Abigail Williams Interview - Ken Sorceron

A little something transcendent of categorization is what you’ll find here. Abigail Williams is a band that has faced much scrutiny and criticism over the course of their career. Namely, for their “inconsistent” discography. They’ve never really adhered to any sort of label, whether it be Symphonic Black Metal or even just Black Metal, despite the music obviously being of the blackened variety. It would stand to reason that an artist would welcome such a category, so as to have a concrete identity and to be able to get a foothold onto something actual. The art itself, however, tends to not be so easy to sculpt.

Can you hear it? The absence of sound - the desolate calm following the realization that everything you once knew never actually was. It’s a dreadful silence that permeates into the empty spaces where your values once occupied. Abigail Williams’ latest LP, “A Void Within Existence”, was formulated from within this dark state of limbo. During this exclusive interview for This Is Black Metal Greece, Abigail Williams’ visionary and leader, Ken Sorceron, gives us some insight into the essence of the band and provides a lens into the creation of the new album.

Lyc: Greetings, Ken, and welcome to This Is Black Metal Greece. Man, it’s been quite a journey for you and Abigail Williams. Some of your early albums are quite experimental in comparison to your recent output. What inspired you to take a more conventional Black Metal approach to AW’s sound? The band’s style has evolved considerably over the years, particularly since the release of 2015’s “The Accuser” and on until today. 

Ken: Thanks for having me. Honestly, I don’t think in terms of genre conventions when I write. I just chase what feels authentic in the moment. Early on, the experimentation came from trying to find a voice in a chaotic environment, maybe even overcompensating for the pressure to define what Abigail Williams was supposed to be. Over time, I stopped caring about outside expectations, and ironically, the sound became more focused—darker, more grounded, more emotionally raw. I’d have to disagree with you about the new album being just conventional Black Metal though to be honest. Our debut album was really just a symphonic black metal sort of thing and the follow up was also not too experimental. I feel like the albums since then have been far more experimental to the point where the newest album isn’t Black Metal at all but will just be called that for convenience sake. 

Lyc: You’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some of USBM’s prominent figures, namely Blake Judd of Nachtmystium on their new LP, “Blight Privilege”. How did you contribute to the album and what was the experience like?

Ken: He asked me to mix the album, and I tried my best to give some direction on how to get the tracks to sound better. I ended up playing bass on the album as well. He had recorded most of the album at home without experience in doing so, so it was a bit rough in some respects, but I think he learned a lot in the process. I just tried to create a vibe and a more finished sounding record. To be honest, it was easy because I know his style well. 

Lyc: Much of your recent work is introspective in nature; indicative of one’s arduous personal experiences. This is particularly true with your forthcoming record, “A Void Within Existence”, which is scheduled to be released in July via Agonia. Really cathartic stuff. What sort of personal experiences inspired the album?

Ken: The inspiration for this album came from a place where emotion starts to lose form; where you’re not even sure if what you’re feeling is real anymore. It wasn’t about specific events as much as it was about a gradual erosion of meaning. There’s a kind of grief that sets in when you realize something you believed in, whether it’s identity, connection, purpose, might’ve never actually been real. “A Void Within Existence” came from sitting in that realization and just letting it speak. It’s not about resolution or healing. It’s about documenting the silence that follows when everything familiar fades, and finding some strange clarity in that emptiness.

Lyc: You’ve brought drummer, Mike Heller, of Fear Factory into the band, and to say that his presence is impactful would be an understatement. Engineer, Dave Otero (Aborted) also makes a profound contribution. How do you feel about the lineup in its current form? “A Void Within Existence” feels like a breakthrough album.

Ken: Mike brings a level of precision and intensity that pushes everything forward. His drumming isn’t just fast; it has this inhuman discipline that adds another dimension to the songs. And Dave is just brilliant. His ability to find clarity in dense, chaotic material is unmatched. They both elevated this album into what it needed to be. As for the lineup, the live band is solid now too with Vance, John, and Gabe. But creatively, this album was something I had to pull out from within myself with the help of the right people in the right roles.

Lyc: It’s been a six year wait for the new album. Was there anything in particular that delayed its recording, or was the time just right?

Ken: All I can say is the album was done being recorded in 2021, and there were some difficulties along the way in other aspects of its release. It feels like an old album already to me at this point. 

Lyc: What does the future hold for Abigail Williams as far as live rituals?

Ken: We’re putting together shows now. The goal is not just to play a setlist, but to bring the atmosphere of this record into a live space. I want it to feel immersive, like stepping inside the record rather than watching a band play songs. We’re also planning for Europe and hopefully Scandinavia as well.

Lyc: What would you say has been your greatest challenge on your musical journey and what have you learned from it?

Ken: Artistically, it’s just staying true to yourself when everything around you tries to define you. There’s pressure from fans, from press and from within the scene itself. Learning to block that out and trust your own vision no matter how isolated it feels is the biggest challenge. Once I accepted that, everything got clearer. The more challenging part is navigating the business and industry side of things. I'm an introverted person and I hate dealing with that stuff. I prefer to just make music, and not have to make friends and influence people, if you know what I mean. Of course there are a lot of other challenges when it comes to that stuff as well, as far as politics go with labels and booking agents etc. 

Lyc: Is there anything you wish you would’ve done differently? 

Ken: Sure, but every wrong move led to a better understanding of what I actually wanted. So, I don’t dwell on regret. The important thing is to keep evolving. I’m still learning with every record.

Lyc: Abigail Williams, like most genuine Black Metal bands, has seen its share of Naysayers. Has this negativity played a role in the evolution of the band?

Ken: At times, sure, but ultimately, I learned to let it go. In the beginning it bothered me, but now I see it as fuel. If people want to gatekeep or throw labels around, let them. It doesn’t change the music. If anything, it’s proof that we’ve never fit in neatly and that’s a good thing. I have to emphasize the point that the music I make isn’t trying to be Black Metal, and if people want to call it that, I'm fine with it, but I don’t spend time thinking about that at all. I understand the need to label things for convenience sake though. 

Lyc: Any closing thoughts? 

Ken: Thanks for the support and the thoughtful questions. “A Void Within Existence” is a record meant to be experienced in full, not just as tracks. Step into it with an open mind and let it take you wherever it wants. That’s all I ever ask of anyone listening.

~Ken Sorceron

A special thank you to Ken Sorceron and Abigail Williams.

~Jeger

This interview is scheduled for publication at thisisblackmetal.com.

Experience “Still Nights” from “A Void Within Existence” by Abigail Williams right here as presented by Agonia Records:

https://youtu.be/3zAXkcmlyI0?si=U6db0dlpkW7IHpUv