Lacuna Coil - Broken Crown Halo

Alternative Metal
Century Media
2014








1. Nothing Stands In Our Way
2. Zombies
3. Hostage To The Light
4. Victims
5. Die & Rise
6. I Forgive (But I Won't Forget Your Name)
7. Cybersleep
8. Infection
9. I Burn In You
10. In The End I Feel Alive
11. One Cold Day

Lacuna Coil are a band that I've been listening to for quite awhile at this point. Really they were among the first few less mainstream bands I started picking up on in high school when I was still mostly listening to bigger names like Ozzy, Maiden, Pantera, etc, etc. As such they have sort of a special place with me. There's no doubt the band has picked up more of a mainstream/alt metal touch to their music over time, but I've still always liked their albums to some extent. Actually, lately, I find their newer sound has grown on me more. I'd rate their last album Dark Adrenaline higher now than I did when I first reviewed it. It's something that happens sometimes and it can work the other way as well. An album can either grow on you or grow tired. I guess when you get past some more chuggy riffs on some tracks and similar modern touches the band still does have some great melodies and catchy tunes. I find myself wanting to listen to the songs on Dark Adrenaline quite a lot so it's got a degree of staying power. With all the albums I own I don't always have time for everything so regular play speaks well for an album's quality. With all that in mind I was looking forward to hearing what Broken Crown Halo had to offer.

Well to be perfectly blunt it didn't take me long to decide this album isn't anywhere near as good as Dark Adrenaline. Listening to this one, the album didn't even really keep my attention until track 6 (I Forgive). Five throwaway tracks to start an 11 track album isn't too good to say the least.

Getting back to the start though, Nothing Stands In Our Way opens the album with a kind of (too) bouncy sounding rhythm and a very chuggy sound that did nothing to encourage me from the start. Also worth noting is Marco's vocals which occasionally get harsher and do nothing to add to my enjoyment of the material to say the least. Zombies follows that in a similar fashion as it is also a chugfest with even more harsher vocals from Marco which just aren't great. Moving along we have Hostage To The Light which is a bit softer, but just sounds too mainstream radio ready for me. Things get worse though as Victims is just plain bad as the band seems to want to go very aggro on us and not in any kind of good way. It seems at this point like the album just really wants to yell at the listener and the shoutiness just doesn't work for this band at all. Lacuna Coil's strength has always been in smooth melodies, atmosphere, catchiness, and powerful vocal deliveries and this really has none of those qualities. It's odd that with Cristina Scabbia's superior, soaring, and sometimes haunting voice that she gets kind of rappy and shouty on this song. Nothing I've really heard from her and nothing I ever want to hear again. Unfortunately, Die & Rise is much the same with it's angry shouting from Marco for most of the track building to a similar chorus which is probably the worst in any of their songs.

Beyond that we get back to I Forgive which is decent, but not much more than that. This song does at least has some flow and atmosphere to it, but this wouldn't even really qualify as a highlight on another Lacuna Coil album. It's just ok to listen to and doesn't actively annoy me like several other tracks. Cybersleep is a bit more subdued and melodic as well, but it starts off on the wrong foot with some autotune and then doesn't get much better than "doesn't suck". Infection also passes by as an average track that sounds just a tad too modern for me to really latch on to. I Burn In You is similar, but with some more particularly jarring/annoying shouting from both vocalists towards the end of the song that made me want to never listen to it again. By this point I was getting towards complete apathy with this thing, but I've gone this far with the track by track so I guess I might as well continue. I'm not sure why I'm punishing myself here, but I guess I just have a lot of complaints about these tracks. Moving on to In The End I Feel Alive, this one is is again too modern/chuggy for me to enjoy it much. The chorus is pretty decent, but it can't really save all the chugga chugga with Marco singing that bores me. One Cold Day closes the album in ballad fashion, but once again the melodies fail to grab me and this seems really half assed. There's just not enough passion or catchiness to sell this kind of a track here.

Well, after that breakdown of the tracks you can imagine my thoughts here I suppose. Broken Crown Halo varies between average to sucking with very little in the way of redeeming features. Cristina Scabbia is still a good singer, but she doesn't sell this album and leans away from her strengths, as does the whole band. This is not the kind of majestic and haunting melodies I want out of Lacuna Coil. It's mostly just some half assed modern/alternative metal album built to be easily digestible, but it doubly fails as it doesn't even have the catchiness to sell it as that. This is easily Lacuna Coil's worst album to date and it's not even really close. I can't really recommend this to much of anyone unless you for some reason enjoy the most generic female fronted rock the radio can throw at you. This isn't the worst album I've ever heard, but it is one of the more bland. I can gurantee that Broken Crown Halo doesn't have much room to grow on me. I'm not sure I'll even try listening to this more now that I'm done with this review.

Highlights: I Forgive

Rating - 1.5/5

Geoff Tate's Queensryche - Frequency Unknown

Alternative Rock/Metal
Deadline
2013

1. Cold
2. Dare
3. Give It To You
4. Slave
5. in The Hands Of God
6. Running Backwards
7. Life Without You
8. Everything
9. Fallen
10. The Weight Of The World

I'm gonna come right out and say I went into listening to this album with basically no hope for anything good. There's no use in denying it. I absolutely hate Geoff Tate and every time he opens his mouth for an interview I wish I was there to punch him in the face. If there has ever been a frontman who was a cancer to a band than it is this guy. From the classic "I'm really not a metal guy, I like jazz." quotes to the direction he led the band and the way he treated the other members to cabaret shows this guy is a disease. I really try my best to give every album it's fair listen(s) and I did that here, but it would be a lie to say I didn't go into this expecting crap. Perhaps the only reason I listened to Frequency Unknown is because of all the drama and hilarity surrounding the two camps using the Queensryche name. That has been some quality entertainment and I had to hear the end result from Geoff. Note that I will not be basing this review on the bonus tracks that are redos of old material. Frankly, I don't think an album should be weighed on any past glories.

I guess the first thing that struck me as soon as the music started was the terrible sound. The mix on this just sounds muffled and amateur. I know there are plans to remix this and re-release this, which was demanded by fans in hilarious fashion, but for now I'm going off of what I hear and it sounds pretty bad. Then again as I got deeper into the album I really didn't see what good polishing a turd would do anyways.

Musically, this pretty much reminds me of Geoff Tate's solo stuff because that is what it is. This is his vision of the band and most Queensryche fans know what that means... Alternative rock terribleness. On Frequency Unknown any metal influence the other band members kept in the band despite the douche in chief is pretty much gone and replaced by hired gun yes men. While this influence being gone from the rest of Queensryche is certainly a good thing, letting this dog off it's leash completely has lead to this musical horror that is even worse than even I could have expected. This seriously might even be bad in terms of his solo offerings though at that point it's like comparing diarrhea from different spoiled foods. If you can listen to the alternative/funk nonsense in Dare and not vomit than you sir are a stronger man than I. By the time I hit this, the second track, I was questioning why I do things like this to myself. And it only gets worse.

You'd think since Geoff is basically just trying to make money off the Queensryche name at this point this would at least keep a pretense of metal, but then again I'm not sure Geoff has ever really known anything about metal. I also don't think Tate would ever back off his ego enough to realize the direction he was taking Queensryche in was not working with the fans who actually buy/have bought his music. I guess Slave is about what someone like Mr. Leather-Vest-Hipster thinks metal is though. It's sorta heavy I guess in a modern and discordant way, but really it resembles awful grunge more than anything metal. That's basically what this is... someone who's a self professed metal outsider trying to figure out what metal is. And for help the guy has writing input from Jason Slater, a producer and musician involved with such awesome music as Snake River Conspiracy, Earshot, and Slaves On Dope. He did produce some of the Queensryche stuff as well, but that just goes further to show Geoff Tate left the band and took everything terrible associated with later Queensryche with him. Let me not forget to mention that Lukas Rossi, the guy who won the reality tv nonsense of Rockstar Supernova, also contributed to the songwriting. Are you scared yet? You should be.

I feel like I've already spent more time writing about this album than it deserves so I'm not going to indulge in total track by track or any of that. I'll basically just say that it gets no better. Geoff Tate mewls lifelessly over poorly constructed, poorly mixed, mid to low tempo, alt rock garbage for what seems like forever and then you get some bonus tracks to remind you of what Queensryche really is/was. Don't expect any big epic screams, emotional power, or anything of that sort and certainly don't think for a second you're going to get the progressive metal of Queensryche's glory days. This album can only be loosely connected to metal in the way that Geoff once fronted a big name metal band. He has never been the soul of Queensryche though. Really his only use to Queesryche was his voice and that has faded with time. All you're left with here is the terrible influence Geoff had on Queensryche unfiltered.

There really is no reason to waste your time with this barring curiosity Remember though that curiosity killed the cat and killing a cat is exactly what this album sounds like. I had to suffer through this, but maybe you can still be saved. An F U right back at ya Geoff Tate. I know I've probably spent a bunch of this review just ripping into Geoff Tate but he deserves it. He deserves it ever so much.

Highlights: Just no

Rating - 0/5

Lacuna Coil - Dark Adrenaline

Atmospheric/Gothic/Alternative Metal
Century Media

2012

1. Trip The Darkness
2. Against You
3. Kill The Light
4. Give Me Something More
5. Upsidedown
6. End Of Time
7. I Don't Believe In Tomorrow
8. Intoxicated
9. The Army Inside
10. Losing My Religion (REM Cover)
11. Fire
12. My Spirit

Lacuna Coil are sort of an odd band in my listening. They have undoubtedly become much more commercial in sound since attaining some popularity. At the same time Cristina Scabbia still has a great voice and the band does have a good knack for smooth melodies. It's like I can't help but like them even if they're not quite as good/metal as they used to be. They still manage to make some good songs, even if their best and most metal sounding days are behind them.

Well, there's no real way around it so I'm just going to say it... this does sound pretty nu/commercial rock. The production, guitar sound, chuggy guitar riffs, etc are all there. If this band wasn't rooted in coming from a metal background this probably isn't something I'd be writing a review for. This is not at all a leap from a band like Evanescence at this point.

That being said, this album does have a good catchyness to it and the vocal deliveries are strong. There's some good feeling/emotion to be found in songs like End Of Time as well which sounds genuine and powerful. The album also boasts a rather great cover of REM's Losing My Religion. I love their take on this one. All in all, I find it a good listen for what it is. Their older, metal material this is not, but if you can get around/past that then I do think the songs are good. The album has a good upbeat energy... just delivered in a very radio friendly way.

I guess all I can say is that if you've hung with the band this long you've probably accepted this incarnation of Lacuna Coil and you'll probably still like this. Good songs are good songs and I think this has em. That's pretty much my piece. It's not a perfect album and I'd love them to have more of their old sound, but I've also kind of accepted the newer version. Metal? That's debatable. Good? I have no real debate with that. I'd say Dark Adrenaline is their best release since they did go more mainstream. I think the only thing that holds my rating back just a hair is the fact I miss the perfect fusion of good production and metal that was Comalies.

Highlights: Kill The Light, Losing My Religon, Trip The Darkness, End Of Time

Rating - 3.5/5

Delain - We Are The Others

Melodic/Alternative Metal
Roadrunner

2012

1. Mother Machine
2. Electricity
3. We Are The Others
4. Milk and Honey
5. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
6. I Want You
7. Where Is The Blood
8. Generation Me
9. Babylon
10. Are You Done With Me?
11. Get The Devil Out Of Me
12. Not Enough

New Delain is something I've been looking forward to for awhile. Ever since April Rain and seeing them at ProgPower USA I'd count myself as a fan. The first album was pretty good, but the second really put them in the 'up and comer' category for me. April Rain just had nice melodic atmosphere and singing to it along with very memorable songwriting. Reminded me a bit of Within Temptation. Similar brand of female fronted metal and brought to you by the ex-keyboardist of that band.

Now onto the new one, We Are The Others. There were some warning signs before I even listened to this that I couldn't ignore. The main one being the fact that the backing, guest vocals of Marco Hietala that appeared on the first two albums are absent and in it's place is one track with Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory. More than a slight drop off in quality there and I couldn't help but think it was probably a signal of the sound and audience they'd aim for here.

Sometimes, I hate being right. From the first listen, I had trouble latching onto this release. It still sorta sounds like the Delain of the first couple albums and they've always had a 'well produced' sound, but this one did not have anywhere near the impact April Rain had on me right away. A large part of the problem here is that the guitar has become more chuggy and I get this overall impression of radio rock. Sometimes it's a fine line and when you cross it things go south in a hurry. I'm feeling like this is the influence of being on Roadrunner records too long. I don't find this one has as much of a symphonic touch and the riffs just aren't what I want to hear.

Songs worthy of note include We Are The Others which seems to have more of that lighter, symphonic charm to it and Get The Devil Out Of Me which finds a really catchy riff that reminds me of Lullacry or later Nightwish. Also worth mentioning, in less positive fashion, are the crappy duet by the name of Where Is The Blood and the overly poppy sounding Are You Done With Me. All in all, the lows are a lot more than the highs and many of the songs are pretty mediocre. Most of these songs just don't hold a lot of appeal to my metal ears.

Overall, this is the band hitting a low point. I can't help but wonder if this band peaked quickly with it's second album. I hope I'm wrong really, but I'm doubting it. I really like Charlotte Wessels voice and the sound they had going, but this is not my kind of metal. I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone who likely reads these things. Is it just me or are a lot of female fronted bands flopping lately?

Highlights: Get The Devil Out Of Me, We Are The Others

Rating - 2.5/5

Adrenaline Mob - Omerta

Alternative Metal/Rock
Capitol Records

2012

1. Undaunted
2. Psychosane
3. Indifferent
4. All On The Line
5. Hit The Wall
6. Feelin' Me
7. Come Undone (Duran Duran cover)
8. Believe Me
9. Down To The Floor
10. Angel Sky
11. Freight Train

I don't know where to even begin with this one. In theory a collaboration between Russel Allen of Symphony X and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater sounds like it could be a great thing right? I mean I'm not a big Dream Theater fan as most well know, but we're talking about a very skilled drummer and one excellent singer here. Both of these guys have been involved in highly regarded progressive metal so you'd kinda think this album might follow that trend. Certainly, both members do bring a level of talent to the band to start.

Well, throw any preconceived notions about these two right out the window. If you're expecting Symphony X or Dream Theater than you are going to be sorely, sorely disappointed. From the first track I could feel any hope for this album obliterated in nuclear fashion. I've just gotta come right out and call this utterly mindless, chuggy, nu-metal/alt-rock drivel. This is pure, shameless radio rock and coming from someone I respect(ed) as much as Russel Allen this simply pisses me off. Omerta is basically an album made up of boring riffing with Russell Allen sounding like more recent Symphony X in that generally rougher voice most of the time. The first comparisons to come to mind for me are moments of Disturbed, Seether, and Sevendust and if that doesn't express the bad taste this left in my mouth than I dont know what can. Any number of other radio rock bands could come to mind, but honestly they tend to blend together for me and I don't pay that much attention if it can be helped. I mean to say these guys are jumping the shark is an understatement. They're more like jumping the shark on a pod racing course in a fridge that is propelled by a nuclear blast.

In short, this is like the antithesis of the true metal scene and everything I like about the genre. This has mass produced, major label, easily marketed to the braindead masses, garbage written all over it. Oh Russel Allen... how you wound me. Rated as a metal album this doesn't deserve a shred of positive and that's how I rate things on this Metal site folks. You have been warned. I'm already preparing to crown this one worst 'metal' album of the year to loose the term loosely. I could barely even stand listening to this all the way through.

Highlights: Nothing, Zero, Zilch, Nada

Rating - 0/5

Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life

Gothic/Alternative Metal
Century Media

2009

1. Survive
2. I Won't Tell You
3. Not Enough
4. I'm Not Afraid
5. I Like It
6. Underdog
7. The Pain
8. Spellbound
9. Wide Awake
10. The Maze
11. Unchained
12. Shallow Life

Lacuna Coil are treading on shaky ground with the metal community to say the least. With the last album Lacuna Coil took on a noticeably more commercial sound, at least in production and guitar/bass sound. While I enjoyed Karmacode for the most part, I would also admit that it was a bit of a decline in quality from the spectacular Comalies. Comalies seemed the pinnacle of Lacuna Coil as the production quality improved without sounding too modern/mainstream. This band has always been a favorite by me so of course I hoped for more of this.

Unfortunately, the guitar is still chuggy and some of these songs have more in common with radio rock. The sound change of the last album is still mostly present. while the band still has a good sense of melody and I still enjoy the album overall, it has to be seen as at least somewhat of a disappointment. The streamlining of their sound into something more in vogue and radio friendly does lead to a lot of the songs just not standing out. I also notice that this album seems to rein in Cristina Scabbia as she doesn't really belt out the lines in soaring and epic fashion and it's definitely a detriment to the album. Just doesn't have as much kick to it with her more backrounded and I miss songs like Swamped which started out with her forceful projection. The best moments of this album really as the ones that recall the old like Not Enough which is an interesting step back to a sound that reminds me of Unleashed Memories. The music is way more subtle and atmospheric than most of the album and Cristina's vocals shine. Such a great song it's fairly frustrating because I know the band still has it in them to write like this if both Century Media and themselves would let them write like this more. Spellbound is also a worthy track with a nice flow to it that reminds me of Comalies.

In the end the verdict is that this is not a bad album, but it's an underwhelming one considering I know what this band can do. Lacuna Coil is just a band that needs to shake off this push to be more radio acceptable and try to keep their own identity. It would certainly help a lot to remember it was the soaring melodies and powerful vocals of Comalies that got them success in the first place.

Highlights: Not Enough, Spellbound

Rating - 3.0/5