Sleepless Empire (Limited White Vinyl LP)

If you know Lacuna Coil then you'll already be aware that every album entry in their storied career is more than just a sound: Each one is a richly textured soundtrack to a specific time and a place. With Sleepless Empire, that place is dark, cinematic, and unmistakably true to the unique characteristics that have given Lacuna Coil such a celebrated entry in the annals of heavy music.

Without the voice, guitars or drums, Sleepless Empire - the orchestral part - would be a cinematic soundtrack. From the colossal refrains of album opener The Siege to the wickedly catchy I Wish You Were Dead and the irrepressibly classic feel of Sleepless Empire's title track, there's no mistaking the confidence of Lacuna Coil's latest, and it has its share of surprises, too. They 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 an ear-splittingly over-the-top contribution from Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe on Hosting the Shadow.

And if there's a special edge to Sleepless Empire it's about more than that vocal cross pollination alone. As Ferro explains, the key to Lacuna Coil's eternally youthful aura is their curiosity and ability to respond creatively to new inspiration without losing sight of the qualities that make them who they are - and he counts Sleep Token, Spiritbox, Bad Omens, and Bring Me The Horizon as examples of other bands who are doing the same to keep the scene and their own sounds vibrant. That independent spirit has been key to balancing Lacuna Coil's artistic prerogative against the weight of expectation, and Ferro is emphatic when describing how these strange times have generated no shortage of material to influence Sleepless Empire's weighty lyrics and mood.