Title: Shallow Life
Artist: Lacuna Coil
Genre: Metal / Alternative / Rock
Release Date: 21st April 2009
Label: Century Media / EMI
Album Review
Italian gothic metal six-piece act LACUNA COIL unleashed ‘Karmacode’ three years ago and since then their musical career has been a constant leap forward in every possible direction. But that was then and now is the time and place of ‘Shallow Life’, the dreadful shallow take on a shallow musical career that doesn't shine too brightly for these gothic beings. It creates a rather creepy peak having a haunting vibe throughout beginning with the very first tune ‘I Survive’, it carries onward a creepy yet ambient vibration of reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby, therefore breaking into one of those storming riffs that their fans have become accustomed to over all these years. Unfortunately such riffs and killer solos aren't the major pull-ins needed, most tend to stretch far and wide between the albums tunes engraved on ‘Shallow Life’.
While they've never been phenomenal technical players, both Biazzi and Migliore have been good enough to make a song memorable through their creative work, but now for the most part, the guitars are generic and mediocre as it gets which is a terrific shame and torture method. Vocalist front women Cristina Scabbia gets the job done and it shows well enough on such other tunes ‘I'm Not Afraid’, ‘The Pain’, and ‘Spellbound’, all of which creates that flowing beatings that has a repeating tone that tends to get annoying rather quickly. But as mentioned, instrumentally this album is nothing special. None of Cristina’s supporting cast really stands out as particularly impressive, and all of the instruments mesh into what essentially amounts to wall of sound rather than any kind of thought out ensemble of technical prowess. And lyrically, the band has taken a backward step as well. The new focus on melodic choruses and hooks has resulted in weak verses with lyrics that are designed to connect with a bigger audience.
Thankfully, in most instances Cristina’s voice just about manages to save the day, making the majority of the album listenable. Their fans will indeed take a liking to this album but it doesn't uphold the older styles but has an uplifting tone to a newer one allowing all fans on their own accord to consider this music whatever they please. Thus fans of WITHIN TEMPTATION and NIGHTWISH will likely go right off and grab a hold of this album because it without a doubt indeed falls within the same guidelines so the music matters.
Tracklist
01. Survive
02. I Won’t Tell You
03. Not Enough
04. I’m Not Afraid
05. I Like It
06. Underdog
07. The Pain
08. Spellbound
09. Wide Awake
10. The Maze
11. Unchained
12. Shallow Life
Line-up
Cristina Scabbia
Andrea Ferro
Cristiano Migliore
Marco Biazzi
Marco Coti Zelati
Cristiano Mozzati
Website
http://www.lacunacoil.it/ / http://www.myspace.com/lacunacoil
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 7
Extras: -
Total: 7 / 10
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