Fields Of The Nephilim Celebrate 40 Years of Burning The Fields in Łódź
After three years of absence from the stage, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of their first EP Burning The Fields, it was Poland that had the honour of hosting the legendary Fields Of The Nephilim at the Soundedit Festival in Łódź (18 October 2025). Out of all three festival days, this concert was the only one that sold out completely. The rest of the band’s tour includes only the UK.
The Nephs, despite the passing years, are in excellent form, and vocalist Carl McCoy’s voice seems to have grown even better with age — deeper, more fitting to the band’s aura of mystery and the themes of their songs. Instrumentally, everything was outstanding as well. The only other original member on stage besides McCoy was the brilliant bassist Tony Pettit. On guitars: Gav King and Adam Leach. The drummer remains a mystery — he couldn’t be seen through the thick fog enveloping the stage. (Once I find out who it was, I’ll update this review.)
The Soundedit Festival is not only a concert event but also a sound engineer industry gathering. As one might expect, the concert production was excellent, from sound and lighting to the stage effects, including the ever-present smoke that cloaked the band in mystery.
The setlist was fairly comprehensive and — except for the final encore — ended with songs from the last album featuring the original lineup (Elizium, 1992). I had the impression that this was truly a tribute to what The Nephilim once were. As always, their concert was not only a musical experience but also a deeply spiritual one — a kind of ritual or ceremony, led by the rough, commanding voice of master of ceremonies Carl McCoy.
They began energetically, with the Dawnrazor (1987) intro — "Harmonica Man" by Ennio Morricone — evoking the imagery the band was once so closely associated with: shadowy, ghostly cowboys dusted with desert sand. Next came the post-apocalyptic "Preacher Man", all bathed in vivid green lights reminiscent of the album cover — a nice touch. The following track was "Trees Come Down", originally from the Burning The Fields EP (though in a slightly longer version than what is currently played live), disturbing and filled with unsettling visions.
The next piece, "Love Under Will" from the band’s second album (The Nephilim, 1988), is a kind of hymn inspired by one of the central ideas from The Book Of The Law by occultist and founder of Thelema, Aleister Crowley. Then came a brief moment of calm with the flowing, almost optimistic "The Watchman", also from the same album, speaking of mythical guardians, before diving back into heaviness and darkness with "Dawnrazor". The return to The Nephilim continued with the catchy and dynamic "Moonchild", inspired by Crowley’s 1917 novel of the same title.
Then came two songs from Elizium: the powerful "For Her Light" and the almost dreamlike "At The Gates Of Silent Memory". What I love about this album is how its songs are interconnected, intertwined. These two, though musically very different, complement each other beautifully, the tension and unease of "For Her Light" seamlessly flowing into the slow, hazy serenity of "At The Gates Of Silent Memory". Both are stunning songs about love that transcends understanding.
After a brief pause came the final song: "Psychonaut". Immersing oneself in this track, about journeys into one’s own mind and beyond the limits of body and perception, one could truly feel its depth. Thus ended the ritual.
After a few minutes, the band returned to the stage with a surprise (at least for me) — "Chord Of Souls", played with great energy and a hint of irony! Then, as a closing piece, they performed "Last Exit For The Lost". The line “Would you pay life’s pleasures to see me” felt particularly significant, considering the smoke that constantly surrounded the band, obscuring them a bit from view. It seemed like this song was the final farewell — “Forever remain.” They left the stage. The audience cheered, called out, though some started to leave. After a while (which felt long), those who stayed were rewarded, as the band returned for a second encore, closing the night beautifully with "Mourning Sun".
What a concert that was! Ninety minutes of sheer spectacle. What deserves praise is how their live sets always form a coherent, thoughtfully crafted whole. The setlist in Łódź was dynamic, full of emotional turns. The audience also deserves mention; most of the people listened in full concentration, absorbing the music completely. They immersed themselves in the story told by Mr McCoy and the band, with all its rises and falls, moments of calm and madness, hope and despair.
The rest of the tour also proved to be quite successful, as far as I read the reviews. It seems this was a strong beginning, as the band has already announced a U.S. tour for 2026, only the second such tour in their history. And as a devoted fan, I also hope this won’t be the last time Fields Of The Nephilim take the stage. But if it was indeed a farewell, it was a truly magnificent one. I’m deeply grateful that, despite some obstacles, I could be part of this event.
Forever remain!
