Italian Goth Metal

Finally, a new Lacuna Coil CD came out. Not only a damn fine band, but they hail from the motherland (Italy), and feature the sexiest and best female vocalist in Metal/Rock, Cristina Scabbia.

The disc is definately a step forward for the band. They expand their sound, and get a little bit heavier on this disc than on some of their past efforts.

I haven't done a full review of a CD in a while, but today deserves one. The star rating is my initial iTunes rating of the songs for my playlists. After time, these are well known to change.

1. Fragile (4/5) - One of the heavier songs I've heard out of the band, with Andrea showing improvement on his vocals. I, like many fans, sort of wished he would sing less. I compare him to sounding like the Italian Ricky Martin trying to sing real music. This song he finds his voice though.

2. To The Edge (4/5)(5/5) - Good song, but barely makes a 4 star mark. Song suffers most from track placement on the disc. After the intensity of Fragile, this song just doesn't click. *I must have been smoking crack during my initial review of this song, listening out of order while thinking I was listening in order... This song rocks my lame ass. Yet another track that needs some radio play.

3. Our Truth (5/5) - the first single, also featured on the Underworld: Evolutions soundtrack. Excellent song. Showcases Cristina's vocals, and is just a very tight, refined, well produced song. The kind of song that could do wonders for a band if forced down the American public's mouth properly.

4. Within Me (3/5) - just a poor ballad. Normally I love their slow songs, but this one lacks emotion. Just couldn't get into it. Maybe later a lyric or two will get me, so I won't pass on it yet, but for now, not on my list of must listens.

5. Devoted (5/5) - This one is waiting for radio play. Good song, and radio friendly. Just difficult to get a shoe in on corporate American radio. Might happen.

6. You Create (3/5) - This is a short intro track for track 7. Should have just made them the same song, since inherently they are. This one could fall in ratings, just because its basically an instrumental.

7. What I See (4/5) - Good guitar riff to this one, with Cristina carrying the theme of the previous intro over. More solid songwriting for this one. Me likey.

8. Fragments of Faith (3/5) - I hate the beginning vocals of this one. It makes me think of a band I hate, that I can't seem to place the name. Can you say, Italian version of Ricky Martin trying to psuedo rap? Yeah, that bad. Good chorus, like the music, but the verse KILLS the song.

9. Closer (4/5) - More solid songwriting, very typical of the group. Cristina and Andrea's vocals play off each other well in this song. They use both vocalists to their strengths on this one.

10. In Visible Light (4/5) - This is more the ballad style I like by the band. It's not an instant classic like Ghost Woman and the Hunter off of Comalies, but quality none the less.

11. The Game (4/5) - Overall good song, but they sneak in a sub-par guitar solo. If you can't make emotion pour out of the solo, or amaze someone with the sounds, don't bother. Jerry Cantrell can do it. Tom Morello can do it. Honestly though, few can. Its ok to NOT solo.

12. Without Fear (4/5) - They seem to always do a song in Italian. This is it. Not many can get into songs in foreign languages, many times I can't. When they do it, I can. Might just be genetics or something for me.

13. Enjoy the Silence (4/5) - Title seem familiar? Yes, they covered Depeche mode. Musically its good. Vocally Cristina can do no wrong in my mind. Andrea stays as a backing vocal for the song, which is my preferance of him. Now, me being the covers fanatic, I'll start complaining. First off, Tori Amos beat them to the cover. Second, after hearing them sing it, it made me want to listen to depeche mode. They didn't make the song theirs. Its basically karaoke. Yes, I said it. A lot of covers are. That instance of karaoke (or American Idol) that has someone with an amazing voice doing a song you know by heart. The song may be good and all, but... its not something that really gets stuck with you, and you want to hear the original.

In other words, has the makings of a solid disc. Although I don't see any classics being spawned off of this cd, I know it isn't one of those "I can't believe I bought this" cd's.

Site for the new disc
AOL listening party for the new CD.