Ceromonies: Ad Mortem Ad Vitam – Fields of the Nephilim
Live music from our gothic dust beaten hat wearing chaps from Stevenage.
Perhaps it’s age, but to me it’s hard to take this album seriously. The guy you can hear growling away, Carl McCoy, was in his mid forties when this album was recorded. Which is cool. If that’s what you can pass off. But all I can think of is some “dad” like figure dressing up like some forsaken cowboy growling. Not singing. Growling.
That’s not to say I don’t like it. It’s a good album. Nice mix of songs old and new showing progression and a nice introduction to the band for young newbies. But remember kids, the lead singer is old enough to be your dad. Or, in some cases, your granddad.
Stegzy's Music Project 
Fair comment. Nothing wrong with being old, (I don’t dislike the growls) but it would have been nice to see some rewards reaped from maturity. Even then there’s no sign of Maiden changing or looking any less cool with age! But at least they pump out new material – and have Bruce Dickinson to amuse us (McCoy has never shined in an interview to say the least).
Never mind, life doesn’t get much better than the 1st half of Elizium and we’re grateful. And if we want something that really lives up to the pseudo-religious vibe of ‘ceremonies’ we can listen to Amenra. Nice to know music has grown up even if Neph’s haven’t.