Lacuna Coil - Unleashed Memories

In all honesty, I really don't view Italy as the crown nation of the metal genre. Sure, it outranks neighbor France, but I've never really cared for the Symphonic Metal bands like Rhapsody that this Southern European power tends to produce. But in Lacuna Coil, Rome has found a gem to boast of. This fabulous goth/power metal hybrid is truly unique, blending atmospheric music (think of The Gathering, but heavier) with a dual vocal attack that accents both man's darker side (male vocalist Andrea Ferro) and our inherent grace and beauty (female vocalist Cristina Scabbia). Lacuna Coil translates loosely in Italian as "empty spiral," but the band is anything but—Unleashed Memories is an album abound with energy and emotion.

Originally formed in 1996, Lacuna Coil released a self-titled EP in 1998. The band met with critical acceptance immediately, with Terrorizer Magazine praising the disc's songwriting as "superb, and its strength soon weakens whatever resistance you may have had after repeated plays." The group followed with the full-length In A Reverie in 1999. Heavier in sound, more lushly produced, and striking in the chemistry generated between vocalists Scabbia and Ferro, the album launched Lacuna Coil on a successful touring schedule with names acts such as Skyclad, My Insanity, Grip Inc., and Samael. Prestigious appearances at the Dynamo Open Air festival, the Metal Mania festival in Poland, and Italy's prestigious Gods Of Metal festival soon followed. With European fans calling for more of the band's unique music, the Halflife EP was released in the year 2000. After further success on the road, it was time again for a complete studio effort. Reuniting with producer Waldemar Sorychta, Lacuna Coil went back to work in Germany's Woodhouse Studios to produce their latest output, 2001's Unleashed Memories.

The album is a testament to teamwork in the group dynamic. Writing most of the music is bassist/keyboardist Marco Coli Zelati. Zelati crafts huge, swirling, moody pieces that are awash in tortured emotion. Even without the vocals, the pain, regret, and desire in the band's music is palpable. Assisting in the writing process are guitarists Cristiano Migliore and Marco Biazzi. They have a guitar tone and presence to match Zelati's vision—huge riffs sweep all over Unleashed Memories' soundscape. Keeping the rhythms simple and strong is drummer Critiano Mozzati, who levels huge beats at the listener from minute number one. And finally, we have the superb male/female vocal combo. Frontwoman Scabbia is not only absolutely beautiful to look at, but also a revelation on the microphone. Century Media has described her as a "haunting vocal amalgamation of an Italian Natalie Merchant and Kate Bush." That's not far off—her soaring vocals are expressive, emphatic, desperate, and simply delicious. Mr. Ferro is the perfect complement to her sweet presence. His growls, grunts and screams create a fascinating dynamic that allows Lacuna Coil to act out the vicissitudes of love relationships in the framework of individual songs.

The pain of love lost and frustrated is explored in tracks like "Distant Sun" (with features brilliant orchestration and keyboard work by Zelati), "Cold Heritage," and "Purify," which is catchy enough to merit some serious consideration by radio programmers. Ferro lets loose on songs like "1:19" and "Senzafine," the lone song sung in Italian on the disc. Though not quite to the degree found on In a Reverie, the Ferro/Scabbia combination clicks—"When a Dead Man Walks" being a good example, with Ferro setting the stage for one triumphant Scabbia chorus after another.

As if ten new Lacuna Coil songs weren't enough, the domestic version of Unleashed Memories also includes the Halflife EP as a bonus. Put simply, that's a hell of a lot of good music for your $15! Grand, majestic, haunting. . .Lacuna Coil is all this and much more. Try it for a change of pace, a change of mood, or simply to gaze longingly at Ms. Scabbia in the insert photos. Any way you cut it, it's time well spent.