Lacuna Coil - Karmacode

I've always considered follower janis! my resident metal expert. Lately though, she hasn't been dropping any sick metal tracks into my box. It's been more 90's stuff ie, Immature. Get back on the metal horse janny! Anyways, a super long time ago, I reviewed Lacuna Coil and their Shallow Life album. I mentioned back then that I liked the sound, but wasn't entirely sold on the band and needed to hear more. Well janis! was kind enough to tell me to listen to Shallow Life, then Karmacode then Comalies in that order. So here I am, on to number two. I mentioned last time how they have that gothic rock sound, very similar to a band like Evanescence. And let me tell you, I enjoy some Evanescence. Enjoy them quite a bit. So this should be a near home run for me. And it's getting close. I do like the feel of this album just a hair better than Shallow Life. I really don't know why either - just the way it sits with my start to finish. And I want to emphasize that I really love this lead singer. These guys are in the studios again to produce their sixth studio album. They say the next one will be "heavier, stronger and darker" than their previous releases. I'm not certain how that'll be received by the die hard Coilers, but we shall see. Their albums don't appear to chart, so they must have a solid live following or something. And I could see how they'd be solid in person. I like this, and I think you will too. It's 'metal' but a tolerable metal for the non-lover. High five!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Fragile
2. To the Edge
3. Our Truth
4. Within Me
5. Devoted
6. You Create
7. What I See
8. Fragments of Faith
9. Closer
10. In Visible Light
11. Game, The
12. Without Fear
13. Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode Cover)

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Our Truth
2. Enjoy The Silence
3. To The Edge

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars

Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life

Back to the reality of reviewing albums again. Taking a break and going on a rant or making a 'Top 100' list are always a lot of fun. It's interesting to hear feedback on those type of things...I spent literally two weeks making that and probably missed some stuff, but to hear what other people think is better than others is fun. Best part, there isn't a wrong answer. Well anyway - Lacuna Coil didn't make that list. More than likely because I never heard of them before. This comes straight out of the Suggestion Box from follower Janis! Turns out these guys formed in Italy, which is kind of neat. I don't think I've reviewed any international people except for UK yet. Chalk it up to something new. They are making a gothic rock type music - I guess I'd say it's heavier, not really metal, but has elements. THey have a pretty solid lead singer lady, and she slows down a couple tracks too. It's an interesting listen. I'm not really sure I have an opinion yet. I feel like they have pretty big potential, but this album might not be indicative of their best work. I think Shallow Life is pretty good in spots, but then lazy in others. It almost seems like they're trying very hard to be Evanescence on multiple tracks. Many of the tracks sound pretty similar - not that it really bothered me the couple times through. Just more of an observation. This is their fifth studio album, so maybe I'll have to look into the earlier stuff. I may be on the cusp of enjoying them, just need to hear more evidence.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Survive
2. I Wont' Tell You
3. Not Enough
4. I'm Not Afraid
5. I Like It
6. Underdog
7. Pain, The
8. Spellbound
9. Wide Awake
10. Maze, The
11. Unchained
12. Shallow Life

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Survive
2. Spellbound
3. Wide Awake

FINAL RATING:
2.25 out of 5 stars