Review Summary: Despite the band directly referencing their namesake, Abigail Williams have gone off on a tangent that has resulted in their crowning achievement.
With
The Accuser, Abigail Williams are not Abigail Williams. Hell, who knows the last time they were. After 30 different members and five relocations, the band has gone through some changes. For awhile the band didn't even feature a single founding member. All of this has occured in a mere 11 years with two break ups thrown in. To reiterate:
The Accuser is not Abigail Williams.
Well then what the hell is it?
The Accuser is not the Dimmu Borgir fellating record that was
In the Absence of Light, nor is it the Wolves in the Throne room worshiper that was their last album,
Becoming. Instead, it's a Nachtmystium tinged tribute to all things USBM, with a Leviathan and Gorgoroth-ian flare. The atmosphere is heavy with a blazing assault that calls to mind this year's
Scar Sighted while still featuring a wonky and psychedelic panache. "Path of Broken Glass" starts the album off with a bang; blackened riffs raze with an unparalled ferocity thanks to hellish vocals and visceral chugging. Meanwhile, other offerings such as "The Cold Lines" present up a certain moodiness that gives the album a palpable morose tone. Because of the sheer variety, every song is of a high caliber and stands out as unique and full of flavor.
The Accuser will go down as Abigail Williams' crowning achievement, and hopefully, the start of a transition towards the band they were always capable of becoming. Has the band become something more memorable than the trite, fledgling symphonic group that was erupted onto the scene almost seven years ago? Only time will tell. For now, Abigail Williams are on the right track with a more boiled down identity that pays homage to all things US black metal.
