Abigail Williams Legend EP
Candlelight Records CDL324 January 23rd, 2007
By Jason Jordan
For better or worse, its become acceptable to place the word core after a genre when attempting to classify a bands sound, and in the case of Phoenix, Arizonas Abigail Williams, blackcore is actually an apt description. While AWs claim to fame, thus far anyway, is their tie to the now-defunct Vehemence, its easy to tell the two apart since Legend is part black metal and part metalcore, with a smidgen of death metal thrown in for good measure. But, due to several factors, a significant portion of the EP sounds like Cradle of Filth, which does get distracting.
Instrumentally speaking, the players involved are well-versed and quite accomplished, even if line-up changes abound with Phoenix-rooted groups like this. Out of the five tracks on the EP, the bland From a Buried Heart and the overanxious demo Procession of the Aeons are the most inconsequential. The others, however, are going to please those who enjoy Cradle of Filth/Dimmu Borgir-esque keyboards and Dani Filth-like screams wrapped in a metalcore shell. I can envision songs such as Like Carrion Birds, The Conqueror Wyrm, and Watchtower becoming favorites of people who secretly listen to CoF as a guilty pleasure.
Itll be interesting to see what Abigail Williams make of studio time with James Murphy (ex-Death, ex-Testament), and Im optimistic that their full-length will be superior to Legend. Despite the wallet-friendly price tag, Im betting most can and should wait for the proper debut. That Ken Sorceron is one sexy bitch, though.
Official Abigail Williams Forum
Official Abigail Williams Website
Official Candlelight Records Website
Candlelight Records CDL324 January 23rd, 2007
By Jason Jordan
For better or worse, its become acceptable to place the word core after a genre when attempting to classify a bands sound, and in the case of Phoenix, Arizonas Abigail Williams, blackcore is actually an apt description. While AWs claim to fame, thus far anyway, is their tie to the now-defunct Vehemence, its easy to tell the two apart since Legend is part black metal and part metalcore, with a smidgen of death metal thrown in for good measure. But, due to several factors, a significant portion of the EP sounds like Cradle of Filth, which does get distracting.
Instrumentally speaking, the players involved are well-versed and quite accomplished, even if line-up changes abound with Phoenix-rooted groups like this. Out of the five tracks on the EP, the bland From a Buried Heart and the overanxious demo Procession of the Aeons are the most inconsequential. The others, however, are going to please those who enjoy Cradle of Filth/Dimmu Borgir-esque keyboards and Dani Filth-like screams wrapped in a metalcore shell. I can envision songs such as Like Carrion Birds, The Conqueror Wyrm, and Watchtower becoming favorites of people who secretly listen to CoF as a guilty pleasure.
Itll be interesting to see what Abigail Williams make of studio time with James Murphy (ex-Death, ex-Testament), and Im optimistic that their full-length will be superior to Legend. Despite the wallet-friendly price tag, Im betting most can and should wait for the proper debut. That Ken Sorceron is one sexy bitch, though.
Official Abigail Williams Forum
Official Abigail Williams Website
Official Candlelight Records Website
