LACUNA COIL: Shallow Life

Produced by Don Gilmore

Released: April 21

Lacuna Coil disappointed many fans with Karmacode, this correspondent included. Their commercial aspirations seemed to have driven away everything that made them appealing in the first place. There was never anything wrong with them chasing success, but on their way to selling half a million albums the soul appeared to have been sucked out of the band.

Shallow Life does something to readdress the balance between their commercial pretentions and their metal roots. If you've heard any Lacuna Coil you know what this is going to sound like, yet while the band's songwriting remains steadfastly risk-free, this is a much heavier album than Karmacode. Possibly due to the guiding hand of Linkin Park and Avril Lavigne producer Don Gilmore, Lacuna Coil has been allowed to expound their pop inclinations while also pounding out music that is (most of the time) undeniably heavy metal once again.

"Survive" is the perfect start, a tinkling xylophone and a repetitive, child-like vocal line are suddenly overwhelmed by crushing guitars that for a moment almost makes you wonder if you're listening to the right CD until the familiar harmonies of Cristina Scabbia enter the picture. A true star whose presence looms over the rest of the group like a colossus, it is Scabbia's distinctive timbre and grasp of melody that really makes this band. Musically, Shallow Life is the group's typical wall-of-sound guitars, rock beats and sprinklings of keys, with simple, catchy riffs recycled from the best songs on previous albums. It's heavier than before and the whole thing goes along all right, but there's nothing outstanding about the tracks, which for the most part stick rigidly to Lacuna Coil's tried and tested formula. "I Won't Tell You" and "Not Enough" are quite memorable and in the rock stylings of "I'm Not Afraid" the band nudges the accessibility of Linkin Park, an aspect that is echoed in the title track. Similarly, "I Like It" is so unashamedly pop that only the lack of a funky beat stops it from becoming an instant dancefloor hit.

Nevertheless, Shallow Life still has a metal vibe, with a much stronger presence from Andrea Ferro, who seemed to spend most of Karmacode standing around doing nothing. With Scabbia's talent and presence overshadowing him, Ferro was in danger of becoming completely redundant but on Shallow Life he takes the lead on a couple of occasions, and turns in his best performances so far. As much as Scabbia owns the first two-thirds of this, Ferro dominates "The Maze" and "Unchained", two of the band's heaviest and darkest songs.

Shallow Life doesn't offer any real surprises but it is certainly edgier and heavier than its predecessor and just as likely to snare more fans in Lacuna Coil's harmonious net. Again, Scabbia proves what a giant talent she is and the band shows how they'd be nothing without her.

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

Rating: 73%