•
Rating:
THE REVIEW
The Milanese sextet Lacuna Coil, active for almost a decade now, is set to confirm or even increase the acclaim gathered thanks to the previous Comalies from 2002.
The thirteen songs on Karmacode – including the successful reinterpretation of Depeche Mode's Enjoy The Silence – are arranged and produced impeccably: the voices of Andrea and the charismatic Cristina blend perfectly, and the entire band seems even more cohesive and tight-knit than in the past. The following they enjoy in the United States (this summer they will perform with Ozzy Osbourne and System Of A Down on the main stage of the famous itinerant festival Ozzfest) tickles the pride of certain Italian music journalism, more interested in extolling the cliché of the Italian artist who made it abroad. However, we are not dealing with a band fabricated by some greedy record label eager to sell to Americans, who have been left without Evanescence (does anyone know what happened to them?), yet another end-of-season gothic-metal bargain bin sensation.
The first single Our Truth, already featured in the soundtrack of Underworld: Evolution, although catchy, should not make Lacuna Coil fans cry betrayal. As Cristina perceptively noted, the criticism her band faces is largely due to the fact that a very high percentage of listeners of this genre are also musicians. The truth is that, beyond Cristina's aggressive yet graceful voice, Lacuna Coil can count on some lethally effective riffs and a rhythm section that in some instances recalls the best of Korn (What I See). How many other metal bands in Italy, but also in the rest of Europe, can boast such credentials? Few, if there are any.
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
Lacuna Coil's Karmacode solidifies the band's status in gothic metal with tight production and strong vocals from Cristina and Andrea. The album balances catchy singles like 'Our Truth' with heavy riffs akin to Korn. Their growing US fanbase, highlighted by Ozzfest appearances, showcases their international appeal beyond typical Italian stereotypes. This album marks an evolution from their previous work and raises their profile worldwide.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil are an Italian metal band from Milan, formed in 1994. Known for the dual-vocal approach of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro, they emerged with late-1990s/early-2000s releases and gained wider international visibility with Comalies (2002). Reviews describe a later shift toward a heavier, darker sound (notably from Delirium onward), culminating in releases like Comalies XX (2022) and Sleepless Empire (2025).24 Reviews
Other reviews
By Brizz89
The album is above average, a work that certainly has not disappointed neither the fans nor the critics.
Enjoy The Silence, a cover of Depeche Mode performed masterfully, with Christina’s voice perfectly interpreting the emotional aspect of the piece.
By tagtgren
"Lacuna Coil does not want to take risks, and they do wrong, precisely because the rhythm section is capable of decidedly greater performances."
"The single 'Our Truth'... too immediately recall various tracks from the previous album."
By absint
It is certainly an easy listening CD; we are not dealing with Dream Theater or Opeth here.
A record that’s easy to approach but requires at least a second listen to be better understood.
By Bisius
A piece of crap in capital letters.
DEAR LACUNA COIL, BUT I CAN'T LIKE ONE SONG OUT OF 13! DAMN! HEAL YOURSELVES!
By lovelorn
A special applause goes to Cristina Scabbia, undoubtedly an important icon for the band, a sexy, intelligent, and charismatic girl, and endowed with a great voice.
Karmacode is an album to listen to, significant for the Italian metal scene.
