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Sleepless Empire |
Italy
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Review by Jeger on January 18, 2025.
What can I say about Lacuna Coil? Not much, never been a follower and I'm only really familiar with 2006's Karmacode. I do know that LC is a polarizing band. Their reviews are all over the place, and what kind of metal do they even play? Is it even metal? Partially, with a bit of goth stuff going on as well and some epic, almost symphonic elements that make for quite the cinematic experience. Christina Scabbia is a genuine talent. The band is most certainly in her orbit as she does her thing and what a popish way of doing things. Not my bag really, but it's not often that you get a promo for the new Lacuna Coil album in your inbox, so let's get into it…
Every one of Lacuna Coil's records has been created with the idea of tracking into sound a particular life era: epic and cinematic yet classy compared to the work of similar artists like Oceans of Slumber. Less is more and from what I'm hearing right now, I can say that Sleepless Empire (release date: 02/14/2025) will more than likely go down as one of Christina's finest accomplishments. Such a wide spectrum of talent and so much range. Some people like myself could argue all day as to what kind of an impact bands like Lacuna Coil are having on metal. Is this even fucking metal at all? It's metal enough for one to feel confident in labeling it alternative metal, which isn't real metal at all in my opinion, but I digress… All those familiar Matrix type parts and of course it sounds like it was engineered in a space ship: towering rhythms and cavernous guitar riffs redolent to Septicflesh offset by some succulent melodic choruses in nicely-balanced tracks like "Scarecrow" that hit at nut level one moment and skyward the next. And then we have "Gravity" with its ghastly nu-metal-tainted verses and drab melodies. They can't all be winners as they say…
Lamb of God's Randy Blythe contributes to "Hosting The Shadow" - an early to mid '00's sounding cut that features Randy in his most vanilla state. A snoozer! Until about 2/3 in when some earth-panzering riffs ensue. Christina and Randy sound great during the track's harmonious parts, but overall just not much to grasp on to here. When metal like this isn't at least catchy in some way then it's just masturbation, and quite frankly, music I dread listening to. Don't shoot the messenger…
Sleepless Empire is one of those albums where it just feels like everything is displaced, particularly during "In Nomine Patris". Such dynamic contributions on all phases but missing the sweet spot by a mile for whatever reason. Like a play that you agreed to go to with your girlfriend is Sleepless Empire - just thinking about how sweet some black metal will sound after this and football at this point. Lost me, don't wanna be found, just want it to be over. Really cool effects and high tech like the new Gladiator movie, but all over the place at the same time. I would definitely soundtrack my life in a much better way if I were given the means. A little redemption coming by way of the closing track, "Never Dawn". Nicely segmented, rhythm and melody in tight orbit along with memorable passages that assuredly will call you back for another listen.
Lacuna Coil must be doing something right. They're fucking huge and I can see why. Albums like Sleepless Empire can be appealing to so many different audiences. We all love to be entertained, and if I said that this record isn't at the very least somewhat entertaining, I'd be lying, but damn is it boring as well. I can imagine soccer moms listening to it in their minivans, teen queens strapping up their brand new Hot Topic gear, but no one whose affinity is for spikes and bullet belts will touch this thing. You go in unbiased. You have to, because at the end of the day, the reviewer's personal opinion doesn't mean shit, but Sleepless Empire is just a very mediocre album that screams for more IMAGINATION! Not more and more Avatar-sucking cinematic sequences. Epic! Yet somehow dull as my pocket knife. You could miss this one and feel okay about it.
Rating: 6 out of 10
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