indeed returned. His Watchers are thankful.

4 out of 5 stars

POWERFUL & DARK April 1, 2006
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

This disc is worth my $30.00.

This album is not as metal heavy as ZOON but is very heavy in sombering, dark atmospheres and emotion. Most songs really grabbed me and pulled me into it's realm of dimentia.

I did not care for the last track, IN THE YEAR 2525 - It had an early FOTN rock n roll vibe which I thought ruined the flow of the album. What I am also disappointed in is that this is not really a complete band. It is only Carl McCoy and some other dude he hired to do bass & guitar and the drums are all programmed. The music does sound a bit artificial due to it's programmed industrial elements.

If you loved ELIZIUM, chances are, you will enjoy this one also.

5 out of 5 stars

The welcome return of the Fields! November 26, 2005
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

It's been 15 years (nine, if you count McCoy's solo "Zoon" under the phonetic name The Nefilim) since the album "Elizium", and finally the Fields of the Nephilim have released a new album! OK, there was an unsanctioned bootleg of demo tracks released a couple years ago called "Fallen", but that doesn't count (even if one track was actually ok).

"Mourning Sun" is fantastic!

For all of McCoy's statements that its a progression from their previous stuff, I'm not sure I see it. There is certainly a modern polish, but I would call this a synthesis of their previous work. The first song 'Shroud (Exordium)' feels like their second album "The Nephilim". The second 'Straight into the Light' is like their first album "Dawnrazor". Third song 'New Gold Dawn' is back to "The Nephilim". The fourth 'Requiem XIII 33 (Le Veilleur Silencieux)' is their third and last album "Elizium". The fifth song 'Xiberia (Seasons in the Ice Cage)' is "Zoon"-ish. And the final two "She" and "Mourning Sun" are also Elizium.

I quite disliked "Zoon", which I found repetitive and, well, loud. But the song 'Xiberia' works a lot better in context of an album where it represents a breakout before the melodic two-part finish.

This listing is for the limited edition, which has a bonus track called 'In the Year 2525' which I've not heard.

Powered by Associate-O-Matic