Anyone familiar with Lacuna Coil will know that every album in their impressive career has delivered more than just a typical band sound: each album is a richly textured soundtrack to a particular era and place. On "Sleepless Empire", that place is dark, cinematic and unmistakably exudes the mood that has made Lacuna Coil such a celebrated entry in the chronicle of heavy music.
Without their particular brand of vocals, guitar sound or drum work, "Sleepless Empire" - the orchestral part - would be a cinematic soundtrack. From the colossal choruses of the album opener "The Siege" to the wickedly catchy "I Wish You Were Dead" and the irrepressibly classic feel of the title track of "Sleepless Empire" - the sovereignty of Lacuna Coil's latest work is unmistakable, and yet it also has a few surprises to offer. These come in the form of two very special guest appearances from none other than New Years Day banshee Ash Costello on their epic "In The Mean Time" and a deafeningly over-the-top contribution from Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe on "Hosting the Shadow".
And if "Sleepless Empire" is anything special, it's more than just this vocal cross-pollination. As vocalist Andrea Ferro explains, the key to Lacuna Coil's eternally youthful appeal lies in their curiosity and ability to respond creatively to new inspiration without losing sight of the long-standing qualities that make the band what it is - and he lists Sleep Token, Spiritbox, Bad Omens and Bring Me The Horizon as examples of other bands doing the same to keep the scene and their own sound alive. This independent spirit is key to balancing Lacuna Coil's artistic prerogative against the weight of expectation, and Ferro emphatically describes how these strange times have produced a wealth of material that has influenced the weighty lyrics and mood of 'Sleepless Empire'.
Lacuna Coil's sound is dark, it reflects the society we live in - it's a portrait of our times. It's a testament to the change in our society, the "Sleepless Empire", where everyone is always on their cell phone, always scrolling, always doing something - from morning to night, it just never stops. A philosophy that is reflected in every aspect of "Sleepless Empire".
CD digipack version
Tracklisting:
1. The Siege
2. Oxygen
3. Scarecrow
4. Gravity
5. I Wish You Were Dead
6. Hosting the Shadow (feat. Randy Blythe)
7. In Nomine Patris
8. Sleepless Empire
9. Sleep Paralysis
10. In The Mean Time (feat. Ash Costello)
11. Never Dawn
