Lacuna Coil – Dark Adrenaline

artist website

publisher

buy

Century Media
Produced by Don Gilmore

Ten years ago it really did seem like if any of the then new breed of female-fronted metal bands were going to make it big in the global mainstream, then Lacuna Coil would be it. By the time of Comalies‘ release, the band were snowballing in popularity and playing much larger clubs than their counterparts. However whilst Lacuna Coil have been undeniably successful (Karmacode has sold over half a million albums, and Shallow Life isn’t far behind that), critical and fan opinion has been generally against the band’s work since Coma Lies – with Karmacode derided for its Korn-esque rhythms and grooves, and Shallow Life dismissed for being too mainstream pop in its direction. Combined with the surprise success of Evanescence stealing some of their thunder, and the international and commercial rise of symphonic metal acts Nightwish, Within Temptation and even Epica, the once shining star has felt a bit faded, even with their modest commercial success.

Let it not be said that Lacuna Coil don’t listen to their fans, though. The band’s sixth album, Dark Adrenaline, seems like something of a compromise between the band’s commercial ambitions and a fan desire for the band to return to their classic sound demonstrated on Comalies and Unleashed Memories (and, to an extent, In A Reverie). Dark Adrenaline is certainly a critical return to form, that’s for sure, but those expecting the band to simply back track to sounding exactly like they used to will end up confused. Dark Adrenaline isn’t that album – rather it takes what the band were trying to do on Karmacode and Shallow Life, and reapplies those ideas to their older, patient, more gothic sound more elegantly. It still sounds very heavily produced (perhaps more so than Shallow Life), still has more poppy songs than not, still uses the alternative metal grooves of Karmacode, but the overall feeling and tone of the album still sounds in line with what Lacuna Coil had ten years ago. As a result, Dark Adrenaline comes across as the band’s most encompassing work, having much in common with all their prior albums.

Ultimately though, Dark Adrenaline is the strongest Lacuna Coil album in years because the songs happen to have more strength to them than the last two did. Perhaps that is a result of a much more refined sound, or maybe just better production – or maybe the band just had more inspiration to write better songs. Strangely the band’s lead single Trip The Darkness proves to be one of the weaker moments on the album, much more outweighed by other obvious single choice Kill The Light. The dark, heavy but still groove-ladden I Don’t Believe in Tomorrow is another highlight, the darkest moment on the album and perhaps of the band’s career. Give Me Something More echoes a certain familiarity from Coma Lies in its atmospheric guitar riff and melodies. Closing track My Spirit also bears mentioning, a slow, emotional and euphoric way to close the album, enhanced by one of Cristina Scabbia’s most sombre vocal deliveries and some epic guitar playing to close the album. Against You also surprises with actual lead guitar solos alongside a terrific Lacuna Coil standard – not exactly something one expects from the band.

There are a few misfires – the decision to cover REM‘s Losing My Religion is utterly baffling, the song barely being recognizable outside of its tempo and lyrics and overall just sounds awkward. Some of the vocals also sound a bit cleaned up, and could do with sounding just a bit more earthy. There’s probably a good size contingent of fans who still can’t get used to Andrea Ferrero’s somewhat unique delivery, either – as has been said in the past, though, his singing might be a bit off but the character of his voice seems so integral to the band’s sound it seems hard to imagine it any other way.

Other than that, Dark Adrenaline is the album that both Karmacode and Shallow Life should have been. It doesn’t really return to how the band used to be, but then nor should it have. It is perfectly executed alternative metal, with more than a passing nod to the goth metal scene. Despite its dark melodies, much of it might be far too polished and mainstream sounding for a few old-schoolers, however it is much more likely to reignite the interest of much less stubborn fans. Either way, it is likely to be one of the better albums to break into the US Top 40 this year, and easily the best thing the band have done in a very long time.

“ a critical return to form ”

Tracklist: Trip the Darkness / Against You / Kill the Light / Give Me Something More / Upsidedown / End of Time / I Don’t Believe in Tomorrow / Intoxicated / The Army Inside / Losing My Religion / Fire / My Spirit

Photo(s): Katja Kuhl | www.katjakuhl.de

Written by James Donovan
More: 2012, Albums, Alternative, Female-fronted, Lacuna Coil