The Italian goth metal band Lacuna Coil is back with their eighth (8th) studio album “Delirium” and oh what an album it is. First of all, we can take the goth label out of the mix because the new record has a real Nu-metal feel to it and is their heaviest and best record yet.
The band has gone through some huge lineup changes since their last record with guitarists Marco Biazzi and Cristiano Migliore gone along with drummer Cristiano Mozzati. Male/female lead vocalists Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia remain along with bassist Marco Coti Zelati who also took on keyboard and most of the guitar duties for this album. This is also the first record with new drummer Ryan Blake Folden. So in many ways this is a new beginning for Lacuna Coil and “Delirium” is the first chapter in what I hope is a long book from the band. The opening track “The House of Shame” starts things off with a brain melting riff and crushing vocals from Ferro. The band has always had a great contrast between their male and female vocalists but this is the first record where Scabbia’s vocals are not overpowering in the mix and the result is brilliant. Ferro’s deep growls really give a ripping metal feel to the songs while Cristina’s beautiful and immensely powerful pipes have a majestic, symphonic quality to them. The title track is absolutlely huge with an outstanding chorus and vocal performance from Scabbia and “Live to Tell” is a great melodic metal number. The overall feel is dark and melancholy with the emotional “Blood, Tears, Dust” and “Downfall.” The strongest songs, in my opinion, are the heavier ones with the powerful “You Love Me ‘Cause I Hate You” and “Ghost in the Mist” being standouts.
After 20 years, Lacuna Coil has finally found the perfect formula for them. “Delirium” is an aggressive and energetic ride with outstanding songwriting and stellar performances making it one hell of a metal album.
