Abigail Williams – In the Absence of Light
Oh Cradle of Filth, how I have missed you. Ever since your last lackluster release I have been eagerly awaiting a new album from you British giants. What’s that you say? I’m not listening to Cradle of Filth? This is Abigail Williams you say? Well, how peculiar.
Abigail Williams has clearly been influenced by Cradle of Filth, but instead of starting out as a black metal band and slowly melding other genres and styles into their musical repertoire, they have decided to lose their deathcore and symphonic influences in lieu of a more streamlined classic black metal approach.
Abigail Williams has been plagued with member changes numbering in the dozens. After finally nailing down a three man team they produced their second album In the Absence of Light. This album is lean and mean without the fat of their previous outing. Whether because of a conscious decision for a style change or merely as a result of their constant influx of new members, they decided to cut to the chase and make this album much more concise and hard hitting.
And hard hitting it is. Whether through shredding riffs or tight drumming, Abigail Williams delivers metal to the masses. And by “masses” I mean only those who are interested in black metal. This album will not appeal to everyone; especially the younger crowd who grew up on a steady diet of Suicide Silence-esque deathcore bands. The album features, as one would expect, blast-beats galore and high, shrieked vocals. But what really grabbed me was the atmosphere of the album. Between the haunting melodies and other oddities that this threesome has thrown into the mix, such as wolves howling in the background, you will find it quite easy to find yourself getting lost in the music.
And that was, at least for me, the best part of the album. I often found myself drifting away with the music only to notice the outside world as the final song, “Malediction”, ends its slow chugging outro. This Arizona (seriously, black metal from Phoenix?) band has courageously stepped back from what is hip in the metal scene currently and returned to their roots. I applaud them, not only for taking this step but for doing it well. Abigail Williams has created an album of eight solid songs with absolutely no filler. Every song is solid, and although it was not the lengthy release their previous album was, it leaves one satisfied. Black metal junkies, check these guys out.
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39 Comments
August 27th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I've never been a huge fan of these guys…I had checked them out a while back…I didn't realize they had changed members so much…cause the only reason I remembered them was that they had a chick synth player.
That… and because I found them when I was doing an essay on the Salem Witch Trials….hahaha
i'm not crazy about the samples…but nice review man.
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August 27th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Whoa, this is much blacker than their previous stuff. I have to say their older material was much better though… Good review nonetheless.
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Matt replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Have you heard all of the new album?
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Max Grundström replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Nope, just the samples.
Let me rephrase: Judging by the samples, their older material is better.
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August 27th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
They actually sound like a Black Metal band now (well, not entirely, but they have that edge and the vocals clearly support my claim).
Kudos, Abigail Williams. And kudos to you too, Luke.
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Luke Amos replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Thanks Azriel
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August 27th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I like the atmosphere and keyboards but black metal vocals kill me. I much prefer the gutturals of death.
That being said, it's hard for me to get into a band like this, but the instrumental portion of it is awesome.
And good review, but I found it a little lackluster? It just didn't have the involvement of your previous reviews. No offense intended. : /
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Luke Amos replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I did actually have a lot of trouble writing this review for a couple of reasons. One being a bunch of personal stuff that has been happening affected my concentration. The second reason being the music, for some reason, really was hard for me to put into words. It wasn't lack of involvement, I listened to the album dozens of times and enjoyed it thoroughly. I just had a real rough time putting my thoughts on to paper; writers block if you will. Promise my next review will be top notch quality
Thanks for reading Gabriel and I wasn't offended in the slightest.
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August 27th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
First off Luke is Ashley credited on this record? she is with COF now….
Ya they had a lot of member changes that created some changes since it started off as members Vehemence side project and at one point they did break up.
From the new song I like what I hear, when the album comes out Ill have to review it more.
Ya we have a blackmetal band well known here in Fort Lauderdale Florida Kult Ov Azazel signed to Arctic run by Malevolent Creation… Seriously!!! Not that far far away from Fort Lauderdale still in Florida we had Hellspawn Warhammers of the Nordic Wind with Jason Suecof for a very short time yes it existed (producer, member of Capharnaum) Capharnaum haha oh Matt Heafy of Trivium fame now, they were kids in that band… ya you know this just wanted to have some fun. Florida metal representing… Lots of blackmetal bands are in the U.S you know…Xasthur…
Of topic completely…
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Luke Amos replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
As far as I know she was not credited on this record. I was told it was just the singer/guitarist, drummer and another guitarist.
Represent your hood Mike! lol
Thanks for commenting man. You never know where bands will pop up.
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August 27th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
The clips sound good to me. Abigail Williams is one of the black metal bands that I do like, but there last album suffered from a lot of over-the-top keyboards that were too high in the mix. I was a big fan of their Legend ep, though. This new album sounds more streamlined for sure, and that is definitely a good thing. All the layers they had on their last album were just too much. In The Absence of Light has a more mature sound, I think.
Nice review, Luke
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Luke Amos replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Thanks man. I loved their previous album but I agree that streamlined is better.
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August 27th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Never been a fan of black metal in general, always hated the vocals. Atmospheric black metal is awesome (This site needs more Agalloch) But this stuff ain't bad.
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Luke Amos replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
It definitely appeals to only certain people, that's for sure.
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Mike replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
They are not Blackmetal! No Corpse Paint!
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Jen replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Corpse paint is often a trademark of black metal bands, but it's not essential. Even Emperor and Borknagar stopped using corpse paint later in their careers.
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Mike replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
I was just joking!
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Mike replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
<—- Actually should have added that my Gravatar has a beautiful new style of the Corpse Paint!
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Jen replied:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
It's so hard to tell sometimes!! haha
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Nitrohippie replied:
August 29th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Yes, Agalloch indeed!
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August 27th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
God, I hate the stupid get-up. Black leather with spikes…because black is evil, and spikes are evil. And "In the Absence of the Light" because that is a fancy way of saying "In the dark" and we all know what dark is…evil. Black metal gets soooo ridiculous and gimmicky.
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black metal dude replied:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:26 pm
your a stupid bitch
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Lee replied:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Look, this guy is so EEEEEVVVVIIILLL! LOL!
Your comment is so thought provoking it's scary….no wait…it's eeeevvviiiiillll.
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Jen replied:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:45 pm
…says the dude who used the word "your" when he should have used "you're."
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Josh Velliquette replied:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:58 pm
(Jen – 1, "black metal dude" – 0)
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GreenShark replied:
November 26th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Kinda late to the party, I know, but I prefer spikes & wires. Just saying.
*puts on Throbbing Gristle*
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Luke Amos replied:
November 27th, 2010 at 3:44 am
Better late then never
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Mike replied:
September 1st, 2010 at 11:51 am
Such a remark is uncalled for… You pretty much accurately described blackmetal http://bit.ly/bHqEFc <– blackmetal dudes feelings after your comment and style exactly as you mentioned.
COF is blackmetal… from a blackmetal fan standpoint they never were , some say only Principle of evil was blackmetal watch the old live videos of 94 … Since I said that I warrant some hate comments so where are they… I know my history…
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Luke Amos replied:
September 4th, 2010 at 1:49 am
Jen actually loves facepaint on men. Lee is just too manly to do that so she has to pretend like she hates it.
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August 28th, 2010 at 5:04 am
This is some serious Dissection worship. Hilarious to think this band used to play a trendy mix of symphonic metal and metalcore with a few token "black metal" influences thrown into the mix.
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August 30th, 2010 at 11:00 am
I know that Ken really wanted this album to be a straight up jam session, and while they recorded they'd play for like 45 minutes, and then go back and find the riffs they like and combine them to make their songs.
PS Agalloch is amazing.
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September 6th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Nice review. I'm really looking forward to this album. I have just recently started listening to Abigail Williams, and they seem like a really promising band.
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Luke Amos replied:
September 17th, 2010 at 1:33 am
They are pretty fun if you are in the right mood.
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September 9th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
There's a contest on metalsucks.net concerning a mystery band. I am almost 100% sure this mystery band is Abigail Williams.
What do you guys think?
http://www.metalsucks.net/2010/09/09/contest-guess-the-mystery-band-win-a-mystery-prize/
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Luke Amos replied:
September 17th, 2010 at 1:33 am
Track # 7: An Echo In Our Legends.
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November 30th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Nice review! I liked this too. But, as much as I do like this new album, I will always love Abigail Williams for their blackmetalcore sound.
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Luke Amos replied:
November 30th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Too true mate.
ItSoaTS is where it's at!
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January 17th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Just checked this album out recently and I must say you described their new sound almost perfectly. Good job Luke and sorry for not posting this sooner
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Luke Amos replied:
January 17th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
No worries! Glad you liked it. Stay tuned for my review of Becoming. Writing it now.
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