Lacuna Coil

Lacuna Coil is an Italian alternative metal and gothic metal group from Milano, Italy. The band forms in 1997 in its current name, after earlier working as Sleep of Right and Ethereal. It is known for combining gothic imagery with mid-tempo songs built around prominent guitar lines and contrasting male and female vocals, creating a melodic, detached sound. Later material moves toward a heavier, lower-tuned style with a stronger bass presence and more prominent guitars.

Formation and early line-up

The group begins in Milan in 1994 when vocalist Andrea Ferro and bassist and composer Marco Coti Zelati form Sleep of Right. They recruit Raffaele Zagaria on guitar and Michaelangelo Algardi on drums. After two demos, Bleeding Souls and Noise of Bolgia, Claudio Leo joins as second guitarist and Leonardo Forti replaces Algardi on drums. Cristina Scabbia starts by singing background vocals before becoming a full member. The band then changes its name to Ethereal, signs to Century Media at the end of 1997, and later adopts the name Lacuna Coil, meaning “empty spiral”.

Shortly after the self-titled EP in 1998, Raffaele Zagaria, Claudio Leo and Leonardo Forti leave and Cristiano Migliore and Cristiano Mozzati join. Marco Biazzi later becomes second guitarist. Over time, the band’s membership changes again, with Ryan Folden, Diego Cavallotti and Richard Meiz appearing in the line-up at different points. The listed members include Leonardo Forti, Claudio Leo, Raffaele Zagaria, Marco Coti Zelati, Andrea Ferro, Cristina Scabbia, Cristiano Migliore, Cristiano Mozzati, Marco Biazzi, Ryan Folden, Diego Cavallotti and Richard Meiz.

Albums, EPs and wider recognition

The debut album In a Reverie follows in 1999, after which the band releases the Half-Life EP in 2000. That EP includes a cover of Dubstar’s “Stars”, an instrumental called “Trance Awake”, and a demo version of “Senzafine”, which is the only song in the catalogue with lyrics entirely in Italian. The final version of “Senzafine” appears on Unleashed Memories in 2001.

Comalies, released in 2002, becomes the band’s breakthrough record. “Heaven’s a Lie” brings them wider exposure in North America through television, radio and video play, while “Swamped” is used in Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines and appears on the soundtrack to Resident Evil: Apocalypse. “Heaven’s a Lie” also wins Best Hard Rock/Metal Song at the 4th Annual Independent Music Awards. By 2004, Comalies becomes the best-selling CD in Century Media’s history.

The follow-up Karmacode appears in 2006 and reaches number 28 on the Billboard 200. It is described as much heavier than earlier work and leads to major touring, including dates with Rob Zombie, appearances on the main stage at Ozzfest 2006 and at Download Festival, and releases of the singles “Our Truth”, “Closer”, “Within Me” and a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence”. “Our Truth” also reaches the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and is used on the Underworld: Evolution soundtrack.

Shallow Life follows in 2009 and reaches number 16 on the Billboard 200, becoming the band’s first Top 20 album in the United States. It includes “Spellbound”, first played live during the Soundwave festival run in Australia. The album is produced by Don Gilmore and is noted for Arabic influences, stronger choruses and more prominent vocals.

Dark Adrenaline is confirmed in 2011 and includes “Trip the Darkness” and “End of Time”. The album peaks at number 15 on the Billboard 200. Later releases include Broken Crown Halo, Delirium, The 1.19 Show - Live in London, Black Anima, Comalies XX and Sleepless Empire. Comalies XX reimagines material from the album released 20 years earlier, with rewrites reflecting the move from a two-guitar line-up to one guitar and new vocal takes. Sleepless Empire includes singles such as “Never Dawn”, “In The Mean Time”, “Hosting the Shadow” and “Oxygen”.

Live activity, awards and media

Lacuna Coil tour internationally across Europe, North America, Australia and the United Kingdom, and appear at festivals including Ozzfest, Download Festival, Soundwave, Loudpark Festival and Wacken. Their 2018 London show at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town features the British circus theatre company Incandescence and leads to American 119 shows in New York. The London performance is released as The 1.19 Show - Live in London in CD/DVD and CD/Blu-Ray formats. The band also wins Best Live Act at the Golden Gods Awards for that show and receives a nomination for an MTV Music Award.

Over the course of its career, Lacuna Coil sells more than 2 million records.