Pioneers of gothic and symphonic metal, not to mention one of the most commercially successful bands of the European scene, Italy’s Lacuna Coil have a new album on the way in the shape of ‘Sleepless Empire’, their 10th overall. The band also have a new single for us, the wonderful ‘Oxygen’, which is indeed a breath of fresh air from Cristina Scabbia and co.
“’Oxygen’ is a powerful exploration of emotional struggle and inner conflict,” the singer states. “The lyrics convey a sense of drowning in a toxic environment, both literally (in the video) and metaphorically, where attempts at salvation, represented by “oxygen” are somehow futile. This song encapsulates the feeling of struggling to break free from what holds us down, when the journey is filled with difficulty. It’s a raw anthem of vulnerability, resilience, and the courage to face what seems insurmountable. Having to stay in the water for so many hours during the video shoot was cathartic for me, the realisation that the pleasant sensation of floating could in an instant become dangerous and deadly if I wasn’t careful was very fitting with the song’s theme.”
Inspiration to create ‘Sleepless Empire’ came during the sessions for ‘Comalies XX (2022)’, the acclaimed remake of their breakthrough record of the same name. Writing and recording took place in northern Italy between Milano, the band’s hometown and Como, where SPVN Studios are located. As with their previous albums, production was done in house with Marco “Maki” Coti Zelati at the helm, and artwork was hand curated by the talented Italian artist Roberto Toderico.
Two other very special talents enrich the album, namely the guest vocalists, Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe on the song ‘Hosting the Shadow’ and New Year’s Day’s Ash Costello on ‘In The Mean Time’.
As a token of the band’s love for the gaming world, the band have created an oracle game to be played with custom made dice available only in the box set version of the album. The record comprises 11 new tracks, and 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 metal music.
“This record captures, through our eyes, the chaos of a generation trapped in a digital world that never stops, where social media consumes identity and every day pushes us one step closer to becoming soulless zombies. We find ourselves in between having witnessed a full analog world and the modern one, confronting the evolution and searching for a true meaning of it all. Throughout every song, the journey is an undercurrent of rebellion, a desperate cry to reclaim oneself in an era that seems to have lost its sense of time and reality.”
‘Sleepless Empire’ will be released on February 14th 2025 via Century Media Records. The band will play the following dates later this year:
15.10 – Limelight, Belfast
16.10 – Academy, Dublin
18.10 – O2 Academy, Bournemouth
20.10 – Academy, Manchester
21.10 – SWG3, Glasgow
22.10 – KK’s Steelmill, Wolverhampton
24.10 – Rock City, Nottingham
25.10 – Roundhouse, London
26.10 – O2 Academy, Bristol
Watch the video for ‘Oxygen’ right here: