_ _______ _ ...:... _ _______ _ ___ / .:::::::::::. \ ___ | / .. (:::::::::::::) .. \ | | . .:::::.`:::::::::::'.:::::. . | | .::.. `:::.::':::`::.:::' ..::. | _ _______ | .::' ::::':::::`:::: `::. | _______ _ \\ | | :: `' ::':`:: `' :: | | // \ | | `:. .::' . `::. .:' | | / . | | .::::::..::::' ... `::::..::::::. | | . | | `:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' | | .... | | `:' `::::: :: :: :::::' `:' | | .... | ' | : `. ': :: :: :: :: :` .' : | ` | |.....: . .......: :: :: :: :: : ...... . : ....| . ...................: : :: :: :: :: : : ................. . _____________:_____________ _____________:_____________ _ ___\` __ /_\` _______/_\` __ _/_\` /___ _ // __ / (/ ___/ (/ _ (/ /_______/\ _ _ /_________ ___________ ______/\ _ ______________/\__/_ _ \\\\\_________\__/\_________\__/\_____/\_____/\____________/ /// - -\-\-----------\__/----------\__/-------\_____/---------------/-/- - - -------------------: : :. ..:: :: . :------------------ - : : :......: :: :` ': :: : .....: : : ___ _ | | : ` ' : | | _ ___ _\---------- : | -------- : B E R C : -------- | : ----------/_ /_\ . : . ..:.. ..:.. . : . /_\ /// . . : : . . \\\ /: :\ /:: 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. :: :: :: :: . _ _ . :: \: :. \\ ___________ . ___________ // .: :/ __\____ :: ____ ___\ _ / BERC : 2025 \ _ /___ ____ :: ____/__ \\\f3! :: \\\ __ _/_________i_________\ /___/ /// :: cRO/// \ :: :\-\___________\_ ___ / _ _/___________/-/: :: / :: | . . _ _ _/ __/ . \_ _ _ . . | :: : :::::::: | | \\\\\/ _______\____|\ \///// | | :::::::: : :: | | -\-\/____/-------------\____\/-/- | | :: :: | | \ :|: / | | :: : : | . ` ::: ' . | : : . . | : ::: : | . . | :::....:::....::: | : ::::::::::::::::: : . :::''``:::''``::: . : ::: : . ::: . .:. :