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If bands like The Sisters of Mercy and Fields of the Nephilim had had a better work ethic then it might be that the Goth music scene wouldn't exist. Having created a hunger for these darkness-tinged songs, it was cruel to leave us dangling for me for more. So we turned to others for succour. And while Carl McCoy may be back with us in this dimension, his return seems haltering, prone to disappear if the stars are not right. Mourning Sun was an unexpected triumph, but gigs are few and far between. And where, while we're on the subject is Sleeper, which the official site promised almost a year ago? I digress...
It would be enough to make me applaud NFD for purely on the terms of their dogged persistence. However my praise would be hollow though if they didn't have songs worth cherishing. NFD's first EP contains "Break The Silence" which is within spitting distance of anything Fields of the Nephilim produced. NFD's singer is more of the worldly realm than McCoy's spectral presence, but I'll take the earth if the air isn't available any time. "When The Sun Dies" treads a line between the heaviness of The Nefilim and the delicate majesty of Fields of the Nephilim. There is a deep throbbing bass, rock guitars, topped with Peter 'Bob' White's growly but always melodic - vocals. The true magic arrives two and a half minutes in, when the instruments drop away, and Bob sings: 'You seem to so restless, you know this isn't right...' The filigreed guitar is pure Nephilim magic. NFD have always demonstrated a fine grasp of dynamics, knowing when the take the ground away from the listener's feet to allow he or she to take flight. The rest of the song is good too and builds to a thunderous climax. For the most part this song is more 'rock' than 'goth' but NFD know never to bludgeon the listener, even when they turn the amps up to 11. "When The Sun Dies (Extreme Beat Mix)" makes the song more dance floor friendly, without diluting its magic too much. The chorus sounds like two songs being played at the same time, but this is a common problem I have with remixes designed for clubs. Even in remixed form NFD have the ability to make me feel better about my existence. They do what the best music does, give the listener catharsis and the energy to carry on. For that I salute them. I'm looking forward to Deeper Visions, the album from which "When The Sun Dies" comes. |
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