Exile is the thirteenth solo studio album by English musician Gary Numan, released in October 1997 by Eagle Records. Its release continued a critical upswing in Numan's career which began three years earlier with the release of Sacrifice, and which had been boosted by the release of the Random tribute album earlier in 1997. The album followed a loose concept namely that, rather than being opposites, God and the Devil were two sides of the same coin. Each track reflected some aspect of this premise. Unlike Sacrifice, Numan's theme in Exile was not so much atheistic as heretical; it did not deny the existence of God but, instead, his proclaimed goodness. Shortly after the album's release, Numan explained: "Personally, I don't believe in God at all, but if I'm wrong and there is a God, what kind of god would it be who would give us the world we live in?" The opening number and single, "Dominion Day", set the album's gothic/industrial rock tone, describing how a man's nightmare becomes reality as Christ returns to Earth in scenes suggestive of the Book of Revelation. The tale was set against a wall of synthesizers, drum loops and distorted guitars. "Dark", which further explored what the composer saw as an incestuous relationship between God and the Devil, became a favourite for movie trailers before being used on the soundtrack of Alex Proyas’ film Dark City. "Dead Heaven" turned various biblical conceits on their head (Mary is ravaged, rather than revered, by the Three Wise Men) while "Absolution", a re-recording of a 1995 single, was a bitter reflection on the consequences of unquestioning faith; it had been covered by Amanda Ghost on the Random tribute album. Though not a big chart success Exile scored almost universally positive reviews, a contrast to the situation in Numan's early years when he had many hits but was generally condemned by critics. However it further alienated some fans who had been put off by Sacrifice'''s anti-religious undertones. The website www.remindmetosmile.com changed from a tribute page to one openly critical of Numan for being "so bold that he feels he can mock God and feel good about it". Numan's response was:

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“You can't make up for two thousand years of exile in a few years.”
— Chaim Weizmann. Quoted by Project Herzl.
“EXILE, n. One who serves his country by residing abroad, yet is not an ambassador.”
— Ambrose Bierce, The Cynic's Dictionary (1906); republished as The Devil's Dictionary (1911).
“You are engaged with an elsewhere that cannot be reached: Isn't that the defining characteristic of exile?”
— Breyten Breytenbach, "The Exile as African", in Altogether Elsewhere: Writers on Exile, ed. Marc Robinson (Boston: Faber & Faber, 1994), p. 181.
“When you are exiled from a space, you are exiled from a time.”
— William H. Gass, "Exile", in Altogether Elsewhere: Writers on Exile, ed. Marc Robinson (Boston: Faber & Faber, 1994), p. 219.
“… political exile is not exile from influence.”
— Massimo Introvigne, "Kang Youwei: A Confucian Monarchist in the New World", Bitter Winter (March 2, 2026)
“No, my good lord: banish Peto, banish Bardolph, banish Poins; but for sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff, and therefore more valiant, being as he is old Jack Falstaff, banish not him thy Harry's company: banish plump Jack and banish all the world.”
— William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part I (c. 1597), Act II, scene 4, line 520.

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Exile is the thirteenth solo studio album by English musician Gary Numan, released in October 1997 by Eagle Records. Its release continued a critical upswing in Numan's career which began three years earlier with the release of Sacrifice, and which had been boosted by the release of the Random tribute album earlier in 1997.

Overview

Exile is the thirteenth solo studio album by English musician Gary Numan, released in October 1997 by Eagle Records. Its release continued a critical upswing in Numan's career which began three years earlier with the release of Sacrifice, and which had been boosted by the release of the Random tribute album earlier in 1997. The album followed a loose concept namely that, rather than being opposites, God and the Devil were two sides of the same coin. Each track reflected some aspect of this premise. Unlike Sacrifice, Numan's theme in Exile was not so much atheistic as heretical; it did not deny the existence of God but, instead, his proclaimed goodness. Shortly after the album's release, Numan explained: "Personally, I don't believe in God at all, but if I'm wrong and there is a God, what kind of god would it be who would give us the world we live in?" The opening number and single, "Dominion Day", set the album's gothic/industrial rock tone, describing how a man's nightmare becomes reality as Christ returns to Earth in scenes suggestive of the Book of Revelation. The tale was set against a wall of synthesizers, drum loops and distorted guitars. "Dark", which further explored what the composer saw as an incestuous relationship between God and the Devil, became a favourite for movie trailers before being used on the soundtrack of Alex Proyas’ film Dark City. "Dead Heaven" turned various biblical conceits on their head (Mary is ravaged, rather than revered, by the Three Wise Men) while "Absolution", a re-recording of a 1995 single, was a bitter reflection on the consequences of unquestioning faith; it had been covered by Amanda Ghost on the Random tribute album. Though not a big chart success Exile scored almost universally positive reviews, a contrast to the situation in Numan's early years when he had many hits but was generally condemned by critics. However it further alienated some fans who had been put off by Sacrifice'''s anti-religious undertones. The website www.remindmetosmile.com changed from a tribute page to one openly critical of Numan for being "so bold that he feels he can mock God and feel good about it". Numan's response was:

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“You can't make up for two thousand years of exile in a few years.”
— Chaim Weizmann. Quoted by Project Herzl.
“EXILE, n. One who serves his country by residing abroad, yet is not an ambassador.”
— Ambrose Bierce, The Cynic's Dictionary (1906); republished as The Devil's Dictionary (1911).
“You are engaged with an elsewhere that cannot be reached: Isn't that the defining characteristic of exile?”
— Breyten Breytenbach, "The Exile as African", in Altogether Elsewhere: Writers on Exile, ed. Marc Robinson (Boston: Faber & Faber, 1994), p. 181.
“When you are exiled from a space, you are exiled from a time.”
— William H. Gass, "Exile", in Altogether Elsewhere: Writers on Exile, ed. Marc Robinson (Boston: Faber & Faber, 1994), p. 219.
“… political exile is not exile from influence.”
— Massimo Introvigne, "Kang Youwei: A Confucian Monarchist in the New World", Bitter Winter (March 2, 2026)
“No, my good lord: banish Peto, banish Bardolph, banish Poins; but for sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff, and therefore more valiant, being as he is old Jack Falstaff, banish not him thy Harry's company: banish plump Jack and banish all the world.”
— William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part I (c. 1597), Act II, scene 4, line 520.

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

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