Lacuna Coil
Sleepless Empire
Century Media Records
There will come a time in the very near future when no one will be able to remember the pre-digital world. Where analogue will be something consigned to the history books, and where we will be totally at the mercy of key strokes and AI. That’s the dystopian theme covered in this latest, and quite possibly greatest offering from Milanese goth rockers Lacuna Coil. While the lyrics may be cautionary, and often bleak, the music itself is quite magnificent. Pummelling rhythms and powerful guitars drive everything forward with a clear direction. You get some lovely changes of pace that keep you on your toes. And then there are the vocals. Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia match intensity with the thrust of the brutal and rapier cut of clarity. Ferro has grown so much in recent years to become an equal half of what is now one of rock’s finest duets. Scabbia’s alto near three octave range and her ability to consistently hit those joyous high notes gives every song extra depth and charisma. We get guest appearances from Randy Blythe and Ash Costello who both make the right kind of impact on ‘Hosting The Shadow’ and ‘In The Meantime’ respectively. There are some other lovely little touches on this record too. The clever use of synth, the just polished enough production, and the way the writing carries you along on a journey. ‘Sleepless Empire’ is a wake up call for the future. It’s also Lacuna Coil’s best record to date.
Review by Gary Trueman