ABIGAIL WILLIAMS Interview with Ken Sorceron

XM: Hey. How are you today?
Ken: Pretty good. Kind of had a long, cold, drive here... Actually, three out of the four of us on the tour have had van troubles already.

XM: Everyone except Deicide? They probably have a better bus...
Ken: Actually, Deicide did. And, they have a van. A van smaller than ours.

XM: Hey! Touring in style. Well, at least you're all here right?
Ken: Yeah.

XM: So, before we talk more about the tour let's talk about your new record, Becoming. As usual, you did all the mixing, mastering, production, and engineering yourself. How did all that go for you?
Ken: Well, it went smooth. But, I didn't allow myself enough time to finish everything like I thought I was going to. So, I had to finish it on tour when we were on tour with Mayhem, which was a little bit of the pain in the ass.

XM: Well, the record still has got really great reviews. And, on the record, you worked with returning guitarist Ian and studio drummer Zach. How was it working with Ian again as well as Zach?
Ken: Those guys are both my buddies. Ian, we've been pretty much living together on and off for the last couple of years. Not to mention, we're pretty much always on tour together. Actually, for the past three years now he's my go to guy. And, Zach, is a pleasure to work with. He just gets what you're doing automatically. You don't have to explain too much to him. He's a very musical drummer.

XM: Well, like I just said the new record has been very well received. How do you feel Abigail has evolved to get to this point, and was there something that really put this record over the top?
Ken: I don't know. I think it's just our experiences, you know?

XM: Like, every record is a little better?
Ken: Yeah. It's just getting better at achieving a sound, and realizing that sound more and more as we go. We've toured a lot... And we're a band that's come up with our sound from touring. We experiment on the road with new stuff, even within songs we already had. We'll change them up on the road because... We get bored. And, that's pretty much how we came to where we are now. We just continue to evolve... I think we're on to something right now. I'm definitely the most satisfied with it so far.

XM: Awesome. And, like I said earlier, you're on the March of Death tour right now with Deicide. You're doing all your new material, right?
Ken: No, because our whole album is 55 minutes and we only get a 30 minute set.

XM: Ah. But all the songs are from the new record, then?
Ken: Yeah yeah.

XM: So road testing these songs now, what have been your impressions?
Ken: Its good. This is actually our third time playing new songs now. We toured with Mayhem in November and December and we pre-viewed some new songs. Then, right before this, we did a headlining tour in the U.S. where we did play the whole album. Right now, we've got them down so its like second nature to play them. I feel like, especially on a tour like this, we stick out a lot from the other bands. It's a nice change of pace for people, I think, when we come out and play our stuff.

XM: So, how has this tour been for you guys over all? Transportation issues aside, that is.
Ken: Its been pretty good. Its been better than I thought it was gonna be.

XM: Because, like you said, you're an unusual band for the bill?
Ken: Yeah. I didn't know what to expect. I try not to look at things negatively, but I wasn't sure how it would go. But, I'm surprised, its been pretty nice. And, I've never met the Deicide guys. It's always stressful going on tour with a band you don't know yet. Like, Lecherous Nocturne we've toured with three or four times and they're really cool. But the Jungle Rot dudes are super cool and the Deicide guys are really nice. So, it's been awesome.

XM: Nice. After this tour, what do Abigail Williams have planned for the rest of the year?
Ken: Nothing.

XM: Nothing?
Ken: Yeah. Probably the first time I've ever been able to say that in years...

XM: So, you're looking forward to the time off then?
Ken: Yeah. We're still going to work on music, but, not be on tour. I think we'll look to go back out, later, later in the year. Like, fall.

XM: If you could have been involved in the writing, recording, or production of any album ever, which would it be and why?
Ken: That's a really hard question... There's just so many. I might need a minute... Right now, off the top of my head I can think of a few. There's Neurosis - Times of Grace album. I remember when I first heard that, I remember thinking "Fuck, I wish I could of done that". And I remember the first time I heard Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse I was really fascinated with that and I always wanted to achieve something like that. You don't wanna copy, but you wanna create something that makes you feel the same way. Achieve something of the same magnitude. Then, there's also a bunch of Death Metal albums.

XM: But, if you had to pick one...
Ken: I can't even pick a favorite band. I'm that guy. I don't have a favorite band. It's hard to put something above something else if it's all great. Like, when I was younger I my favorite band was Pantera. Now, I can't say they're my favorite band... Maybe they're my favorite band. But, now, there's so many other things I got into since I was young. But, that was something that got me into heavier music. A gateway. I think there's a lot of great albums, and I'm an album listening guy, you know? I like to get into an album. This generation is a little different, I feel like. A lot of friends and younger people I know, they're different.. They know songs, like from YouTube and shit. People don't get into whole albums as much. It's really weird. People aren't buying the physical copy as much, when you buy the physical copy it gets ingrained more.

XM: Mhmmm. I find too a lot of people don't just listen to music anymore. They'll put on a CD while on the computer or driving or something... I like to get an album and just sit on my couch and listen to it.
Ken: Yeah. That's what I'll be doing. Just listening... Its nice to hear other people do that. And, of course there is going to be people who don't like our stuff. But, I think a lot of the people who don't get it are trying to just casually listen to it... It's not a casual listening band.

XM: And, if you had to describe Abigail's music in three words they would be...
Ken: Oh, I'm not good at that. *Laughs* I mean, right now, that's such a hard question because of all our different releases. Like, if I were to be describing Thousand Suns it would be completely different then...

XM: Okay. Off, Becoming, then.
Ken: Okay... right off the bat, it's Atmospheric. That's obvious. I would say it's enchanting. I listen to it, and I think, "Oh, I like this record." In the past, in other records, I've always been hung up on some detail. Some detail didn't get right and failed. But, for this one, I feel pretty pleased, it's so weird. I've never had that before. And, I think it's kinda sleepy.

XM: Atmospheric, enchanting, sleepy metal.
Ken: Haha yeah. When people ask us "Hey, are you ready to rock!?" when were gonna go on stage, I'm like "No... I think we're gonna put people to sleep." *Laughs* But I can tell people enjoy us on a tour like this. I think a lot of people who don't know who we are or haven't heard anything from us don't know what to expect, then they're like...

XM: Whats going on?
Ken: Yeah... But, they're liking it. Its cool to watch.

XM: And, since founding Abigail you guys have toured with some pretty huge bands and toured globally. What do you think has been Abigail's biggest achievement to date?
Ken: Oh. I think going to Austrailia was a pretty big achievement. That's the furthest away we've ever gone. And, it was like "Here we are..." touring with Nile, of all bands. The shows were huge. And, I didn't even know people had heard about us over there. It was pretty exciting.

XM: Well, that's it. Thanks a lot. Final words are up to you...
Ken: I don't have any final words.