Lacuna Coil

Karmacode

[4/5] On their first album since 2002’s Comalies, Lacuna Coil capture the increasingly crushing sonic impact of their live show, with thick, grinding grooves, massive choruses and a colossal rhythm section. Karmacode offers even more than the live experience in terms of instrumental dynamics, because while the band may not be able to afford full-blown orchestral accompaniment onstage, they use symphonic strings to enchanting effect in the studio. Singer Andrea Ferro’s improved range enables him to carry melodies rather than simply serving as the feral opposite to the band’s more visible vocalist, the ethereal alto Cristina Scabbia. Similarly diversified, Scabbia unleashes unprecedented aggression this time around, displaying vocal nuances that had previously gotten lost in contrast with Ferro’s delivery. At once loud and elegant, Karmacode raises Lacuna Coil’s heaviness tenfold without sacrificing a drop of the band’s mystical ambience.
(CENTURY MEDIA) Andrew Miller