Following a couple of name changes, and the recruitment of co-vocalist Cristina Scabbia, Lacuna Coil first made their mark with a debut self titled EP release in 1998. The EP hinted at a style understandably not yet fully formed, but was enough to raise awareness of the band in metal circles.

Beginning with 1999’s ‘In A Reverie’, however, Lacuna Coil began to lock in to an approach that would continue to define them. And in fact, I find they’ve remained consistent in refining their sound throughout over two decades of writing and recording, releasing around a dozen albums or so, including live sets (2021’s Live from the Apocalypse) and re-workings (2022’s Comalies XX).
However, Comalies being perhaps their most successful album, following releases have been judged against it and therefore have attracted the criticism of, while being decent albums, exuding a sense of treading water.

The Italian quintet’s last album, 2019’s Black Anima rectified this. Perhaps as a result of a revitalised line-up, a rejuvenated take on their sound was in evidence. Growled, intense vocals from Andrea Ferro, extra heavy riffing and a shift from the overly melodic to the outright throwdown. And so they delivered their heaviest album to date. So, here we are in 2025 and we’re about to have their latest opus, Sleepless Empire, unleashed upon us.

And it’s a great listen.

Lacuna Coil seem to have turned the screw a little tighter still to fine tune a blend of the best moments of their past with the new found heaviness of Black Anima. Sleepless Empire’s eleven tracks cover a fair amount of stylistic grounds, while staying pretty firmly rooted in a more current goth metal sound (with a firm nod to Nu Metal) – and without sacrificing melody. Production and playing are faultless. With the bulk of the writing being handled by founding members bassist Marco Coti-Zelati and Andrea Ferro, along with Cristina Scabbia and Richard Meiz (drummer), the songs over the length of the album are both united and varied enough at the same time to keep you listening. By the way, it has to be mentioned that Marco Coti-Zelati is the hero here-not only having co written, but also produced and played all guitars, bass and synthesisers on the album.

Starting off with opener The Siege, a driving mid tempo tune with a great melody and a great vocal from Cristina, you go next into Oxygen, built on a pounding detuned riff with Andrea in top form, grinding his lungs out. Of course both vocalists feature on all tracks. And that’s part of the sound that works for them-the contrast of their voices as they take turns at who leads to great effect.

Other highlights include Gravity, the first single/video released from the album, and then, coming in at just under three minutes in length,I Wish You Were Dead, probably the most Euro-metal song on the album-which made me think of a modern day metal ABBA! And that’s no bad thing-because the chorus hook could fell a Rhino at ten paces! Cristina double tracked and sounding like both Frida and Agnetha! I challenge even the most battle hardened metal he-man to resist… And it’s also a nice respite from the dark skies and thunder surrounding it. The ripping Hosting The Shadow features Lamb of God man Randy Blythe lending his voice to add to the drama of the song in fine style, with he and Ferro engaging in a kind of duelling growl fest. Elsewhere In Nomine Patris and title track Sleepless Empire channel the bands past into the Lacuna Coil of today with excellent results. In The Meantime features an appearance from New Years Day/ Haxans singer Ash Costello where the intensity is turned up a little higher still. And Never Dawn closes the set in suitably grindy fashion with a punching dynamic that stays with you long after it’s faded
away into the darkness.

There’s just enough of the old Lacuna Coil, the gothic, grand and lush feels, with the heavier attack and fearlessness to include something as pop metal and good as I Wish You Were Dead to satisfy both old fans and bring in the new. On this form, that which was started with Black Anima in 2019, Lacuna Coil have upped the ante and I’m thinking there’s more good things to come.

Sleepless Empire releases on February 14th.