For twenty years now, Italy’s LACUNA COIL have been at the fore-front of the female fronted gothic inspired metal scene, but unlike bands such as WITHIN TEMPTATION and NIGHTWISH, who have always been mentioned under the same breath, the Milan based band have always maintained a slightly edgier, heavier and distinctive element to their sound. With the melodious vocal tones of Christina Scabbia, backed with the coarse crunching vocals of Andrea Ferro, coupled with an increasingly heavier musical approach, Lacuna Coil have gone from strength to strength in recent years. 2014 see’s the band release the brand new album “Broken Crown Halo”, an appropriate title given the departure of guitarist Christiano Migliore and drummer Christiano Mozzati. Does this new album signal a band that’s peaked, or is it merely the end of an era for one of rock’s most iconic and recognisable bands?
Opening track “Nothing Stands In Our Way” is a bullet pointed statement if ever there was one. It’s clear that LC have accepted that things are changing within the band, but it hasn’t stopped them delivering this pounding introduction to the new album. It’s got the classic sound the band is renowned for, but everything’s been down tuned giving it an almost nu-metal feel. If you can see past the minimalistic yet effective synthesisers and just focus on the bass and guitars, it could just as well be a KORN track…and that’s not a bad thing, a strong start.
“Hostage To The Light” is a far more relaxed effort, Scabbia flexing her voice over some powerful notes during the chorus but it’s not overwhelming, it’s quite a passive song, a good listen, allowing your mind to wander but not completely holding your concentration to make it a stand-out track. “Victims” has more of a classic feel to it, harking back to a “Comalies” era sound but it slots well into the album, more of a trip down memory lane as oppose to recycling old material / styles.
The intro to “I Forgive (But I Won’t Forget Your Name)” worryingly reminds me of “Jesus Walks” by LOSTPROPHETS listening closely, but soon, and thankfully so, the track ventures off into more familiar territory. Ferro given the opportunity to sing as oppose to utilise his heavy vocals, he’s got a good voice and compliments Scabbia either way, and it’s a pleasant listen. “Infection” and “I Burn In You” keep the album ticking along nicely, before we reach the closing track, “One Cold Day”. It’s a slow, sombre start. Deep strings, low, dreary piano keys, before Scabbia softly steps in with some smooth but somehow disconsolate sounding vocals. The track has a feeling of closure and it’s the perfect way to end the album.
Lacuna Coil might be losing two long term members, but the final contributions given by both Migliore and Mozzati hav ensured “Broken Crown Halo” is anything but a reason to mourn. Whereas this new album, the bands seventh in total, might not contain hits such as “Trip The Darkness”, “Our Truth” or “Heavens A Lie”, it’s a solid effort from start to finish and deserves as much appreciation as any of the bands back catalogue. It might be broken but who cares when it’s this good? [8]
"Broken Crown Halo" is available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/broken-crown-halo/id827535839
Opening track “Nothing Stands In Our Way” is a bullet pointed statement if ever there was one. It’s clear that LC have accepted that things are changing within the band, but it hasn’t stopped them delivering this pounding introduction to the new album. It’s got the classic sound the band is renowned for, but everything’s been down tuned giving it an almost nu-metal feel. If you can see past the minimalistic yet effective synthesisers and just focus on the bass and guitars, it could just as well be a KORN track…and that’s not a bad thing, a strong start.
“Hostage To The Light” is a far more relaxed effort, Scabbia flexing her voice over some powerful notes during the chorus but it’s not overwhelming, it’s quite a passive song, a good listen, allowing your mind to wander but not completely holding your concentration to make it a stand-out track. “Victims” has more of a classic feel to it, harking back to a “Comalies” era sound but it slots well into the album, more of a trip down memory lane as oppose to recycling old material / styles.
The intro to “I Forgive (But I Won’t Forget Your Name)” worryingly reminds me of “Jesus Walks” by LOSTPROPHETS listening closely, but soon, and thankfully so, the track ventures off into more familiar territory. Ferro given the opportunity to sing as oppose to utilise his heavy vocals, he’s got a good voice and compliments Scabbia either way, and it’s a pleasant listen. “Infection” and “I Burn In You” keep the album ticking along nicely, before we reach the closing track, “One Cold Day”. It’s a slow, sombre start. Deep strings, low, dreary piano keys, before Scabbia softly steps in with some smooth but somehow disconsolate sounding vocals. The track has a feeling of closure and it’s the perfect way to end the album.
Lacuna Coil might be losing two long term members, but the final contributions given by both Migliore and Mozzati hav ensured “Broken Crown Halo” is anything but a reason to mourn. Whereas this new album, the bands seventh in total, might not contain hits such as “Trip The Darkness”, “Our Truth” or “Heavens A Lie”, it’s a solid effort from start to finish and deserves as much appreciation as any of the bands back catalogue. It might be broken but who cares when it’s this good? [8]
"Broken Crown Halo" is available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/broken-crown-halo/id827535839
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