Photo Credit: CUNENE
Lacuna Coil’s latest album, Sleepless Empire, isn’t just another chapter in their ever-impressive catalogue – it’s a bold statement of intent. Their tenth studio album dropped earlier this month and saw the Italian icons embracing their gothic roots, while fearlessly pushing their sound into unexplored sonic spectrums. If you thought you knew what to expect from Cristina Scabbia and company, you might want to reconsider that opinion.
From the first ominous notes of The Siege, you’re plunged into an enormous, orchestral soundscape, where colossal refrains collide with razor-sharp precision. The title track, Sleepless Empire, is a haunting indictment of our hyperconnected, yet deeply disconnected world. As Scabbia herself put it, the song embodies “the paradox of a society always online, yet increasingly alone.” It’s Lacuna Coil at their most thoughtful, their most incisive, and ultimately, their most powerful.
The album also boasts some jaw-dropping collaborations. Hosting the Shadow sees none other than Randy Blythe of Lamb of God unleashing his feral snarl, injecting an electrifying, primal energy. Meanwhile, In the Mean Time teams Scabbia with New Years Day’s Ash Costello in a dazzling fusion of gothic opulence and contemporary aggression.
But it’s not just the guest spots that shine. Tracks like Oxygen and Gravity showcase Lacuna Coil’s signature ability to blend ethereal strings with seismic guitar work, crafting soundscapes that are at once grandiose and deeply personal, and showcase the band’s ability to weave intricate string sections with crushing riffs.
I Wish You Were Dead drips with venomous melody, while Sleep Paralysis pulls you into its eerie, hypnotic grip, a musical nightmare from which you might not want to wake.
Lyrically, Sleepless Empire dives headfirst into the existential dread of modern life, holding a mirror up to a world drowning in digital noise. This thematic depth is amplified by the album’s breathtaking artwork, helmed by Italian maestro Roberto Toderico – another testament to Lacuna Coil’s commitment to authenticity in an age of manufactured art.
And in a nod to their ever-growing connection with the gaming community – having previously ventured into realms such as their card game Horns Up and their contribution to Zombicide – Lacuna Coil have crafted something truly special for die-hard fans. The box set edition of Sleepless Empire comes with an exclusive oracle-style dice game, a collectible nod to the band’s love of immersive, interactive experiences.
The band themselves describe Sleepless Empire as a reflection of “a generation trapped in a digital world that never stops, where social media erodes identity and everyday inches us closer to becoming soulless automatons.” The record pulses with rebellion, a battle cry against the ever-blurring line between reality and illusion. It’s the sound of a band not just surviving, but thriving, constantly redefining their legacy with every release.
Sleepless Empire is a dark, cinematic masterpiece that captures the chaos of our times and turns it into something hauntingly beautiful, with the record striking a perfect balance between gothic grandeur and modern intensity.
7.5/10
Standout Tracks: Sleepless Empire, Scarecrow, Hosting the Shadow
For Fans Of: In This Moment, Motionless in White, Poppy
Written by: Eric Mackinnon
