Customer Reviews

Dark Adrenaline

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Really Century Media?! As with my review for Roadrunner Record's very flawed physical "deluxe edition" of The Unforgiving (Special Edition CD+DVD) by Within Temptation, this latest release by Lacuna Coil continues the insanely disgusting practice where the record labels do anything and everything to get us to buy their music, EXCEPT give us the bonus tracks! There are no less than eight different physical versions of this album being released today, all featuring ridiculous bells and whistles; everything from dvds to posters, medical kits, etc., and yet not a single one of these different physical versions features 'Soul Inmate' as a bonus track (nor any of the other b-sides). Do you want to know who gets it? The Itunes MP3 customers because they must be rewarded for making the record label's job easier by being so willing to settle for far less than a physical product, while us physical release fans are being punished for still holding onto "the old ways". No amount of added posters, dvds, syringes, medical kits, photos, etc. will EVER be better than getting a complete release of the album where there are NO missing songs.

I am a huge fan of Lacuna Coil, as they were my first exposure into the world of female fronted rock, so it greatly pains me to not buy this album. But I must stand by my belief to not buy something that I know I am getting screwed over on. Century Media re-released Shallow Life (Bonus CD) (Dlx) a year after the album's initial release with all three b-sides (and it was well worth buying then), so I am going to hold out hope that they will come to their senses again and re-release this album with all the cut bonus b-side tracks. However, as I am still waiting on a physical release of Karmacode with both 'Without A Reason' and 'Virtual Environment' included on it to be released, I also know to not hold my breath.

Record labels need to wake up and realize that the game has completely changed with the introduction of the internet. People can now download albums rather easily, and while I prefer just to go without entirely (as I do not wish to hurt the bands who made the music by stealing their material, just because their idiot record labels can not get it through their thick skulls that we want ALL the songs), a lot of other fans do not. Record labels need to adjust their outdated marketing ploys and start giving fans COMPLETE products that we are proud to pluck our money down for. Stop with the shiny boxsets, posters, dvds, etc. and just give us ALL the songs! If a record label can afford to produce this many versions of one album, then SURELY they can afford to produce a TRUE "deluxe" edition for us completists to where we get all the songs. Until they learn this, my purchasing of cds will halt. Even though the latest release from Evanescence Evanescence (Deluxe CD/DVD) was not their strongest effort, I give mad props to Wind-Up Records for giving us the type of cd release I desire from every band (where we are given a choice between purchasing the standard 12 track album or the complete "deluxe edition" with all the b-sides included) and that I am more than happy to pay money for.

And what makes it even worse is the fact that this new album sounds like it would be very good. Perhaps a bit too much of Andrea's vocals (and I do miss the gothic/doom atmosphere of Unleashed Memories), but the few songs I have heard are quite solid and I would be more than happy to add this release to my cd collection after it is given a worthy physical release with 'Soul Inmate' and all the other songs the band recorded for this album included in the package, like it deserves.

Lacuna Coil return with album number 6 "Dark Adrenaline" which see's the band return to their heavier root's after their last album the mellower "Shallow Life" which was met with luke warm reviews from both fans and critics. Many long time fans missed the heavier sound the band had developed especially on albums such as "Comalies" and "Unleashed Memories". There is no lack of heavy riffs on "Dark Adrenaline".

The signs were good when the first single "Trip The Darkness" was released as it contains some heavy guitars and great vocal interplay between vocalists Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. On the track "Kill The Light" which starts out slow before giving away to a heavy riff, it's a song full of hooks. Elesewhere there is "Give Me Something More" which is a song full of melody. Any doubt that Lacuna Coil weren't going to break out heavy riffs are put to bed by the time you reach the 7th song the brilliant "I Don't believe In Tomorrow" which has Lacuna Coil almost sounding like Korn with downtuned guitars it's both dark and a heavy song, it also features a great breakdown at the 2.40 mark that has Scabbia singing "I'll Avenge You" over and over.

The songs "Against You", "Upside Down" and "The Army Inside" are all songs that will have Lacuna Coil fan's rejoicing that the band have embraced their heavier side once again, there's even few guitar solos thrown in for good measure. There is also the epic album closer "My Spirit" which at nearly six minutes long closes out the album in style. Not everything works such as the cover version of REM's "Losing My Religion" which just sounds out of place on the album and is a far cry from the cover version of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence" from "Karmacode".

With "Dark Adrenaline" lacuna Coil have embraced their dark side again with an album full of dark melodies and heavy sounding riffs, the linkup between Scabbia and Ferro hasn't sounded this good in a while, with both vocalists playing to their strengths. Lacuna Coil has hit their stride again with "Dark Adrenaline".

While the band has wisely chosen to return, in part, to the dark, more gothic-leaning composition found on their earlier albums (Comalies and Unleashed Memories), their continued reliance on the latest nu-metal producer-du-jour Don Gilmore makes them sound like a hundred other bands. Pummeling the listener with detuned, Korn-like bass rumblings and double-bass drumming is unnecessary when the composition of the music itself is generally heavy enough. Still, a welcome change for the better. And their continued ability to make a cover song their own (as they did quite admirably with Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" and Dubstar's "Stars") continues here with their interesting take on another huge hit, REM's "Losing my religion". Whodathunk you could make a heavy, gothic statement with that one?! Additionally, album closer "My spirit", written as a tribute to former tourmate Peter Steele of Type O Negative, further shows that the band hasn't forgotten it's gothic roots. (And they sure did on the last album Shallow Life, so this is step in the right direction!) Think of this as 35% Comalies and 65% Karmacode.

I've heard several good songs from Lacuna Coil, but yet never forked over the cash to buy one of their cd's. Well that's all history now, as I bought their lastest cd, and I'm not dissappointed. A couple of months ago I bought Evanescence (self titled) cd, and I thought that was incredible. Well this one is just as good. I just hope my country (USA) catches on to this great album, but I'm afraid they will be too busy listening to Katy Perry. Too bad, because this band, and this kind of music has much more to offer. If someone from Kroq here in L.A. is reading this, you better give this a spin on your radio station. If I was a dj, I would definitely start off with 'Kill The Light', which is probably there best song on the album. I hear sports radio talk show host, and guest athletes anlayst always saying "to the eye", or "what the eye see's". Well I'm going to use the reference 'to the ear'. And to the ear, this song sounds the best.

Now let me talk about track ten, which is a cover song of REM's 'Losing My Religion'. I read other reviews here on Amazon saying this song wasn't done good, or to that effect. One person wrote he always skips it. Our your crazy? Lacuna Coil did an amazing job on this. Personally I prefer this to REM's. In fact, This is my second favorite song on the album. When Cristina Scabbia hits that high note on this, it gives me chills. It also has somewhat of an electronic techno beat to this, which means you could probably play this song at the clubs. A dj will probably give this a mix though. Another song I really like is one of the softer songs called 'End of Time'. This song is highly emotional, and if your married, or have a girlfriend/boyfriend, this song will definitely hit home. By the way, I love how Lacuna Coil has two singers (female/male). And yes, the female singer (Cristina Scabbia) is a much better singer, and way better looking. But having the guy (Andrea) gives the band another dimension, and makes them more unique. At first, I too was wishing it was just Cristina singing, but then I realized the band is just better with both of them sharing the singing duties.

Other great songs on this album is their first release 'Trip The Darkness' (I love it when Cristina says "Come to me, Come to me"). The fourth track called 'Give Me Something More' is really good. And 'The Army Inside' really stands out. And really all the other songs are solid. Really this band deserves to be famous here. This cd is as good as Evanscence, Paramore, 30 Seconds to Mars, or Breaking Benjamin album to name a few. Americans, put down your pizza and give an ear to Lacuna Coil. You'll like what you here, I promise you. Italy has more to offer than just pizza, Venice, the Pope, and Rome.

LC is my favorite band so I knew I would be getting a hard copy of Dark Adrenaline, and would have gone with the basic cd had I realized the deluxe edition's poster was basically just a close up of the alum cover, same with the sticker. Plus the dvd is just the shorts they have online. Lame. I love the cd, can't stop listening, but I should have spent less on just the cd.

This album will likely satisfy those who became fans of Lacuna Coil when they released Comalies or afterward. That album is transitional---it still has elements of their gothic metal roots, but it is a bit more polished than In a Reverie and Unleashed Memories. I find that Comalies is a good album, but the songs lack a certain dynamic that gave the band a more visceral and atmospheric sound on the previous two. Following the pattern that developed with the albums after Comalies, Dark Adrenaline is uneven; the songs are listenable (particularly the opener and "Give Me Something More"), but often boring and repetitive, and when a guitar solo is thrown in, it's a welcome addition but seems to push against the pop-driven song structures that dominate the album. And I don't know why they ever thought downtuning and adopting a nu-metal sound would help them progress as a band...if anything it makes them sound dated, if not simply confused about their musical identity. Focusing on what they do best would really make for a quality album---developing the vocal harmonies (while Andrea Ferro certainly sounds rough on much of their material, he and Cristina Scabbia have always sounded good together, and he does sound better on this album), singing more in Italian, and extending the more musically complex portions of their material. They've always seemed like a band indifferently caught up in mediocrity to me. While this album makes for good background music on a drive, there's nothing really to get absorbed in on repeat listens. Maybe they should become a cover band; "Losing my Religion" is decent, and they haven't gone wrong with covers in the past. It just seems like they have a lot more potential, and instead of forcing themselves to use it, they took the easy way out. Copy this album from someone; otherwise, while you might enjoy it, it also might seem like a replay of something you already own.

Lacuna Coil truly made an album worth the anticipation. I became a fan when I first heard "Swamped" in 2005 and have enjoyed all of their releases up until their previous effort, Shallow Life. While that was a decent yet lackluster album, it does not compare to any of their previous releases in my opinion. However, with Dark Adrenaline, Lacuna Coil decided to bring back that atmosphere to their music that was missing from their previous album. Here is my review of the tracks:

1. Trip The Darkness 9/10 - At first I was a little skeptical of this song. I first thought it was ok but I have begun to like it more with each listen. I had to take off my original 3 star review of the single. This brings back the unique gothic sound that was sorely missing on the majority of their predecessor. It starts off with gothic tones then swings into crunchy guitars and thumping drumbeats in the introduction. Andrea's verses are really good and you can tell his singing abilities have improved even though I never minded his vocal duties in the first place. Cristina's vocals shine as well in the chorus and bridge. Nice pick for the first single and sets the tone of the album.
2. Against You 10/10 - Starts off with some military type drums, but then it storms in with some killer riffs. Cristina takes charge of the verses with drums at a fast paced tempo that are faster than any I can remember Criz playing before. Andrea does well with a soaring chorus with Cristina in the distant background. I think it's the middle of the song that makes this track one of the best on the whole album. It's the guitar solo. One of the best I've heard from them that makes me anticipate getting to that section when the song first starts.
3. Kill The Light 10/10 - The second song that was released. This was definitely a surprise. Once again brings back the gothic tones to their music. I feel that this could have easily been on their album Comalies. It's like a blend of "Daylight Dancer" and "Self Deception". Cristina's verses are haunting and Andrea's singing is some of the best I've heard. Cristina bursts out in some of her signature chanting in the background in later chorus. This is a standout track that's for sure.
4. Give Me Something More 8/10 - One of the most accessible songs on the album. I feel as if I had an Unleashed Memories flashback when I hear the intro to this song with Cristina's radiant chanting melodies. The main guitar riffs have the feel of something off Unleashed Memories or the likes of "The Prophet Said" from Comalies but once the song starts to pick up it's tempo it feels like something completely new. The chorus may feel a bit repetitive but not a bad repetitive like "Underdog" or "The Pain" from their previous album. Instead it's an extremely catchy repetitive.
5. Upside Down 10/10 - I was blown away by this track. One of the heaviest songs on the album and definitely takes me back to the days of Karmacode. Think of the dark goth nu-metal heaviness of "Fragile" or "To The Edge". This song may seem pretty short but it actually works out very well. The song starts off with a bang and continues to maintain its momentum throughout. The thrashy guitar solo is one of their best. The chorus is one that will be in your head because of Cristina's powerful range and the rage in her voice.
6. The End of Time 9/10 - The album finally comes in with it's first softer track. Not that it's incredibly soft but it's mellower compared to the previous tracks. This captures the haunting melodies of their past records In A Reverie and their first EP. I feel this in some ways is reminiscent of "Cold" or "This Is My Dream". There is an effect on Cristina's vocals that make the song feel more somber. The melodies to the song itself make up for that.
7. I Don't Believe In Tomorrow 10/10 - This will take you back to the heavy downtuned riffs and heavy bass of Karmacode. The intro gives an eerie vibe and once the guitars and thrashy drums come in the momentum just doesn't let up. Cristina's verses are incredible and the chorus is loud and packs a punch. The bridge is the true standout point on this track when it shifts tempos into Cristina's fierce whispered chants in the background.
8. Intoxicated 10/10 - This is a song that sounds like nothing they've done in the past. This starts out with an eerie intro just like the previous track then comes in Cristina with "LIE!". I don't think I've ever heard this kind of tone in Cristina's voice before. You can definitely sense passion that is darker and angrier in her vocals that takes it to a new height.
9. The Army Inside 7/10 - When I first heard this song it sounded like a rehash of their single "Spellbound" from Shallow Life. The only difference is that Cristina and Andrea's vocal duties are flip-flopped. Cristina takes her part in the verses and Andrea in the chorus. Heck even the guitar solo reminds me of "Spellbound". However, this has grown on me and I think it may even be better than the track I compared it to. Great track to listen to even if it isn't as good as the previous songs.
10. Losing My Religion 5/10 - I think everyone knew once they seen the title that this was going to be an REM cover. I like covers but this is average. The original is classic but I've heard it way too many times and continue to hear it a lot on the radio today. I'd much rather prefer they included an original song composed by them and this be a bonus track. They included "Enjoy The Silence" as a main track on Karmacode. Even though I listen to that song the least on that album, I felt that "Enjoy The Silence" more superior than this. It's not a bad song. I just tend to skip it.
11. Fire 7/10 - When I first heard this song I felt it was kind of like a throwaway from Shallow Life thinking it was too repetitive along with the likes of "I Like It", "Underdog", and "The Pain" and way too plain. However, this song really caught on. The main riff is catchy and, like "Give Me Something More", the repetitive chorus is very accessible and an easy one to remember.
12. My Spirit 10/10 - For those who enjoyed the more progressive gothic metal approach of their music before Comalies then this is your song. This epic brings forth the melodies of In A Reverie and packs in the ambiance of Unleashed Memories. The song is very haunting and gives me the chills. The song opens with the dark atmosphere of the earlier work and continues into eerie verses sung by Andrea. Cristina makes her entrance in the very moving chorus. The guitar solo is an excellent way to close the song. This masterpiece may actually be the best finale out of any of their albums.

Overall, this album was sure worth the wait. Is it their best album? That is a really difficult question to answer because I feel that Karmacode and Comalies are amazing from start to finish but this comes close. The lyrics also show a little more depth than those of Shallow Life. Also, one will notice while listening to these tracks that Andrea plays an even bigger role than he has before. It is more 50/50 with Cristina and Andrea. I know there are some people who don't care much for his voice but I always thought it was one of the unique qualities of Lacuna Coil that got me into them in the first place. Give this album a listen and you'll notice his vocals are the best they've ever been. Cristina's...well No Need To Explain. They are captivating as always. For those of you who kind of strayed away from them after Shallow Life or even Karmacode then give this album a shot. In fact, this may actually be the best and most accessible album as an introduction for those who have not heard their previous work.

Dark Adrenaline is the new album from Italian goth/metal band Lacuna Coil and as a fan I am delighted to say it ranks among their best so far. Vocals are shared, as usual, between Christina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro and they are strong as ever on the 11 new songs. The original tunes have their patented rich and moody lyrics with the guitars(Christiano Migliore and Marco Biazzi), bass(Marco Coti Zelati), drums(Christiano Mozzati) and keyboards(again Zelati) delivering strong support to the vocals and producing some haunting and melodic songs including the first single, "Trip The Darkness" and my favorite "Kill The Light". That plus a really awesome cover of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" and you have 12 really strong tunes from a band that has delivered on every albums so far. There are no weak songs on this disc but, that's not surprising from the smoking hot Scabbia and co.

I have been a fan of Lacuna Coil for a while, but I just found this album to be monotonous. Each song blends into the next with hardly a change. The poor cover of R.E.M. did not help either. I have given it a couple of listens, but in the end I just cannot find anything worthwhile on this album.

I have a few of Lacuna Coil's CDs, and after listening to some samples that Amazon provided, I was expecting something on the order of "Unleashed Memories", which is still my favorite. After listening to "Karmacode", and feeling like the vocal mix was not done very well on that one, (with vocals that seemed buried under the music too much) I was happy to hear more upfront vocals on "Dark Adrenaline". While listening to the album, overall I felt like the songs were good, and what I've come to expect from LC, but they are not quite as epic, atmospheric and compelling as songs from "Unleashed..." Also, I felt that Christina's voice doesn't, in some cases, have the same power and range that she showed on my favorite album (you know by now what I'm talking about). Andrea's vocals are fine, about what you'd expect, but somehow I'm a bit disappointed in Christina's voice. It's not terrible, but she can do better.

As a whole, the band is tight in musicianship and the songwriting is very Lacuna Coil. But in my opinion, the album is good, but it could be better. I'd give it 3 stars, and maybe I'd go 4 stars if Christina's voice were what I was hoping for.