Italian goth metal heavyweights Lacuna Coil are back with their seventh studio album, “Broken Crown Halo.” Once again, the record centers around the vocal harmonies of lead singers Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. The contrast is stark with the brutal vocals of Ferro going head to head with the elegance and control of Scabbia.
The album has an overall heavy, dark feel to it starting out with the lead single “Nothing Stands In Our Way.” The band sounds tight and polished but the songs are a bit predictable as Lacuna Coil stays with their tried and true formula of songwriting. Highlights include the second single “Die & Rise,” a powerful anthem in which Scabbia breaks into Italian midway through and “Hostage to the Light” which may be Scabbia’s best performance to date. Closing out the record is a passionate tribute to the late ex-guitarist Claudio Leo.
There’s something missing from “Broken Crown Halo.” It’s not a bad record, just a tad on the boring side. For a band with so much raw talent, I was hoping for something more.
