Abigail Williams – Becoming – Review

Abigail Williams has transformed from an atmospheric blackened metalcore band to more long winded atmospheric blackened metalcore band. But, wait some doomy post rock sounds right out the gate, I am intrigued. The revamp is quite pleasant to hear, but my patience seems to falter somewhere amidst the eleven minute opening track “Ascension Sickness.” The dropping of the metalcore aspect of the band did quite shock me as I expected the same mediocre sound that hit the scene feeling like an attempt to be edgy black metal deathcore. This album is so far beyond that.

In six tracks the evolving sound into a more straight forward symphonic black metal band that seemingly has some lo-fi qualities to it, definitely grew on me as a listener. But, again somewhere in between the long drawn out songs the quality of return seemed to drop off, I found myself yawning a bit. In only six tracks Abigail Williams takes a near hour long journey to flex their newly transformed embodiment.

While the new sound certainly came as a shock, and some of the arrangements impressed me, I feel like the effort fell flat in some regard. There is no aura of just evil that surrounds this album. That bone chilling feeling seems to be missing when you listen, I listened over and over again, and it simply was not there. I feel as if Becoming certainly sets a solid foundation of something special as Abigail Williams transitions away from their ways of old. If you enjoy a good candlelight evening with symphonic black metal this album might find your way into your playlist, but when the moon is full and the black mass begins I suggest reaching for an older more proven testament for you kvlt ritual. [James Terry]

Score: 3 (out of 5)

Release Date: January 24th, 2012
Record Label: Candlelight Records
Genre: Black Metal
RIYL: Burning The Masses, The Faceless, Enfold Darkness

Track Listing:
1. Ascension Sickness
2. Radiance
3. Elestal”
4. Infinite Fields of Mind
5. Three Days of Darkness
6. Beyond the Veil