Abigail Williams – Becoming

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Currently, in the ever-changing world of black metal, there are many bands performing the type of music that creates vast, expansive soundscapes that have more in common with post-metal than black metal. It might surprise some early dismissive fans that Abigail Williams, who started off as a blackened deathcore band, has now joined the ranks of musicians doing this type of music. Gone are the days with punishing, crunchy guitars with breakdowns strewn about them. Think of Becoming as their homage to the kings of the genre, Wolves In The Throne Room. The stark contrast to other albums of this nature is that Becoming is far more accesible. It doesn’t require nearly the concentration and mindset that other bands, say Drudkh, do. Abigail Williams still retains a good deal of their keyboard sound, which are often used not in an ethereal way, but more like an interlude piece in a Cradle of Filth song. Aside from that, this does sound like one of Enslaved‘s later releases. Stripped down, but still engaging. The track Infinite Fields of Mind channels the softer parts of bands like Agalloch or even Alcest before launching into heavier and faster territory. One glaring fault is the mix of the vocals, however. They’re often clouded and in the background. Most vocals in this kind of black metal are like that, but Abigail Williams over does it. It definitely doesn’t ruin the album at all, though. While they might not take as many risks as their brethren within the same realm of music, it’s still really refreshing to see a once loathed band make such a turn-around and release a great album.

Written by Jackson May
More: 2012, Albums, Black Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Abigail Williams