Drowning in Odium

NFD / Saints Of Eden / Dark Horizon @ Camden Barfly, London, UK, 21/06/06
 
 
By Fabienne T
Photos by Cuty (www.myspace.com/cutycuty)

(The band pics are listed in order of chronological appearance during the gig.)

 
 
The Barfly is a well known venue in the British capital. It is small, dark and gritty as we like them. Even though some very trendy events are being staged here regularly, it has been able to retain its lovable underground feel and has – so far – escaped a take over by the all powerful Carling and Mean Fiddler music giants who turn venues into sterile, squeaky clean places with brain dead, over-zealous security folks who treat you like shit. But that’s enough ranting, let’s go back to the music.
This is apparently Dark Horizon’s first gig, and I have to say that this is a very promising first one for the trio! Singer Michael makes a compelling frontman with a powerful, clear voice that immediately commands attention. Michael, Andrew and Stuart are tonight joined onstage by Stephen Carey (of headlining band NFD, who has mixed Dark Horizon’s first EP). DH’s music is what gothic rock should always be: strong and very melodic, atmospheric and dark without being overblown, with a modern, electronic twist… Tracks like “Last Mile” and “1 More” demonstrate great musicianship and a sense of the dramatic. You will hear from this excellent band very soon.
 
One obvious quality of Saints of Eden is most certainly their honesty and simplicity. The very laid-back Cian is joined by Andy on bass, Ross on guitar and Flow on trigerred drums. SoE’s music is a very interesting mix of several genres, and is not easy to pigeonhole. It takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions, and can be pretty intense. Cian’s growling, deep vocals can be very impressive, in particular on “War of Words”, and contrast with his very slim frame crowned by a shock of spiky blonde hair. The mood of the set changes constantly: the guitars can be gloomy and haunting (and remind us that Cian was once a member of Carl McCoy’s Nefilim project), or as heavy and aggressive as in any metal outfit. The electronics add a modern, experimental feel to the music, and mix ebm, techno and industrial beats. SOE will be releasing a double album in the fall: one to keep an eye on!
 
Over the past few years, NFD have been slowly but surely building up a fan base all around Europe – and probably soon around the world. Just imagine: Tony Pettitt, founding member and bassist of the legendary Fields of The Nephilim, has joined forces with singer/guitarist Peter “Bob” White of London band Sensorium, and with drummer Simon Rippin (The Nephilim, Fields of the Nephilim, Sensorium). The live line-up is completed by Stephen Carey and Chris Milden. The band burst onto the London scene in 2003, much to the delight of Fields of The Nephilim fans and others. Most certainly, their connection with Carl McCoy’s iconic band got them a lot of attention. Sure enough, Tony’s gloomy bass lines were instantly recognizable, and Bob’s voice sounds very much like McCoy’s guttural, sepulchral growl, with more aggressive overtones. The band also went as far as playing a few Fields of the Nephilim songs at their gigs, causing quite a stir in the audience! Their first album, ‘No Love Lost’, received rave reviews on its release in 2004, and the band have been touring incessantly in the UK and Germany.
But 2006 sees the return of Carl McCoy – with the monumental “Mourning Sun”, and it has somehow actually helped NFD to find their own identity. Their new album, the beautiful “Dead Pool Rising”, is a gloomy, powerful success. The imposing Bob White, all long red dreadlocks and growling voice, feels at home tonight and smiles a lot despite the heat; the other members are absorbed in their instruments. Among the explosion of sound on epic tracks like “Light My Way”, “My Possession”, “Descent” we get pretty emotional and poignant moments: “One Moment Between Us”, “Stronger”, “Dead Pool” make our heart much heavier. Bob’s voice carries pain, anger and passion while the guitars rise into the air and Tony Pettit’s bass resonates into our insides. We get caught into the swirling music and drink its melodies until the very last drop. Gothic rock hasn’t felt that good for a long time.

 
More info:

 www.darkhorizon.org.uk
www.metech-recordings.com
www.nfd.web.com