Century Media
2006
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. The Game
12. Without Fear
13. Enjoy The Silence
There's been so much buzz around this album that I don't know where to start. Based on the somewhat delayed boom in popularity a year or so after the release of Comalies there have been a lot of expectations placed on this band from both sides of the coin. The same question raised in a different way from both of the markets comalies managed to appeal to. Will this be the album that propels them to further success and will it be the album where they sell their souls to the mainstream?
Well first of all, let me state that I am a huge Lacuna Coil fan, so this is both a fan of the band's and a metal fan's perspective. My worries have pretty well been laid to rest here. Sure there are some modern touches in the fact modern riffs creep in here and there and the bass is mixed way louder, but overall this is the same Lacuna Coil. No more difference than can be explained by the minor changes from album to album and the band's style remains well intact. The atmospheric yet catchy nature of the band and Cristina's extreme vocal talent remain.
The first three tracks sound more modern than the rest, I must admit and are undoubtedly aimed at grabbing the mainstream fanbase from the beginning. From there the album really picks up (or slows down depending on how you look at it) with the Incredible ballad Within Me. Their music is pretty well always atmospheric/half ballad in nature but this is a true ballad and Cristina's singing is utterly amazing on this song. Probably her best vocal performance and a real highlight. Other tracks worth mentioning include the very different What I See which starts off with the heaviest riff ever in a Lacuna Coil song. The riff is chuggy but not in a way that conjures nu-metal comparison for me... Actually the tone reminds me of a better produced (Nevermore) Enemies Of Reality riff that's tempo has been dropped. The bass on that one is particularly beefed up and it does give somewhat of a modern sound but I like it. Also included is a most excellent cover of Depeche Mode's Enjoy The Silence which Lacuna Coil really make sound their own.
One final note I feel obligated to point out, is that Andrea is in no way forgotten on this album. Some, including myself, had expressed concern over how buried he was on the first single, Our Truth, but that is not representative of the album. Andrea takes on a larger lead role in some tracks actually and he sounds very strong. More polished than he has been in the past, in a good way.
This album really is the judge of their character and where they plan to go in a way. Basically because they stood at a crossroad. If they were going to 'sell out' so to speak then it was going to be here. Their first album with commercial interest going in and the pressure that gos with it.
All in all, the results are good. Some slight mainstream touches, but I think everyone had to expect a Little at least. Not quite as strong as the last two to me, but not a disappointment at all either. Just prefer the songs a bit on the last two which I'd rate both as being 4.5s. This one still walks away with an excellent 4.
Highlights: Closer, Within Me, What I see, Enjoy The Silence
Rating - 4.0/5
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. The Game
12. Without Fear
13. Enjoy The Silence
There's been so much buzz around this album that I don't know where to start. Based on the somewhat delayed boom in popularity a year or so after the release of Comalies there have been a lot of expectations placed on this band from both sides of the coin. The same question raised in a different way from both of the markets comalies managed to appeal to. Will this be the album that propels them to further success and will it be the album where they sell their souls to the mainstream?
Well first of all, let me state that I am a huge Lacuna Coil fan, so this is both a fan of the band's and a metal fan's perspective. My worries have pretty well been laid to rest here. Sure there are some modern touches in the fact modern riffs creep in here and there and the bass is mixed way louder, but overall this is the same Lacuna Coil. No more difference than can be explained by the minor changes from album to album and the band's style remains well intact. The atmospheric yet catchy nature of the band and Cristina's extreme vocal talent remain.
The first three tracks sound more modern than the rest, I must admit and are undoubtedly aimed at grabbing the mainstream fanbase from the beginning. From there the album really picks up (or slows down depending on how you look at it) with the Incredible ballad Within Me. Their music is pretty well always atmospheric/half ballad in nature but this is a true ballad and Cristina's singing is utterly amazing on this song. Probably her best vocal performance and a real highlight. Other tracks worth mentioning include the very different What I See which starts off with the heaviest riff ever in a Lacuna Coil song. The riff is chuggy but not in a way that conjures nu-metal comparison for me... Actually the tone reminds me of a better produced (Nevermore) Enemies Of Reality riff that's tempo has been dropped. The bass on that one is particularly beefed up and it does give somewhat of a modern sound but I like it. Also included is a most excellent cover of Depeche Mode's Enjoy The Silence which Lacuna Coil really make sound their own.
One final note I feel obligated to point out, is that Andrea is in no way forgotten on this album. Some, including myself, had expressed concern over how buried he was on the first single, Our Truth, but that is not representative of the album. Andrea takes on a larger lead role in some tracks actually and he sounds very strong. More polished than he has been in the past, in a good way.
This album really is the judge of their character and where they plan to go in a way. Basically because they stood at a crossroad. If they were going to 'sell out' so to speak then it was going to be here. Their first album with commercial interest going in and the pressure that gos with it.
All in all, the results are good. Some slight mainstream touches, but I think everyone had to expect a Little at least. Not quite as strong as the last two to me, but not a disappointment at all either. Just prefer the songs a bit on the last two which I'd rate both as being 4.5s. This one still walks away with an excellent 4.
Highlights: Closer, Within Me, What I see, Enjoy The Silence
Rating - 4.0/5
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