Becoming
Abigail Williams · 2012
55 min · 6 tracks · black metal
A sprawling journey through atmospheric black metal, blending haunting melodies with intense sonic textures.
Top tracks — play these first
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Ascension Sickness — The opening track sets the tone for the entire album with its lengthy atmospheric build-up and dynamic shifts, encapsulating the band's creative vision.
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Beyond the Veil — At 17 minutes long, this epic track blends melancholic melodies with relentless aggression, showcasing the band's ability to craft expansive narratives within their music.
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Radiance — This track stands out for its ethereal quality, marrying serene vocal lines with heavy instrumentation to create an immersive listening experience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's ambitious structure and atmospheric depth mark it as a significant entry in black metal.
What we noticed
- The album features lengthy tracks, with most exceeding six minutes, allowing for extended atmospheric build-ups and dynamic shifts.
- Each song incorporates multiple tempo changes, moving from slow, haunting passages to intense blast beats within the same track.
- Layered guitar work creates a dense soundscape, often intertwining melodic lines with harsh vocals that shift between clean and growled styles.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- haunting melodies for deep focus
- sprawling journeys through soundscapes
- intense textures that envelop listeners
- cathartic exploration of darkness
Maybe skip if you
- prefer short, standalone tracks
- seek instant gratification in music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2012, Becoming marks Abigail Williams' third studio album, following the more symphonic style of their previous work, In the Absence of Light. This album showcases a significant shift towards a more progressive and experimental approach, reflecting the band's evolution after lineup changes and a departure from their earlier sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Wolves in the Throne Room· Agalloch· Alcest
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Ascension Sickness 11:12
- 2 Radiance 5:33
- 3 Elestial 8:12
- 4 Infinite Fields of Mind 10:11
- 5 Three Days of Darkness 2:27
- 6 Beyond the Veil 17:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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