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Haunting Memories

After earning the title of Italy's biggest selling rock act with the smash hit success of Comalies and touring with everyone from POD to Type O Negative, Lacuna Coil are reissuing their second album, 'Unleashed Memories'. Long associated with the European goth metal scene, Lacuna Coil (which roughly translates as downward spiral) have the perfect elements of melody and aggression.

Opening with the haunting 'Heir Of A Dying Day', the dark atmosphere is set for an even darker journey. 'To Live Is To Hide' has the operatic backdrop of a power metal band. The songs on 'Unleashed Memories' are nothing short of epic especially 'When A Dead Man Walks', which is vocally lush and the intertwining melodies create a gothic kaleidoscope of progressively charged melodic metal. There is even a slight electronic influence with Depeche Mode-style synths used in the gloriously icy 'Cold Heritage'. Lacuna Coil even fly the Italian flag with the song 'Senzafine' penned in their native language.

Like a dark of the bird of the night Lacuna Coil almost soar with the places they take you. The fallen angel vocals of the sultry siren Cristina Scabbia and the powerful vocals of Andrea Ferro complement each other so well they are almost the Ying and Yang of the Italian sextet.

If you can't say that Evanescence owe Lacuna Coil some credit for their sound then you are certainly in denial. 'Unleashed Memories' definitely set the foundations for 'Comalies'. Yet on its own 'Unleashed Memories' is a essential gothic rock release that belongs with the collections Sisters Of Mercy and Paradise Lost records that helped establish the gothic rock scene. 'Unleashed Memories' is certainly a black diamond in the rough and worth the purchase if you liked 'Comalies' as you will certainly love this album.