Lacuna Coil, 'Trip the Darkness,' Brings Soaring Metal – Song Review

Lacuna Coil, ‘Trip the Darkness,’ Brings Soaring Metal – Song Review

2011-10-03

Review by Anne Erickson

Lacuna Coil’s, ‘Trip the Darkness,’ blends classical music and modern metal

Always-stunning frontwoman Cristina Scabbia and her metallic crew of Lacuna Coil are back to bring their trademark brand of exotic metal with Dark Adrenaline, out Jan. 24 via Century Media. The album’s first single, “Trip the Darkness,” goes for adds on active rock radio Oct. 10. Per usual, the track’s strong songwriting and instrumentation reflects Lacuna Coil’s ability to flawlessly blend classical music and modern metal.

After a chilling mandolin-fueled introduction, the song explodes with heavy, double bass drum action, fiery riffs and brooding bass passages. After a short instrumental run, co-vocalist Andrea Ferro jets in, crying, “What a day / I can barely keep my eyes wide open / I don’t want to see straight / What a day / Feels like my breath is heavy again / And I’m totally faded.”

Throughout, “Trip the Darkness” realizes communion with power metal roots penned in an epic manner, mixing in wistful melodies and passionate lyrics.

Scabbia’s enthralling timbre breaks in with a reverberating call at the chorus, singing, “Follow me, follow me / As I trip the darkness / One more time / Follow me, follow me / I awake from madness / Just in time.” Scabbia is blessed with a robust, unique voice, and those lines soar over the song’s heavy basis.

“Trip the Darkness” captures Lacuna Coil’s vibrant energy and heavy take on atmospheric rock in a style that’s sophisticated, gothic and exquisite. It’s a reminder that Lacuna Coil are the originals in a genre filled with imitators.

Dark Adrenaline, the band’s sixth album, was produced by Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Bullet for My Valentine). “Trip the Darkness” will surface digitally Oct. 11 in the U.S. and Oct. 17 in Europe. (Photo credit: Katja Kuhl, Century Media Records.)

Ink Rating: 4 out of 5 Guitar Gauges

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.