well, i never considered them metal. death rock. but, they do have some of an edge to them with the sisters sounding voice. but the nefilim shit is like what the fuck? too metal. do not like it. and it is quite a crossocer you know? but their early stuff is brillant!

Nefilim is a totally different band except for Carl. He got musicians who would A) work cheap and B) produce a slayer meets ministry sound that he was looking for. His favorite bands are Slayer and Motorhead. Or at least they were when speaking to him post shows a few years ago. There was a brief interaction between CmC and Al of Ministry around 1990. Too bad the project never developed.

The western ambience was fairly well gone with Elizium. Which I find the weakest of the three main albums. But the album that most people seem to go apeshit for due to the gothic romanticisim. I came to FoTN through metal and hard rock. My association with goth only came about after the fact and largely by coincidence. I've looked "goth" since I was about 15 and had never heard the term. I'm now over double that age and save for more tattoos and less body fat, look essentially the same. However I truly worship Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble of Shadows. IMO they are one of the only *real* gothic acts out there today.

the new album is much more like Elizium, with some Type-0 influences and ambient elements. I enjoy it, but don't rank it quite up there with the synergy of the full outfit.

I think in many ways Zoon is superior album to Mourning Sun only in the context of having a full band on Zoon. Lyrically I think Zoon is perhaps Carl's most sophisticated work to date. Though it is not my favorite. I think the atmosphere on Mourning Sun is better, though I don't think the lyrics and music is quite up to par with anything else.

However it is all about Carl's voice. Enjoy it for that and its haunting atmospheres. And the sweet voiced "mystery" guest vocalist. Some of us know who it is, but we're not telling. :)