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/:: Artist :: Abigail Williams ::\
:: Album :: A Void Within Existence ::
:: Year :: 2025 ::
:: __ _ _ __ ::
-:--\\-----------------------------------------------------------------//--:-
:: \ / ::
:: . Genre :: Black Metal Source :: CD . ::
:: Label :: Agonia Records R.date :: 2025-08-23 ::
_::__ Cat.nr. :: ARCD287 S.date :: 2025-07-18 __::_
::// \\::
::/---------------------------------------------------------------------\::
:: ::
/: Encoder :: LAME 3.100 -V0 :\
..: Bitrate :: avg. 265kbps :..
. Quality :: 44.1 kHz/Joint Stereo .
. Size :: 91.29 MB .
. .
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ tracklist /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: 1. Life Disconnected 5:32 ::
:: 2. Void Within 5:52 ::
:: 3. Nonexistence 4:32 ::
:: 4. Still Nights 4:21 ::
:: 5. Talk to Your Sleep 7:45 ::
:: 6. Embrace the Chasm 8:17 ::
:: 7. No Less than Death 9:24 ::
:: ::
:: ::
:: ------- ::
.. >> 45:43 ..
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ release notes /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: ::
:: After dropping a new album last year under his Nachtmystium ::
:: moniker, I had a sneaky suspicion Ken Sorceron would bless us ::
:: with a new Abigail Williams record this year. And, sure as ::
:: shit, A Void Within Existence is here. IÆve been covering this ::
:: outfit for some time now, thankfully, after their spell in the ::
:: metalcore realm. And each new album continues to push new ::
:: boundaries, inching closer to grabbing the counter by the balls ::
:: and dragging it through blackened muck. While some would ::
:: disagree, 2019Æs Walk Beyond the Dark was a brilliant record ::
:: that might arguably be the bandÆs best work. That sets a new ::
:: bar for this ever-evolving group that, I can only assume, ::
:: becomes more difficult to overtake with each new album and the ::
:: swinging door of lineup changes and guest appearances. At least ::
:: for now, the arsenal Sorceron surrounds himself with on A Void ::
:: Within Existence is a tight group that meshes nicely together. ::
:: But will this new record deliver the goods and bitch-slap the ::
:: counter? ::
:: ::
:: One of the best guests on this yearÆs release is Mike Heller ::
:: (Changeling, Malignancy, Raven, and a thousand other fucking ::
:: bands) on drums. Heller brings the intensity that adds layers ::
:: of depth to A Void Within Existence, which are rarely found on ::
:: the bandÆs previous albums. John PoradaÆs1 prowess also does ::
:: wonders to the bass-heavy songwriting of Abigail Williams. ::
:: Complete it with Vale of PnathÆs Vance Valenzuela on guitar, ::
:: and we have one of the best Abigail Williams lineups. A Void ::
:: Within Existence sets this foursome down a road of wreckage ::
:: that can either end in annihilation or perfection. And it all ::
:: weighs on the songwriting, performances, production, and, wellà ::
:: everything involved in crafting a release, especially with the ::
:: depth involved in the lyrics and musical direction. LetÆs see ::
:: if I start crying. ::
:: ::
:: A Void Within Existence wastes no time getting off the ground ::
:: as it explodes with a heavy-bass assault and a murky, dissonant ::
:: riff. It eventually settles into a groove as the spitting, ::
:: slathering vocals arrive, supported powerfully by thundering ::
:: backing vocals. Oddly enough, the pace and vocal arrangements ::
:: evoke Hypocrisy. But things really get moving with the ::
:: follow-up track, ôVoid Within.ö HellerÆs drum work, in ::
:: particular, is the perfect teaser of whatÆs to come on later ::
:: tracks. After opening with a meloblack passage, the razor-sharp ::
:: riffs intensify around SorceronÆs vicious rasps. For nearly six ::
:: minutes, this conglomeration of crushing black riffs, touches ::
:: of orchestration, and absolute sinisterness paints a picture of ::
:: sheer darkness. With wild guitar leads, impressive drum work, ::
:: and a climax to make it worth the journey, ôVoid Withinö is one ::
:: of the most rounded ditties on the record. ::
:: ::
:: But the best tracks on the album are ôTalk to Your Sleepö and ::
:: the closing number, ôNo Less than Death.ö Seven months into the ::
:: year, ôTalk to Your Sleepö threatens to be my song oÆ the year ::
:: for 2025. This thing is nothing like anything IÆve ever heard ::
:: from the band. Bass and drum-led, the crushing riff that ::
:: springs up throughout is arguably the most memorable and ::
:: headbangable thing ever to come from Abigail Williams. After ::
:: cracking pavement with its mid-paced approach, it swings back ::
:: around to begin again, this time with some punching vocals that ::
:: are further emphasized by the guitars and drums. Then, PoradaÆs ::
:: disgusting bass wakes the beast once more as we headbang to the ::
:: end. Like Walk Beyond the DarkÆs ôThe Final Failure,ö ôNo Less ::
:: than Deathö is a surprising piece that shows Sorceron ::
:: continuing to push his limits as a vocalist. While ôThe Final ::
:: Failureö teased at some clean vocals, while retaining the rasp ::
:: as the lead, ôNo Less than Deathö goes all out with soaring, ::
:: soothing cleans and rasping support. This atmospheric beauty ::
:: takes us along valleys and hills that never end, and, when you ::
:: thought youÆd heard everything this song could offer, it ::
:: concludes with beautiful, old-school solo work that, depending ::
:: on your mood, leaves you hopelessly depressed or naively ::
:: optimistic ::
:: ::
:: After a dozen listens, I canÆt find much on A Void Within ::
:: Existence that makes me unhappy. While itÆs compressed, the ::
:: production still allows all the instruments to lend their ::
:: weight to the end product. There could be a bit more bass in ::
:: places, but itÆs made up for by the slick drum mix. And, ::
:: surprisingly enough, the clean vocals are far more forward in ::
:: the mix than the previous album, which is pleasant to hear. The ::
:: most predictable track on the album is ôNonexistence,ö but itÆs ::
:: a solid, slower piece that draws you into the albumÆs sad ::
:: theme. Letting the songwriting brew for the last six years has ::
:: done A Void Within Existence well. ItÆs a repeatable record ::
:: that requires multiple listens to explore every nook and ::
:: cranny. Knowing the history of the band and its lineup changes, ::
:: I hope Sorceron can bring these gents back in the future, ::
:: because this might be the best theyÆve ever been. ::
:: ::
:: . _ _ . ::
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