Abigail Williams

There are two schools of black metal: the tr00 kvlt branch that pairs the banshee-esque vocals with tremolo picked guitar and blast beats, and the symphonic branch, which tempers the kvlt sound with a healthy dose of orchestration and melody. With the release of Becoming, Abigail Williams can be placed firmly in the latter. Vocalist Sauron's screams sound painful ― more like shrieks than growls ― which accentuate the dichotomy between the beautiful, soaring symphonic elements and the crushing riffs and blast beats. Unfortunately, some of the symphonic parts occasionally drag on too long ― unsurprisingly for a six-song CD that runs for almost an hour. However, it never gets overly stale. The vibe of Becoming can be perfectly encapsulated by "Beyond the Veil." The 17-and-a-half-minute swelling epic finale that closes out an album that feels more like a journey than simply a collection of songs.