ALBUM REVIEW:
Lacuna Coil
Delirium
May 2016

For around 20 years, Lacuna Coil has been making a name for themselves as one of the biggest heavy metal groups to emerge from Italy. They began to gain notoriety in the United States with a pair of Ozzfest appearances in 2004 and 2006. This month, they release Delirium, their eight studio album, and first album since the departure of long-time guitar players Cristiano “Pizza” Migliore and Marco “Maus” Biazzi, as well as drummer Cristiano “Criz” Mozzati.

Despite the change in line-up, now featuring Diego Cavallotti on guitar and Ryan Blake Folden on drums, from the get go, there is no mistaking this for anything but Lacuna Coil. They’ve spent two decades refining their sound, and they didn’t deviate too far on this album. The album was produced by bass player Marco Coti Zelati, and certainly having your producer come from within will help you maintain your sound.

Rounding up the band’s lineup, of course, are singers Andrea Ferro and Christina Scabbia. While they didn’t change their sound significantly, the band definitely went heavier all around with it. The most noticeable change I found were with Ferro’s vocals. At many points on the album, he has a much heavier, almost death metal style growl. Christina has always had a great voice, and it’s as great as always here.

While an enjoyable listen overall, I find Delirium to become a little repetitive. The band has said that this album was not about satisfying mainstream radio formats, and while I don’t think a band should write songs simply for the radio, I find there to be fewer hooks that catch me in the songs. Even after several listens of the album, it would be tough for me to pick out multiple songs, as they run together. I would say the stand out track is the title track, “Delirium.”

If you’re a Lacuna Coil fan, I definitely recommend giving the album a listen, as more music from them is always great. For me, it lacks a special spark that sets it apart from prior release.

Lacuna Coil – Delirium
The House of Shame
Broken Things
Delirium
Blood, Tears, Dust
Downfall
Take Me Home
You Love Me ‘Cause I Hate You
Ghost in the Mist
My Demons
Claustrophobia
Ultima Ratio
ALBUM REVIEW: 7/10