Posted By DJ Gomez on Aug 7, 2012 | 6 comments

Band: Lacuna Coil
Label: Century Media
Genre: Gothic Metal, Alternative Metal
Release Date: January 2012
Official Website: http://www.lacunacoil.it/
Reviewed By: DJ Gomez
Final Score: 3.8/5

I first discovered Lacuna Coil back in 2003, right around the time
that Evanescence had released their debut commercial album Fallen.
Lacuna Coil’s album at the time was the breathtaking Comalies, one
that arguably put them on the map in terms of exposure. Similarities
were immediately made between the two bands. While I could see why the
two bands could be compared to one another, they did have distinct
differences. While Evanescence’s music provided a more “Americanized”
form of goth rock (the band is from Arkansas after all), Lacuna Coil
offered a much more eastern-tinged European flavor to their sound.
While one could argue that Lacuna Coil has leaned more toward metal
and away from goth with their last few albums, the overall feel that
makes the band distinct is still definitely present on their new 2012
album Dark Adrenaline.

Upon listening to the first few tracks,including the single “Trip the
Darkness”, I noticed how much better male vocalist Andrea Ferro
sounds in his vocal delivery. One gripe I’ve had in previous albums
was how he seemed to yell rather than sing. Ferro is certainly not a
bad vocalist, but the problem was that his vocal range is suited
better to a tenor range than alto. If you don’t believe me, listen to
the acoustic mix of “Swamped”. I think his voice sounds so much
smoother and more pleasurable to the ear when hitting those lower
notes, and much to my delight, he sounds excellent on the first few
tracks when he sings in that range.

As the album progresses, it weakens a little due to the fact that it
lacks a lot of the harmonies that gave earlier Lacuna tracks so much
power. One of my favorite Lacuna songs “The Ghost Woman and the
Hunter” featured Christina Scabbia’s layered vocal tracks on the
chorus which gave such a strong sense of passion and earnestness. Then
there’s the cover of REM’s “Losing My Religion” which, in theory,
sounds fit for a Lacuna cover. However, in execution something just
doesn’t seem right (maybe I’m just too much of a staunch REM fan).

Lacuna Coil

One track that I have to mention is the excellent album closer “My
Spirit”. In my opinion, this should have been the first single, or
should at least be the next. This track has the feel of the “old”
Lacuna Coil including those harmonies that I’m talking about. It
ends the album on a positive note and concludes an overall great
listening experience. Lacuna Coil, despite maybe not appealing as much
to the old-school fans as they gain expanded listenership, has
definitely not “jumped the shark” by any means and continues to put
out material that fans old and new are bound to enjoy.

Score: 3.8/5