Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Abigail Williams - Legend (ep) - 2007 - Candlelight USA

Track Listing:1. From A Buried Heart 2. Like Carrion Birds 3. The Conqueror Wyrm 4. Watchtower 5. Procession Of The Aeons

Before I was even able to listen to, and form my own opinion of Abigail Williams' debut EP Legend, I read several snippets in magazines and online that did not shine too positively on the 5 song release. Some called them Dimmu Borgir rip-offs or a metalcore version of Cradle of Filth and that really concerned me. Being a fan of both aforementioned bands, I was hesitant about giving Legend a spin because I was afraid it would not live up to expectations and then leave a foul taste in my mouth. However, being the non-biased metal journalist that I am, I decided to crank up the volume and form my own opinion. What I found was a young band with a big sound that incorporates many genre's of metal including symphonic black metal and Gothenburg style thrash. However, is there enough appeal here to impact the metal scene that is saturated with bands of the same style? Honestly, no.

The first song, "From A Buried Heart" is a modern thrasher with bleak, minimalist keyboards and over-produced triggered bass drums that stand out in the mix. The song does have it's moments with sporadic blast beats, chilling death-like vokills, and an average guitar solo. The song ends suddenly with a piano outro that brings back memories of Faith No More's "Epic". The second song, "Like Carrion Birds" is an improvement, with shredding melodic guitars and an awesome, yet destructive riff at around the 1:45 mark. This song shows more of a symphonic black metal influence as the vocals are a mix of high-pitched screams and low, distorted narrations. The CD continues to improve as the 3rd song, "The Conqueror Wyrm", is a slower, thrashier tune in the vein of early Soilwork mixed with the grim early works of Hecate Enthroned. At around the 2:15 minute mark, clean vocals - like those found on a latter Emperor CD - changes the direction of the song, however, not as effectively as the mighty Emperor. The 4th song, "Watchtower" is a relentless and pummeling tune that is without a doubt, the strongest song on the CD. Going for a more strait-edge black metal approach, Abigail Williams shows their potential as a symphonic black metal contender. The final song, "Procession Of The Aeons (Exclusive Demo version)", is a strong album closer with its lightening fast blast beats and strong Emperor influence. The riffs are ablaze as this track decimates from start to finish.

If I were in a band starting out, I would take drastic measures to ensure my debut CD was a pummeling masterpiece from start to finish. Unfortunately for Abigail Williams' Legend CD, the songs start off average and end strong - showing inconsistencies in the dynamics of the songs themselves. For what it's worth, I have sampled Abigail Williams new material on their MySpace page and it is (at a minimum) 100 times better than the material on the Legend EP. I think it is safe to say that avoiding this CD will not impact your outtake on metal at all. However, stay tuned, as I feel Abigail Williams' best effort is yet to come!


Rating: 3



--Grim Gaijin