View source for Elizium

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Elizium
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Fields of the Nephilim]]
| cover      = Fon_front_elizium_small.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 24 September 1990
| recorded   = 1990 at Park Gate Studios, [[Battle, East Sussex|Battle]], England; Astoria, [[Hampton Court, Herefordshire|Hampton Court]], England
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Gothic rock]], [[progressive rock]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scharf |first1=Natasha |title=The Outer Limits: Fields Of The Nephilim |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-outer-limits-fields-of-the-nephilim |website=Prog Magazine |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=12 May 2024}}</ref>
| length     = 48:03
| language   = [[English language|English]]
| label      = [[Beggars Banquet Records|Beggars Banquet]]
| producer   = Fields of the Nephilim, [[Andrew Jackson (recording engineer)|Andy Jackson]]
| prev_title = [[The Nephilim (album)|The Nephilim]]
| prev_year  = 1988
| next_title = [[Earth Inferno (album)|Earth Inferno]]
| next_year  = 1991
| misc       = {{Singles
| name        = Elizium
| type        = studio
| single1     = For Her Light
| single1date = July 1990
| single2     = Sumerland (Dreamed Version)
| single2date = November 1990
}}
}}
'''''Elizium''''' is the third studio album by English [[gothic rock]] band [[Fields of the Nephilim]]. It was released on 24 September 1990 through record label [[Beggars Banquet Records|Beggars Banquet]].The album peaked at number 22 in the [[UK Albums Chart|UK albums chart]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Albums Chart Top 75 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19900930/7502/ |work=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> It was the last album Fields of the Nephilim would record with what is regarded as their classic line-up of [[Carl McCoy]], Tony Pettitt, Peter Yates, and Paul and Alexander "Nod" Wright.
==Background==
Using [[sensational spelling]], the album was named after [[Elysium]], a conception of the [[afterlife]] that developed over time and was maintained by some Greek religious and philosophical sects and cults.
The album was produced by [[Andy Jackson (recording engineer)|Andy Jackson]], also known for his work with [[Pink Floyd]]. The introduction for the third song of the album, "At the Gates of Silent Memory", features spoken lines by [[Aleister Crowley]]. The lines are excerpts from Crowley's poem "At Sea", recorded in 1920.
==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[Allmusic|AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/elizium-mw0000310365 |title=''Elizium'' – Fields of the Nephilim : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Raggett |first=Ned |work=[[Allmusic|AllMusic]] |accessdate=16 February 2013}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev2score = 6.7/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17708-elizium |title=Fields of the Nephilim: ''Elizium'': Pitchfork Record Review |last=Hansen |first=Skaht |work=[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422010504/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17708-elizium |archivedate=22 April 2008 |accessdate=16 February 2013}}</ref>
}}
Ned Raggett of [[Allmusic|AllMusic]] in an optimistic review, said "The end result was the band's best all-around album, consisting of four lengthy pieces that showcase their now near-peerless abilities to create involved, textured, driving, and loud pieces of rock." and acknowledge "It was still goth as all heck, but like the best bands in any genre, the Nephilim transcended such artificial limitations to create their own sound.", praising the sound of the album to be "like it's about to call up darkling spirits from the nether planes." He picked out tracks such as "Submission" noting its "switching between minimal bass with guitar stabs and massive crescendos." as well as "Sumerland (What Dreams May Come)" which he claimed "takes the apocalyptic element of the Nephilim to its furthest extent; its relentless pulse supports some of the most powerful guitar out there while McCoy achieves a similar high point with his commanding voice." and concluded "Wail of Sumer" concludes Elizium on a striking two-part note, gently floating rather than exploding over its length, while McCoy's lost, regretful voice drifts along with it as a soft, yet still unnerving conclusion. Combine that with another fantastic job on art design, and Elizium, once you accept the Nephilim's basic conceits, simply stuns."<ref name="AllMusic"/>
==Track listing==
{{track listing
| headline = Side A
| all_lyrics = [[Carl McCoy]]
| all_music = Fields of the Nephilim (McCoy, Tony Pettitt, Paul Wright, Alexander "Nod" Wright, Peter Yates)
| title1 = (Dead But Dreaming)
| length1 = 1:28
| title2 = For Her Light
| length2 = 3:01
| title3 = At the Gates of Silent Memory
| length3 = 8:24
| title4 = (Paradise Regained)
| length4 = 2:29
| title5 = Submission
| length5 = 8:28
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Side B
| title1 = Sumerland (What Dreams May Come)
| length1 = 11:09
| title2 = Wail of Sumer
| length2 = 6:24
| title3 = And There Will Your Heart Be Also
| length3 = 7:37
}}
==Personnel==
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
* [[Carl McCoy]] – vocals, [[record producer|production]]
* Paul Wright – lead guitar, production
* Alexander "Nod" Wright – drums, production
* Tony Pettitt – bass guitar, production
* Peter Yates – rhythm guitar, ebow, production
{{col-break}}
; Additional personnel
* [[Jon Carin]] – additional keyboards
; Technical
* Andy Jackson – production, [[audio engineering|engineering]]
* Sheer Faith/ [[Carl McCoy]] – sleeve design
* Chris Bigg – sleeve design
{{col-end}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Discogs master|306}}
{{Fields of the Nephilim}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Fields of the Nephilim albums]]
[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:Beggars Banquet Records albums]]