Abigail Williams is a symphonic black metal band originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but now based in New York City, taking its name from Abigail Williams, one of the original and foremost accusers in the Salem witch trials of 1692.

History

The band was formed in 2005. After touring extensively, including a United Kingdom tour in 2006, its debut release was the Legend EP in 2006, which mixed metalcore influences with symphonic black metal, and was described by Allmusic as "a perfect example of an American recording with a very Nordic-influenced sound". According to vocalist/guitarist Ken Sorceron, the EP was only released so that the band would have something to promote, explaining "a lot of the songs are, like, older songs, and they felt a bit old. At the time we were trying to make an album and we just couldn't finish it on time for some tours". After touring with Dark Funeral and Enslaved, the band split up in early 2007, although Sorceron later claimed that rather than a permanent split it was a pre-meditated hiatus. Sorceron and Wilson continued playing together in another band, and eventually asked AW bassist Thomas G. Plaguehammer to join them on drums. They decided to resume Abigail Williams as a band, with Plaguehammer returning to bass, Zach Gibson and Bjorn Dannov rejoining, and also Kristen Randall (Winds of Plague) joining the band. After a tour in late 2007, their drummer and keyboard player left, with Ashley Ellylon rejoining on keyboards and Samus becoming the new permanent drummer.

The band went into the studio with producer James Murphy (former guitarist of Obituary, Testament, and Cancer) to record their debut album, In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns, released in October 2008, on which the metalcore elements are absent, now concentrating on symphonic black metal, and has drawn comparisons to Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth. The influence of European metal, particularly Scandinavian, is again evident. The album took more than six months to record, and Trym Torson of Emperor/Enslaved played drums on all tracks on the album except "Floods", "Acolytes", and "Empyrean". Most of the songs were written by Sorceron while the band was on hiatus in 2007. The band toured Europe and the UK in summer 2008. In 2009, keyboardist Ashley Ellylon became the new keyboardist for Cradle of Filth, replacing Rosie Smith. In October 2009, Sam "Samus" Paulicelli also left to focus on other projects.

Abigail Williams has been working on a deluxe edition of In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns, which will include a bonus disc featuring four new songs, one unreleased demo of "Floods," and the music video for "Into the Ashes," for a release in January 2010. Demo versions of these tracks were made available on the MP3-only Tour 2009 EP, released November 9, 2009. The tracks include "I Am (God)," "In Death Comes the Great Silence (demo)," the instrumental "Waiting for the Rain," "Infernal Divide (demo)," and "Floods (demo)."

Discography

Albums

• In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns (2008), Candlelight

EPs

• Legend (2006), Candlelight
• Tour 2009 EP (2009), Candlelight

Band members

• Ken Sorceron – vocals, guitar (since 2005)
• Tristian - Bass (ex-Oceano guitarist)
• Bjorn Dannov – guitar (2005–2007, 2008 onward)

Former members

• Thomas G. Plaguehammer – bass guitar (2007–2009)
• Zach Gibson – drums (2005–2006, 2007)
• Jason Kowalski – drums (2005–2006)
• Kristen Randall – keyboards (2008–2009)
• Andy Shroeder – drums (2006)
• Tom Brougher – bass guitar (2005)
• Mark Kozuback – bass guitar (2005–2006)
• Kyle Dickinson – bass guitar (2006)
• Jordan Jackson – bass guitar (2007)
• Connor Woods – vocals (2005–2006)
• Ashley Ellyllon – keyboards (2005–2008)
• Brad Riffs – guitar (2005–2006)
• Mike Wilson – guitar (2006–2007, 2007–2009)
• Sam "Samus" Paulicelli – drums (2008–2009)
• Alana Potocnik – keyboards (2009)
• Ken Bedene Live Touring Bassist (2009)

References

External links