Carl McCoy
Encyclopedia
Carl McCoy is the frontman for gothic rock
band
Fields of the Nephilim
.
s, their first album Dawnrazor
was released in 1987. They produced two more full-length albums, The Nephilim
and Elizium
, plus a live album called Earth Inferno
and a handful of singles, before splitting in 1991. McCoy went on to form Nefilim
. The 1996 release of Nefilim's album Zoon
saw a departure from the ethereal gothic sound of Elizium in favour of an industrial metal
and death metal
direction.
McCoy's most recent album, Mourning Sun
, was released in 2005. Although it was released under the name Fields of the Nephilim
, McCoy has been secretive about the musicians who play on Mourning Sun, though John 'Capachino' Carter is the only named contributer. The Album was conceived and produced in Carl's studio - Ice Cage.
McCoy is well known for his mystical and occult
-based lyrics and beliefs. His works often make reference Aleister Crowley
, although he is not publicly a follower of Crowley's Thelema
religion. Clay disc recordings of Crowley's voice can be heard on a handful of Fields of the Nephilim songs, specifically on Elizium; one of Fields of the Nephilim's biggest hits, "Moonchild", shares a name with one of Crowley's novels.
In interviews, McCoy has hinted that he sees his on-stage performances as theurgic, magickal
or shamanic workings. He is also an admirer of Austin Osman Spare
(taking the name of the Fields of the Nephilim live album Earth Inferno from a work by Spare) and has thanked "AOS" in dedications on his albums. In another nod to Chaos magic
, Fields of the Nephilim's song Psychonaut shares its name with a book on the subject by Peter J. Carroll, and quotes lines from the Necronomicon
.
McCoy owns a graphics company, Sheerfaith, which has supplied art and design for all of his musical projects. Sheerfaith has also produced artwork for other projects, such as for the Storm Constantine
book Hermetech and Andrew Collins' 21st Century Grail.
McCoy appeared as the nomad in the motion picture Hardware (1990), directed by Richard Stanley. who had previously directed a number of videos for Fields of the Nephilim.
He has two daughters, Scarlett and Eden, with his long-time partner Lynn. He also has a godson named Jack. The Nefilim's 1996 album Zoon was dedicated to Scarlett. Both girls sing on Mourning Sun. McCoy comes from a religious background; He grew up in England with his mother, who was deeply religious, a Jehovah's Witness. McCoy later dealt with his relation to Christianity critically in some of his songs such as "Chord of Souls".
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Fields of the Nephilim
Fields of the Nephilim
Fields of the Nephilim are an English gothic rock band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 1984. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Carl McCoy, saxophonist Gary Whisker, Tony Pettitt on bass, guitarist Paul Wright and drummer Alexander "Nod" Wright...
.
Biography
The band formed in the 1984. Following on from two EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s, their first album Dawnrazor
Dawnrazor
Dawnrazor is the debut album by Fields of the Nephilim released during May 1987. The record contains the singles Preacher Man and Power which was co-produced by the band and Iain O'Higgins....
was released in 1987. They produced two more full-length albums, The Nephilim
The Nephilim
The Nephilim, Fields of the Nephilim's second studio album, was released in September 1988 by Situation Two/Beggars Banquet Records. The record debuted at number 12 in UK album charts.- Track listing :# "Endemoniada" – 7:15# "The Watchman" – 5:31...
and Elizium
Elizium
Elizium, Fields of the Nephilim's third studio album, was released in October 1990 by Beggars Banquet Records. The record peaked at number 22 in UK album charts.-Crowley's speech:...
, plus a live album called Earth Inferno
Earth Inferno
Earth Inferno is the first book by the English artist and magician Austin Osman Spare when he was 18.-Artist's book:Conceived as an anti-establishment reaction to the publicity surrounding his inclusion in the Royal Academy summer show in 1904, the book was developed over the remainder of that year...
and a handful of singles, before splitting in 1991. McCoy went on to form Nefilim
Nefilim
The Nefilim was a Carl McCoy project formed after the disbanding of Fields of the Nephilim.-History:Originally formed with John Carter, Nefilim featured McCoy on vocals, Paul Miles on guitar, Simon Rippin on drums and Cian Houchin on bass...
. The 1996 release of Nefilim's album Zoon
Zoon
Zoon, Nefilim's only studio album, was released in October 1996 by Beggars Banquet Records . The album saw a move away from the rich soundscapes that characterised earlier works from Fields of the Nephilim towards a darker, more industrial / death metal sound...
saw a departure from the ethereal gothic sound of Elizium in favour of an industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
and death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
direction.
McCoy's most recent album, Mourning Sun
Mourning Sun
Mourning Sun, released in November 2005, is the fifth studio album by Fields of the Nephilim...
, was released in 2005. Although it was released under the name Fields of the Nephilim
Fields of the Nephilim
Fields of the Nephilim are an English gothic rock band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 1984. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Carl McCoy, saxophonist Gary Whisker, Tony Pettitt on bass, guitarist Paul Wright and drummer Alexander "Nod" Wright...
, McCoy has been secretive about the musicians who play on Mourning Sun, though John 'Capachino' Carter is the only named contributer. The Album was conceived and produced in Carl's studio - Ice Cage.
McCoy is well known for his mystical and occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
-based lyrics and beliefs. His works often make reference Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
, although he is not publicly a follower of Crowley's Thelema
Thelema
Thelema is a religious philosophy that was established, defined and developed by the early 20th century British writer and ceremonial magician, Aleister Crowley. He believed himself to be the prophet of a new age, the Æon of Horus, based upon a religious experience that he had in Egypt in 1904...
religion. Clay disc recordings of Crowley's voice can be heard on a handful of Fields of the Nephilim songs, specifically on Elizium; one of Fields of the Nephilim's biggest hits, "Moonchild", shares a name with one of Crowley's novels.
In interviews, McCoy has hinted that he sees his on-stage performances as theurgic, magickal
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
or shamanic workings. He is also an admirer of Austin Osman Spare
Austin Osman Spare
Austin Osman Spare was an English artist who developed idiosyncratic magical techniques including automatic writing, automatic drawing and sigilization based on his theories of the relationship between the conscious and unconscious self...
(taking the name of the Fields of the Nephilim live album Earth Inferno from a work by Spare) and has thanked "AOS" in dedications on his albums. In another nod to Chaos magic
Chaos magic
Chaos magic is a school of the modern magical tradition which emphasizes the pragmatic use of belief systems and the creation of new and unorthodox methods.-General principles:...
, Fields of the Nephilim's song Psychonaut shares its name with a book on the subject by Peter J. Carroll, and quotes lines from the Necronomicon
Necronomicon
The Necronomicon is a fictional grimoire appearing in the stories by horror writer H. P. Lovecraft and his followers. It was first mentioned in Lovecraft's 1924 short story "The Hound", written in 1922, though its purported author, the "Mad Arab" Abdul Alhazred, had been quoted a year earlier in...
.
McCoy owns a graphics company, Sheerfaith, which has supplied art and design for all of his musical projects. Sheerfaith has also produced artwork for other projects, such as for the Storm Constantine
Storm Constantine
Storm Constantine is a British science fiction and fantasy author, primarily known for her Wraeththu series.- Life and work :Since the late 1980s Constantine has written more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books...
book Hermetech and Andrew Collins' 21st Century Grail.
McCoy appeared as the nomad in the motion picture Hardware (1990), directed by Richard Stanley. who had previously directed a number of videos for Fields of the Nephilim.
He has two daughters, Scarlett and Eden, with his long-time partner Lynn. He also has a godson named Jack. The Nefilim's 1996 album Zoon was dedicated to Scarlett. Both girls sing on Mourning Sun. McCoy comes from a religious background; He grew up in England with his mother, who was deeply religious, a Jehovah's Witness. McCoy later dealt with his relation to Christianity critically in some of his songs such as "Chord of Souls".
Further reading
- Baddeley, Gavin: Goth Chic: A Connoisseur's Guide to Dark Culture (Plexus, 2002)