You can’t keep a good band down, or at least not this one. In July of 2012, we reported the dismal news that USBM band Abigail Williams were going to call it quits after a farewell U.S. tour that started later that month. But Abigail Williams are back, in a big way.
First, the band’s main man Ken Sorceron has recruited a stellar line-up of musicians to accompany him on a nationwide Abigail Williams tour that’s now in progress: guitarist Jeff Wilson (Chrome Waves, Wolvhammer); bassist John Porada (Terminate), and drummer Jesse Beahler, (ex-Jungle Rot, Nightfire). Along for the ride (though their participation in the tour has been delayed) will be another band we’ve praised at NCS, Erimha. Dates are after the jump.
Second, a slightly different though no less eye-catching line-up will be entering the studio with Sorceron in April to record a new Abigail Williams album: Jeff Wilson; long-time Abigail Williams guitarist Ian Jekelis; drummer Alex Rudinger (The Faceless); and bassist Will Lindsay (ex-Nachtmystium, Wolves In The Throne Room). We are told that fans should expect a release on Candelight Records in late August or early September. This goes on our “highly anticipated” list of 2014 releases.
More details about recent Abigail Williams activities can be found at this location. Their Facebook page can be accessed via this link. Now here are the tour dates:
1/15 – Rochester, NY – The Bug Jar
1/16 – Albany, NY – Bogies
1/17 – New York, NY – Slake
1/18 – Reading, PA – Reverb
1/19 – Trenton, NJ – Championship
1/20 – Danbury, CT – Heirloom Arts Theatre
1/21 – Jeanette, PA – Gator’s
1/22 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Ballroom
1/23 – Warren, MI – The Ritz
1/24 – Kokomo, IN – Centerstage Bar & Grill
1/25 – Cherry Valley, IL – Take Twenty
1/26 – Chicago, IL – Reggies (with Charlie Fell* of Lord Mantis drums on this and each date thereafter)
1/29 – Cincinnati OH – TBA
1/30 – Johnson City TN – Mecca Lounge
1/31 – Fayetteville AR – TBA
2/1 – Fort Worth TX – Tomcat’s
2/2 – Corpus Christi TX – Zero’s
2/3 – McAllen TX – Fallback Records
2/4 – Big Spring TX – Sugars Bar
2/5 – Amarillo TX – Wreck Room
2/6 – Albuquerque NM – The Jam Spot
2/7 – Phoenix AZ – Tempe Tavern
2/8 – Los Angeles CA – Black Castle
2/9 – Bakersfield CA – Jerry’s Pizza
2/10 – Sacramento CA – The Midtown Barfly
2/11 – Oakland CA – Oakland Metro Operahouse
2/12 – Portland OR – Hawthorne Theatre
2/14 – Seattle WA – El Corazon
2/15 – Vancouver BC – The Astoria
2/16 – Spokane WA – The Hop
2/17 – Bozeman MT – The Complex
2/18 – Great Falls MT – Machinery Row
2/19 – Cheyenne WY – TBA
2/20 – Denver CO – Hi Dive
2/21 – Wichita KS – Lizard Lounge
2/22 – Tulsa OK – Downtown Lounge
2/23 – Oklahoma City OK – Chameleon Room
4/12 – Austin, TX – Texas Independence Fest
13 Responses to “AN ABIGAIL WILLIAMS UPDATE”
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Thanks for linking to my article. I look forward to seeing what happens, too!
Great article, and thanks for providing so much info about this killer group.
If all goes according to plan, I’ll be catching them at the Reading, PA gig this weekend.
Just got back from the show and they were awesome. Their drummer particularly was stellar, and Ken Sorceron looks like a black metal version of the bearded Superman. The set included “Ascension Sickness,” “Radiance,” “Infinite Fields of Mind,” and “Beyond the Veil” from Becoming, along with two untitled new songs from the upcoming album. Nothing from the albums before Becoming. The new songs sounded excellent. The first one had less of a post rock influence than the songs from Becoming, with just a hint of doominess and at one point even an Iggy and the Stooges punkiness. The second new song had more of the Becoming style post rock influence along with a sort of Nachtmystium feel midway through. “Beyond the Veil” as the closer felt transcendental.
Now I can’t wait for the new album.
Thank you for the update!
Last time I spoke to Ken at any length (which was a while back now) he did mention that some of the new material had a doomy vibe to it, so good to know that’s come through!
The new lineup is awesome as the music abut their two last records (in my opinion) as awesome is to know we will listen new music from “Abigail Williams” this year!
2/10 – Sacramento CA – The Midtown Barfly
Excellent. Well done. Bravisimo.
You’re barred.
Barfly is an alright venue, nice to see them getting some metal up in there and getting noticed for it. Exhumed and Plague Widow are playing there the night before so if I can make it, I’m about to get real familiar with that venue.
wow, awesome!
There was a genius comment on the Candlelight page saying something like “just get rid of all the breakdowns and they’d be ok”… because AW are famous for their use of breakdowns.
The gent in question appears to have edited the comment now to make himself look less stupid.
This tour reminds me of that Soilwork on from last year, in that it hits pretty much every American city and town EXCEPT for San Diego. Thanks guys.
Why does the Carolinas generally get snuffed in these kickass tours. I saw AW when they had the “In The Shadow of a Thousand Suns” lineup with SWWAATS and Abysmal Dawn. Then when they played with Mayhem & Hate, they always throw a damn good show. Come back to the Carolinas goddamnit!!!!