British Goth and American Death Metal pass in different directions this week. Fields of the Nephilim commence a national tour to promote Elizium, their latest outpouring of epic musings. It's tempting to lose interest on hearing that Andy Jackson, the well-known Pink Floyd associate, was heavily involved in the studio work; certainly the sound they produce, "spatial" and "dynamic" as it is, underneath Carl McCoy's vocals-from-down-a-well, is like a protracted version of the Dr. Who theme. The Nephs are saved, however, by their looks - dark-suited Victorian ragamuffins with snub top hats, up to their necks in fog throughout the show; by their fans - sweet young kids in black who worship the band, and sing along making tendrilous arm movements, girls atop boys' shoulders; and by their shameless lyrics - punctuated by the words: "dream," "night," "thoughts," "Earth" and "necrologue."

Slouching towards California next week will be Autopsy, Death Metal monsters spawned by drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert in 1987 when he found he couldn't relocate to Florida with his then band, Death. Recorded works Severed Survival and Flesh Crawl, on the monstrous Peaceville label, include such gems as Charred Remains, Service for a Vacant Coffin and Impending Dread. Smart British kids, especially in Birmingham, have taken the gory growl and bleeding guitars to their hearts.

Fields of the Nephilim - tour dates: Mon Bristol, Studio; Tue Manchester, Ritz; Wed Newcastle, Mayfair. Remaining dates 27 Sept Glasgow, Barrowlands; 29 Liverpool, Royal Court; 30 Hull, City Hall; 1 Oct Norwich, UEA; 2 Cambridge, Corn Exchange; 3 Portsmouth, Guildhall; 4 Birmingham, Hummingbird; 5 Leeds, Univ; 6 London, Brixton Academy.