ALBUM REVIEW: Walk Beyond The Dark – Abigail Williams
To say ABIGAIL WILLIAMS have faced their fair share of adversity throughout their career would be an understatement but the never say die attitude of Ken Sorceron is exactly why the band is defiantly powering on. The metal world gratefully lapped up 2015’s The Accuser release which has left them insatiably craving more. It is now time to satisfy this hunger in the form of fifth full length effort entitled Walk Beyond The Dark which is available now via Blood Music. Will this release see a return of their symphonic roots or continue on the raw route of it’s predecessor?
I Will Depart commences with an ominous intensity and dark tones. It’s purposeful stride emits an aggressive nature as the signature raspy screams of figurehead Sorceron send shivers down your spine. Diverse guitar work ebbs and flows between swelling atmospherics and subtle lead elements which is bolstered by walls of blast beats. The captivating character of this track sets a high standard for what is to follow and eight minutes evaporates in what feels like moments. Sun And Moon maintains the chilling vibes with impactful drum work building up the tension in the early stages. Spoken vocals echo through the track combining forces with melodic outbursts and symphonic undertones. This pacing chops and changes to allow each component a chance to breathe, creating an engaging, diverse soundscape. Ever So Bold ups the ante with frenzied drum beats leading the charge. Sorceron expels venomous fury as he is encapsulated within swathes of uplifting melody and energetic brutality, all combatting for prominence. The solo unleashed by Justin McKinney is expertly executed and brilliantly accompanies the unravelling chaos.
Black Waves lures you into its grip with its enticing charm and elegant instrumentation before sinking its teeth into your flesh. Blood curdling screams, waves of relentless drumming and melancholic riffs seamlessly mesh together. This track is ABIGAIL WILLIAMS at their creative best, laughing in the face of genre definitions by amalgamating crushing intensity with enthralling orchestral structures to devastating effect. Into The Sleep continues to hit just as hard as its counterparts but possesses a particularly uplifting demeanour. Whilst the instrumentation powerfully surges onwards there are also brief pockets of serenity within the waves of mayhem.
Born Of Nothing evokes emotions of sadness with it’s calm, sorrowful tones that are soon negated by a wall of utter ferocity. Remorseless blast beasts bombard your senses alongside seething screams and swift riffing. After solidly pummelling you into dust the track allows you a reprieve in the form of a collection of alluring leisurely guitar segments giving you chance to bask in the ambience and rest your ravaged soul. The Final Failure provides an emphatic opening with theatrical orchestration to ease you into the final chapter. Don’t let this moment of subsidence fool you though, another round of blackened savagery is just around the corner. Soaring vocals, gruesome bellows and fiendish screeches all make their presence felt as the track transitions through a variety of stages, offering a little bit of everything that has been brought to the table during the course of the journey. Towards the latter stages the instruments do the talking and assist in winding down the album in grand fashion.
Four years has felt like a decade waiting for a new release from Sorceron and his troupe but boy did they deliver. Walk Beyond The Dark exhibits an exhilarating array of musicianship which may be departure from their initial roots but this progression and experimentation has allowed for their diversity to shine. The only concern is that the majority of the tracks are particularly lengthy and even for progressive metal enthusiasts it will test your concentration levels to maintain your focus throughout the duration. There are elements which could have been streamlined to further enhance their impact but what has been displayed is of an impressive quality and will certainly tick the boxes for fans of their previous works.
Rating: 8/10
Walk Beyond The Dark is out now via Blood Music.
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