In a Reverie

When it comes to music, I always get a kick out of albums that are dubbed by the masses as a "breakthrough album." Quite often, it turns out the band in question was churning out great music well before the album that made them famous dropped. For example, while most will claim Edguy's Mandrake was responsible for bringing the band the success it deserved, it's insanely hollow when compared to a previous release like Vain Glory Opera. So where do Lacuna Coil's In a Reverie and Comalies fall in such a picture?As important as Comalies was in forging the Lacuna Coil brand, I still see it as an overrated piece of work that lacks any real variety. While it was far from shallow, songs could easily bleed into one another and at times I could barely tell what track I was on. Such a problem exists on practically every album the band has put out and exists due to the dynamic of the band's sound and vocal approach, yet it doesn't crop up to such a ridiculous degree on In a Reverie. Most of the songs, save for "Stately Lover," "Reverie" and "Veins of Glass" have their own identity and give the album the variety Lacuna Coil albums desperately need. I can't think of another track from the band's catalog that offers an experience quite like "My Wings" and that's really saying something. Even "To Myself I Turned" and "Falling Again" feel like separate entities despite the near-identical temperment.It's this kind of delicious irony that sets In a Reverie well beyond its predecessors. Debut albums should not be this good and effortlessly outline the shortcomings of their eventual follow-ups, yet the album does just that and does it with an unapologetic flair. You can have your Unleashed Memories, Comalies and Karmacode, to me there is only a Reverie.

Even though "In A Reverie" is quite catchy, at the same time each song has the ability to strike a different emotional chord with almost anyone. The guitars on the album, although heavy, produce melodies that fit together and flow perfectly. The drums, while not too complicated or technical, are still something to pay special attention to. Finally, the aggressive tones of Andrea Ferro combined with the stunning vocal talents of Cristina Scabbia fit in perfectly to finish out this album's musical equation.When I first heard Lacuna Coil's self-titled 1998 EP, I was extremely impressed with the performances and composition of the music and disappointed with the lack of production quality. Here was another outfit that was strengthening my faith in women in metal. For Lacuna Coil features the beautiful Cristina Scabbia, an angel who rivals even Anneke van Giersbergen of The Gathering as a lead vocalist. Her crystalline voice is ably complemented by co-vocalist Andrea Ferro, whose masculine, gritty presence on the microphone provides a striking and effective contrast. The EP offered listeners six rich and moving songs, but producer Waldemar Sorychta didn't seem to capture the inherent power in this goth metal/power rock hybrid in his recording. The emotion and inspiration was there; it simply needed the proper soundscape in which to flourish.To his credit, Sorychta is not a man who makes the same mistakes twice. Lacuna Coil turned to him again to produce In a Reverie and this time Woodhouse Studios has given the band a sound to match their abundant talent. Whereas an acoustic feel seemed prominent on the EP, the band's first full-length album brings us a heavy, electric edge that augments Ferro's growling tones and allows Scabbia to soar to even greater heights. Fans of The Gathering, Anathema, and Theatre of Tragedy will immediately recognize the ambient, gothic feel that pervades the music of Lacuna Coil. These Italians, however, don't overdose on melancholy: In a Reverie holds its own as a power metal album, and is full of tension and energy.The album begins with the emotional "Circle," as guitarist Cristiano Migliore and bassist Marco Coti Zelati (who co-write most of the band's material) build up to a driving crescendo of a chorus in which Scabbia's sweet voice shines with frustration and despair. On "Stately Lover," she is almost operatic, and when she sings "I just need you absolutely, to sail this ship of mine," a man would have be to utterly detached not to desire to be the object of her obsession. Ferro is such an object on "Honeymoon Suite," as he takes the role of her bitter and estranged lover, raging at her to leave his life as she cries for his forgiveness. Drummer Cristiano Mozzati gets into the act on "My Wings," with thunderous beats that lead up to a huge chorus in which Ferro's death grunt and Scabbia's siren call mix to create something truly explosive. The album ends, interestingly enough, with a new version of the EP's best track, "Falling Again." The contrast between the EP and LP are shown here clearly, as a song that was previously orchestrated solely with an acoustic guitar has now been adorned with lush, mechanical rhythms, sweeping keyboards (played by Sorychta), and blazing electric guitars.Lacuna Coil has found their groove on their first full-length album, and it is likely to have wide appeal among fans of both metal's lighter and heavier casts. Dark and haunting, it emphatically confirms the potential of these Italian power rockers. Once engrossed in its sepulchral ambience, listeners might find themselves immersed In a Reverie from which they do not wish to emerge. -Ladd Everitt

Lacuna Coil is one of the main members of the new wave of progressive metal that features crunching guitars, epic songwriting and powerful female vocals. Similarities to bands like Evanescence and Stream Of Passion are very evident. "Reverie" was the band's first full length album and shows the promise that this band would go on to bigger and better things. Overall the album is somewhat evident of a band in search of a sound. They try different things here and there and to me this is a good thing. I honestly wish they would do more of this with their later material, as lately they have really locked themselves into a formula. The band is Italian and all of the lyrics here are in English. Christina has a definite accent to her vocals that would be polished up significantly on later releases. The songs are for the most part good. Highlights include "Circle", "Stately Lover", and the title track "Reverie". Epic sounding metal with just a hint of progressive rock. The band would go on to do better albums, but this one was a very good debut.

On their first full-length release, following their self-titled debut EP, Lacuna Coil are poised on the verge of greatness. The CD's opening track "Circle" is a masterpiece and hints at what is yet to come from this Italian powerhouse in the future. The rest of the tracks are perfectly adequate, but don't really propel the band beyond what they showed us on their debut EP. The songs are well-crafted and highly listenable, and Cristina Scabbia continues to be the best voice in rock today. Other standout tracks are "Stately Lover" and "To Myself I Turned." With this first full-length effort, Lacuna Coil deliver a quality release while only hinting at the heights to which they would soar on their subsequent releases.