The Band
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band formed in 1994.
Band Members
- Cristina Scabbia – female vocals
- Andrea Ferro – male vocals
- Marco Coti Zelati – bass
- Richard Meiz – drums
- Daniele Salomone – guitar
The Album
Lacuna Coil released their tenth album, Sleepless Empire, on February 14th, 2025. This work comes with a heavier sound, and it’s the first album after the departure of their longtime guitarist Diego Cavallotti in 2024, and the following introduction of their new guitarist, Daniele Salomone.
The name of the album refers to the current times when we are all connected, all the time, through social media, and if you’re not posting or being productive, you practically don’t exist.
The Songs
1. The Siege. The first song on the album starts heavy with Andrea’s harsh vocals, and then Cristina enters. I love her chants in the background throughout the song.
2. Oxygen. Here, I loved the instrumentalization, it sounds super solid. Andrea’s growling and singing parts, just like in most of Lacuna Coil’s songs, are like a couple’s conversations between him and Cristina, but in this case, it’s about problems in a relationship that leads to breaking up.
3. Scarecrow. A bit of electronic sounds in the beginning. Feelings of isolation and of not wanting to stand out.
4. Gravity. Slower and calmer with some phrases in Latin, yet the instruments drop, and it goes heavier as Andrea starts with his harsh vocals, and then Cristina balances things out.
5. I Wish You Were Dead. This has a pop vibe, more catchy. Here, Cristina’s voice stands out, whereas Andrea’s is at a low volume in the back. It has a funny video.
6. Hosting the Shadow (featuring Randy Blythe of Lamb of God). This is a great song. I love it, my favorite song on the album. Super catchy and heavy. Randy and Andrea growl while Cristina breaks with her sweet choruses. If you want to read a full review of this song, I wrote one a while ago: https://metalbere.com/lacuna-coil-hosting-the-shadow-feat-randy-blythe-song-review/
7. In Nomine Patris. Cristina sings some phrases in Latin, with a creepy vibe. Andrea enters, and the instruments drop. It has a good rhythm, it’s catchy, groovy, faster, nice cadence. Besides, I liked it because it has a great guitar solo. I would love for Lacuna to add more guitar solos to their songs, I think they enrich the songs.
8. Sleepless Empire. The title track. Good and catchy.
9. Sleep Paralysis. Cristina starts the singing. I liked the initial guitar lines and the guitar solo that gives a vibe of being chased. A creepy vibe, and an enjoyable bass.
10. In the Mean Time (featuring Ash Costello of New Years Day). Good, catchy. About isolation, not knowing how to go forward, feeling alone, with no direction, just hopelessness.
11. Never Dawn. The last song on the album. It starts with some Middle Eastern sounds. Catchy, different rhythms, and vibes. A good track to end this work.
Final Thoughts
What I love about Lacuna Coil is the game of contrasting female (Cristina) / male (Andrea) vocal harmonies that are a constant in almost all of their songs. That, musicalized with low-tuned instruments, is a perfect formula for me.
To be honest, the first songs didn’t get me that much but once the album was moving forward was getting better and better. It’s a heavier work compared to their previous albums and I love the direction the band is taking, so well done.
—
Tracklist
- The Siege
- Oxygen
- Scarecrow
- Gravity
- I Wish You Were Dead
- Hosting the Shadow (featuring Randy Blythe of Lamb of God)
- In Nomine Patris
- Sleepless Empire
- Sleep Paralysis
- In the Mean Time (featuring Ash Costello of New Years Day)
- Never Dawn