| Rising out of the very much infatuated (with death metal) state of Arizona, it's really
A breath of fresh air when I come across a band from that state that isn't just another
fake ass copycat of Job For a Cowboy. Bands that fall under this category as of late,
taken from myspace's very own top "death metal" acts are acts such as The Irish Front,
Knights of the Abyss, Darkness Before Dawn and a slew of others. Instead Abigail Williams
is of a different breed. They are a band that forgets all of the "bree bree bree" bullshit
and follows more of a black metal sound than anything. They show perfect examples of being
innovators in a new sound, which could grow very popular easily. They take blistering black
death and mix it with a few clean vocal tracks, some solos and eery Dimmu Borgir-esque
keyboard parts that even end tracks with misanthropic beauty. It's safe to say that this
"Black Metalcore" quintet will be around shocking crowds for a long time.
From start to finish, the band's EP "Legend" progresses from a run of the mill death metal
piece into a highly abrasive black metal album within a matter of 5 tracks. The face of the
disc displays the more crowd friendly death metal tracks complete with singing parts and
beautiful keyboard parts. As listeners follow deeper, they'll notice the speed of the drums
surpass what was once considered par and the keyboard parts take an even eerier turn to a
monotonous black metal sound that might frighten some away. But in saying that, I can honestly
say that as the rage increased towards the completion of the disc, I only held my hands tighter
to my seat and the thought of skipping a track never even crossed my mind. Tracks such as
"From a Buried Heart" and "The Conqueror Wyrm" displayed the crowd friendly death sound that
just any metal fan could enjoy. But it takes a certain breed of metal fan to truly fall into
the depths of "Watchtower" and "Procession of the Aeons". These tracks were the darkest found
on "Legend" and rarely let off of the speedy black metal sound that approaches the likings of
Dimmu Borgir or Belphegor.
Now if you're a weak fan of death metal, you may be captured and drug in by the first couple
of songs, but as you listen on, the great death flavor that's left in your mouth with "From A
Buried Heart" will slowly fade and you will be stuck with a creepier sound that you probably
weren't expecting from the beginning. In some places the band shows a sound similiar to Children
of Bodom ("Like Carrion Birds") and at other times you'll find a comfortable sound that could
appeal to any old death metal fan. But as you approach the final bits of the piece you'll be
shocked to hell with a dark black metal sound that holds no prisoners. Be careful with this disc,
you're either going to love it or you're going to be confronted with something you wouldn't have
expected. But for me, I can honestly say I loved every second of this disc and I'm anxiously
awaiting a full length.
~ Drew
January 01 2007 |
