In support of their newest album, Sleepless Empire, the Italian Gothic Metal band delivered a powerful and passionate performance in rainy Wales on the 28th of November, following a run of dates across Europe for their Sleepless Empire Tour. Sleepless Empire marks Lacuna Coil’s 10th studio album, and its first release of new material since the pandemic. The album subtly explores prominent issues and themes that exist within the age of the internet, inspired by the concept of a world that never sleeps, constantly online, and visible. Especially since the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in online activity and productivity, creating pressure for artists to maintain a constant online presence to ensure they remain visible and relevant. Through their music, Lacuna Coil have touched upon elements of these issues, looking into modern pressures and new digital cultures.
Stepping into Cardiff’s Tramshed, the energy from the crowd immediately filled me with anticipation. Whilst I was familiar with Tramshed as a popular grassroots music venue, I had never experienced a metal gig before, making the excitement for Lacuna Coil to hit the stage even greater. Supported by Floridian heavy metal band Nonpoint, Lacuna Coil drew a large audience, many of whom appeared to be devoted fans, in band merch, and with some recreating makeup looks inspired by lead singer Cristina Scabbia.
The energy from Cristina was phenomenal, driven by her captivating vocals and stage presence. Her onstage dynamic with co-singer Andrea Ferro was particularly memorable, as their voices intertwined seamlessly on tracks such as Hosting the Shadow, one of the night’s highlights. Ferro delivers a more traditional metal vocal style; Cristina introduces a softer and more melodic counterpoint to the band’s heavier sound. This struck me as particularly interesting, as the contrast between Ferro and Scabbia’s vocal styles were compelling and offered a new perspective to metal that differed from preconceptions I had about the genre.
In interviews, Cristina has spoken about the importance of not hiding one’s femininity within the male-dominated metal genre. While metal itself is typically aggressive and heavy in sound, Cristina’s feminine elements compliment the heavier contributions of her bandmates, whilst still keeping intact the dark and cinematic features of Lacuna Coil and the metal genre.
As always Tramshed proved itself as a strong grassroots venue, with excellent sound and a layout that allowed great views of the band. Admittedly, entering the show I expected to feel outside of my comfort zone, as metal is not a genre I would typically gravitate towards. However, at the end of the night I left feeling unexpectedly inspired, through experiencing the dark but captivating style of Lacuna Coil.
Words by Eve Harris
