Band review : Lacuna Coil

Origin Milan,Italy

Genre(s) Alternative metal
Gothic Metal

Label(s) Century Media

Website www.lacunacoil.it

Members
Cristina Scabbia
Andrea Ferro
Cristiano Migliore
Marco Biazzi
Marco Coti Zelati
Cristiano Mozzati

Lacuna Coil is an alternative metal/gothic metal band from Milan, Italy
They were formerly known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal. The band was heavily inspired by gothic imagery, and the members have been known, musically, for composing midtempo songs consisting of guitar lines overlayed with prominent keyboard work, and contrasting dual female/male vocal harmonies to help create a melodic detached sound. Much of their more recent material, however, sees a more down-tuned style, featuring a more distinct bass line and a higher mixing of the guitars within the songs. According to the band, they are and have been influenced by Paradise Lost, Tiamat, Anathema, Septic Flesh, Type O Negative, My Dying Bride, Imago Mortis, Depeche Mode, and In Flames, amongst others.

Biography

Andrea and Marco formed Sleep of Right, but soon changed their name to Ethereal, and signed to Century Media at the end of 1997.Finding that the name Ethereal was already taken, they changed their name to Lacuna Coil, which means empty spiral.

The band consisted at that point of co-vocalists Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro with bassist/keyboardist Marco Coti Zelati. The band recorded a self-titled EP released in 1998, and went on tour supporting label-mates Moonspell. The band was accompanied for this tour by guitarist Cristiano Migliore and drummer Cristiano Mozzati.

Following a second European tour, the band recorded their debut full-length album, In a Reverie, and added second guitarist Marco Biazzi. The band supported the album with another European tour, co-headlining with Skyclad.

Following another EP in the form of "Half-Life" in 2000, and album entitled "Unleashed Memories" in 2001, the band released Comalies in 2002, an album which received acclaim and rave reviews from certain corners of the metal world.Over a year later, the first single from this album, Heaven's a Lie, began to receive radio and media attention and pulled the band into the mainstream. The second single, Swamped, was played in heavy rotation, and was used in the video game "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines", both in one of the game's fictitious clubs and along with the game's endgame credits. Music videos were filmed for both songs and broadcast on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball.

By 2004, Comalies had become the best-selling CD in Century Media's history. The band appeared at Ozzfest in between headlining club tours in America and Europe.

In an effort to best take advantage of Lacuna Coil's ascendant popularity, the band and label postponed the release of their highly-anticipated follow up to Comalies, Karmacode, to early 2006. According to the band's website, this made it possible for more time to be spent on On December 23, 2005 the band announced via their official web site that all recording, mixing, and mastering had been finished and that Karmacode is complete production while also avoiding the crowded summer 2005 release schedule for metal album.

Corresponding with the release of the new album, Lacuna Coil went on tour with Rob Zombie throughout North America in early 2006 also making an appearance at Ozzfest 2006 on the main stage. The band also played at the 2006 Download Festival, a three-day festival in England's Donington Park which was headlined by Metallica, Tool, and Guns N' Roses. They are also scheduled to play one night in the UK at Sheffield Corporation on October 17th. This December, Lacuna Coil will be teaming up with In Flames for a US Tour, though they are currently on board the Blackest of the Black 2006 tour with headlining act Danzig, and bands like Asesino, Belphegor, and The Haunted

Starting March 2007, Lacuna Coil joins Stone Sour and Shadows Fall on the Jägermeister Music Tour. In May, they will tour the US with Within Temptation and The Gathering on the The Hottest Chicks in Metal Tour 2007.

Departing from the original tour dates, Lacuna Coil made a stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico in late April and played at the Sunshine Theater with Stolen Babies, Beneath the Sky and Shadows Fall.

In October of 2007 Lacuna Coil will play for the first time in their career in Japan during the Loudpark Festival 07 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama City.