On Sept. 12, an onslaught of metal bands from across the United States will come to Syracuse to perform at The Lost Horizon. One of the bands, Abigail Williams, will be joined by Ghost Bath and Wolvhammer, as well as local acts Ebony Sorrow from Syracuse and Vile Tyrant from Utica.

Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, Abigail Williams boasts musical dexterity mixed with guttural vocals from its frontman and founder, Ken Sorceron. This distinct style can be heard on the songs “Into the Ashes” and “Nuummite.”

Since the group’s formation, there have been several member changes. Sorceron, guitarist and bassist Will Lindsay and drummer Bryce Butler remain as the group’s only consistent members.

Despite the revolving door of bandmates, Abigail Williams has four studio albums, the latest being their 2015 release, “The Accuser.” In March 2018, Sorceron announced he would be leaving his other project, The Faceless, to focus on the next Abigail Williams LP.

Sorceron detailed his departure on his Facebook page.

“I have no ill will towards the band or their manager Ej Shannon who really did his best to help the band recover over the last couple years and wish everyone the best,” he said in a Facebook post. “But without going into any details publicly I think it’s no secret that there are some deep seeded problems and I no longer want the stress and anxiety that comes along with being in the band.”

Similar to Abigail Williams, North Dakota-based black metal band Ghost Bath was the brainchild of one musician. Dennis Mikula formed the band on his own when he was still in college. The 28-year-old artist earned a name for himself in the metal world after recording the first solo EP and sharing it online.

Since then, the band has grown with other musicians and has garnered attention for their stand-alone blend of depressive black metal with symphonic instrumentation. This style is evidenced in songs such as “Ascension” and “The Golden Number,” with both tracks shifting between moments of soft atmosphere and overwhelming distortion.

Regarding his approach to writing music, Mikula said he prefers “a dark frame of mind.” Furthermore, the artist expressed the importance of avoiding overthinking when writing songs.

“I feel like if I edit my songs for too long, I’ll never get anything done,” Mikula said. “Write the music you want to write. There will be people who are going to hate it anyway, so you might as well just do it.”

Wolvhammer, a sludge metal act from Olympia, Washington, has been making music since 2011. Fronted by vocalist Adam Clemans, the band presents a sound that oozes doom. Tracks such as “Eternal Rotting Misery” and “A Light That Doesn’t Yield” showcase the group’s blend of sonic ferocity and brooding atmosphere. Their latest LP, “The Monuments of Ash & Bone,” was released in May.

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Ebony Sorrow and Vile Tyrant will represent pstate New York’s heavy metal scene at the upcoming show. Formed in 2000, Ebony Sorrow will showcase the metal music of Syracuse with their fast-paced rhythms, squealing guitars, and ear-splitting vocals. Utica’s Vile Tyrant reflects traditions of black metal, complete with face paint, stage names and an intimidating presence.

The members of Vile Tyrant include Aphotis as the group’s lead vocals and bassist, Khandrak on the guitar, Bezual covering both the guitar and keyboards and Cambion on the drums.

“When you’re putting the makeup on…you’re channeling a certain energy,” Khandrak said, emphasizing the importance of the band’s visual aesthetic.

The show is September 12 at 6 p.m. at The Lost Horizon. Tickets for the show are available on The Lost Horizon’s official website and is open to everyone ages 16 and older.

Published on September 10, 2018 at 10:16 pm