Lacuna Coil - 'Sleepless Empire' Album Review

Tracklist:

The Siege
Oxygen
Scarecrow
Gravity
I Wish You Were Dead
Hosting the Shadow (feat. Randy Blythe)
In Nomine Patris
Sleepless Empire
Sleep Paralysis
In The Mean Timw (feat. Ash Costello)
Never Dawn

Lacuna Coil return with their 10th album 'Sleepless Empire'. When I was given this album, I wasn’t really sure what to expect given that I had really listened to Lacuna Coil in a few years. Sure, I knew some of the big singles from 'Karmacode' era but I hadn’t really properly given the band the time they probably deserved.

I must admit that listening to 'Sleepless Empire' has caught me by surprise due to the heaviness of parts of the album. One of Lacuna Coils main selling points has been the light and dark shade of dual vocalists Cristina and Andrea, on 'Sleepless Empire' they have ramped things up and when they lock in vocally with screams and clean vocals at the same time it pushes the songs to new levels.

Musically Lacuna Coil have gone heavier on this album, way more than I expected. Tracks like 'Sleepless Empire' and 'In the Meantime' rip out of the speakers in ways I’d never previously heard Lacuna Coil do. Albums can often be made or broken with production and mixes; in this case I have to hand it to Lacuna Coil as the production/mix is totally on point. Although this album is crushing, Lacuna Coil still have that nice mix of heavy/ambient or light/shade if you prefer and it’s the dynamics, they play to that make this album such an enjoyable listen.

I’m not going to recommend track highlights as I feel this does the overall body of work a disservice. 'Sleepless Empire' is an album that really needs to be listened to as an album not a collection of songs on playlists. If like me you’ve somehow let Lacuna Coil pass you by due to listening to other stuff (or you're someone who’s never really given them a chance as you think they are too soft) do yourself a favour and check out 'Sleepless Empire' as its going to surprise, you. As for me, I’m off to buy a physical copy of the album.