Release Review – Lacuna Coil – Sleepless Empire | Album Review

They’re back, and they’re better than ever. Italian gothic-metal veterans Lacuna Coil prove they are still frontrunners in modern metal after an illustrious career spanning over thirty years.

The powerful, chugging riffs of album-opener ‘The Seige’, has an underlying theme of defiance and perseverance with the lyrics, “No matter what comes my way, I’m here to face it all”, providing a defiant and fiery introduction of things to come on Sleepless Empire. From the star-studded collaborations of Ash Costello (New Year’s Day) and Randy Blythe (Lamb of God), to Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro’s extensive vocal ranges Sleepless Empire provides a huge amount of variety. Add that to Marco Coti Zelati’s thundering bass riffs, chugging guitars and rich production that utilises synths and more high-tech, industrial elements, Lacuna Coil set themselves apart from many of their traditional metal contemporaries.

However, at their core they remain true to their roots and provide the symphonic elements that their fans gravitate towards on tracks such as ‘Gravity’ (no pun intended) and ‘I Wish You Were Dead’. Scabbia’s trademark of dramatic gothic vocals and Zelati’s melodic, yet thundering guitar riffs still provide enough diversity to appeal to both newer fans, as well as fans of their earlier work. The fury of iconic Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe’s discordant delivery on ‘Hosting The Shadow’, contrasted with Scabbia’s clean vocals and powerful delivery in the chorus is arguably what makes it a clear album standout, with Zelati’s trademark rhythmic riffs providing a post-apocalyptic soundscape of sorts.

Although, Sleepless Empire’s lyrical themes of the frustration with an increasingly online world (especially on the title track) and succumbing to inner demons on ‘Hosting the Shadow’, are maybe seen as overused lyrical tropes in modern alternative music. Scabbia’s gothic and impressive vocal range juxtaposed with Zelati’s guttural, raucous tone provide some respite and make Sleepless Empire an overall enjoyable listening experience. Charismatic New Year’s Day frontwoman (and gothic fashion icon), Ash Costello’s vocals unfortunately fall short on ‘In the Mean Time’. Costello is often outshone by the sheer ferocity of Scabbia’s vocals. However, the harmonies that both vocalists deliver on the chorus adds a more melodic element to an otherwise frantic and heavy endeavour in Lacuna Coil’s back catalogue.

Overall, Sleepless Empire as a whole may not be a modern metal classic, but it does deliver several standout tracks and provides the listener with an enjoyable gothic-metal album with enough variety that sets Sleepless Empire apart from other metal contemporaries with a glossy, powerful production, anthemic choruses, and the impressive vocals that Lacuna Coil is often praised for.