|
| Karmacode | 
 enlarge | Artist: Lacuna Coil
Label: Century Media
Category: Music
List Price: $15.98
Buy New: $5.99
You Save: $9.99 (63%)
New (42) Used (35) Collectible (1) from $4.78
Avg. Customer Rating:  129 reviews
Sales Rank: 28148
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 8360
UPC: 727701836027
EAN: 0727701836027
ASIN: B000EHSVI2
Release Date: April 4, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Tracks:
| • | Fragile | | • | To The Edge | | • | Our Truth | | • | Within Me | | • | Devoted | | • | You Create | | • | What I See | | • | Fragments Of Faith | | • | Closer | | • | In Visible Light | | • | The Game | | • | Without Fear | | • | Enjoy The Silence (Depeche Mode cover song) |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 124 more reviews...
Solid, nothing more April 7, 2006
34 out of 42 found this review helpful
On 2003's "Comalies," this Italian six piece goth-metal band finally got noticed. "Comalies" sold several hundred thousand copies, and boasted a couple of catchy singles, so it was thought of as a "breakthrough album." But instead of signing to a major record label, Lacuna Coil stuck with their current one, Century Media, and released their fourth full length disc.
"Karmacode" is somewhat of an experimental album, since a few new ingredients are also sprinkled on here and there. "Our Truth," for instance, makes effective use of tribal drums; and "In Visible Light" features (what sounds like) violins.
But this band's same basic sound is still here, with crunchy guitar riffs and frontwoman Cristina Scabbia's impressive, limpid singing. "What I See," "Closer," and "The Game" are all traditional Lacuna Coil tracks, with punching, almost Korn-esque guitars and soaring vocals.
Other highlights include the aforementioned "Our Truth," which is the album's first single, but the churning album opener, "Fragile," is probably this record's catchiest song. And, lastly, "You Create" is a pretty (albeit short) song, with a spacey vibe and intoxicating vocals.
"Karmacode" suffers a little bit from a somewhat thin production job (especially on the guitars), but it's still definitely worth buying for all Lacuna Coil fans. It isn't a mind-blowing album, or a huge leap forward from "Comalies," but it is very solid and completely listenable.
 Karmacode by Lacuna Coil - BUY IT! April 4, 2006
27 out of 34 found this review helpful
Lacuna Coil, the increasingly popular femme metal band from Milan, Italy, is back with yet another great new release, albeit a heavier one. In Karmacode, other than their normal melodic maudlin almost ethereal metal sound, Lacuna Coil have introduced, on their faster songs, a distinctly heavier, bassier rhythm sound, tinged with Eastern influences. This is brought about effectively by the music, assisted by Christina's soaring accompaniments on songs like "Fragile," "To the Edge," "Our Truth," "You Create/What I See" and "Fragments of Faith."
Although it's not the same, I have heard similar sounds from some East European bands like Artrosis and Darzamat. Perhaps the almost two solid straight years of touring have influenced their music thusly. On Karmacode, the 'Coil' present us their new heavy metal side, and an Eastern flavor. I don't remember their other albums having such distinctly eastern, almost exotic leanings nor such a heavy bass and guitar delivery. The `Coil' also provide a trio of ballads, with "Within Me," "In Visible Light" and "Without Fear." I usually like their ballads but strangely, on Karmacode the ballads didn't appeal to me as much as usual. "In Visible Light" seems to be the best. The `Coil' goes on to closes out the album with an excellent rendition of Depeche Mode's, "Enjoy the Silence."
If there is a downside to Karmacode, other than uninspired ballads, it's that the faster songs don't seem to offer enough variety. The melodies are all different, all right, but the deliveries are similar. I like the delivery so it doesn't bother me, but it may others.
Another tiny little petty critique I have, is the album title - Karmacode. Really! Where did they get that? I have trouble even thinking that, let alone saying it. I keep wanting to think and say Carmel-corn. Oh, hell with it. I'll call it Carmel-corn!
Lacuna Coil plays a contemporary, gothic, alternative style of femme metal music. It consists of six members featuring two lead singers - one male and one female. The male, Andrea Ferro is not blessed with a great voice, sometime seeming to shout more than sing. The lady however, Cristina Scabbia, is blessed with exceptional looks, resembling the movie actress Linda Florentino, and a superlative haunting voice that seems to get better on each new album. The two singers do not sing together but rather bounce back and forth tag team style of one takes the lead while the other takes harmony. The remaining four members are drums, bass and two guitarists. The music varies somewhat, featuring a gothic style on one end of the spectrum and accessible alternative radio style on the other end. The obvious comparison is Evanescence. To that, I would add Garbage. There are other comparisons but not to well known bands.
Two years ago, Lacuna Coil's previous effort, their third full length studio album, Comalies, almost made a breakthrough into the U.S. music scene. Well, I guess it did, sort of.
Comalies, originally released in 2002, had brisk sales, selling some half million copies world wide and hundred thousand stateside. They toured in the U.S. with Type O Negative, Danzig, Opeth, P.O.D. and Ozfest in 2004 and singles "Heavens a Lie" & "Swamped" hit the billboard top fifty, while the album, 92 weeks after it's initial release cracked the Billboard top 200 albums for 2004 at 194. It eventually peaked at 178. The single "Swamped" appeared in the horror movie, Resident Evil Apocalypse.
At the time that Comalies was gaining popularity, the musical phenomenon known as Evanescence, was going platinum with their debut album Fallen - their only studio album to date. The two bands were often compared, with Europeans calling Evanescence, America's Lacuna Coil and Americans claiming Lacuna Coil was Europe's Evanescence. I can only speculate whether Evanescence's popularity helped or hurt Lacuna Coil, but with Evanescence seeming to live up to it's name by disappearing into thin air, like a puff of smoke, it seems to me that Lacuna Coil may now be in a position to claim the mantle of top femme metal band in the world. This, notwithstanding possible claims by Within Temptation and Nightwish. Of course, their music is symphonic and Lacuna Coil's is more progressive alternative.
Fantastic Album!!!!! April 4, 2006
22 out of 32 found this review helpful
Karmacode takes over where Comalies left off and takes off in a major way. Christina Scabbia's mesmerizing vocals blended with Andrea Ferro's strong voice, heavy bass and guitar riffs give this album a fierce sound that will have you rocking in your car or room (or wherever you listen). And like all of Lacuna Coil's albums, there are a few songs that back off the heavy and mellow you out for a bit. It is roller coaster joyride that doesn't disappoint. From the opening track "Fragile" to the closing cover of "Enjoy the Silence", Karmacode is a statement that Lacuna Coil is continuing to climb.
 Bad Karma April 6, 2006
13 out of 18 found this review helpful
Four years, it seems, is a long time in music. I suppose it was inevitable that Lacuna Coil would change their sound in that time, not least because of all the touring they've done, but I thought they'd move forwards, not backwards.
The guitars sound muddy, and far too much like Korn, and as for Marco's bass, what happened? Again, too much like Korn. The point I'm trying to make is these guys used to be innovators, now they sound like the competition.
The album lacks the Gothic atmosphere of previous releases, notably 'Comalies', and doesn't do justice to them as musicians. Both Maus and Chris are great guitarists, who add some classical influences to their playing, but, for the most part, their riffs are dull, lumpen and with repetitive phrasing. Along with Criz's drums, the guitars and bass sound bolted on from other (American) bands, and totally at odds with the ethereal atmosphere they seem to be trying to create, but seem to have forgotten how to do.
Much has been made of this album having an Eastern influence, but that seems confined to Cristina's vocals. They are, as ever, excellent, but in this case they are the album's only highlight, not one of many. If it's Eastern influenced rock/metal you're after, try Led Zeppelin, Godsmack or 'Lateralus' by Tool.
The saddest thing about 'Karmacode' is how far they seemed to have strayed from their European roots. Songs like 'Closer' and 'Devoted' sound like they've got one eye on US radio airplay, seemingly forgetting that it was sounding like they did on 'Comalies' that got them noticed in America. Put simply, it sounds like a calculated move to sound 'American', and to 'heavy themselves up'. Though, if they'd wanted to do that, they should have used their own ideas, not stolen other, (oudated) riffs from other bands.
It has nothing to do with them suddenly gaining commercial interest, far from it. Being in a band is hard work, and a band that's worked as hard as Lacuna Coil deserves their success, I don't begrudge them that success. It's just a shame that it is with this record that they should try to achieve it
 La KORNa Coil...what happened to these guys? April 6, 2006
12 out of 35 found this review helpful
I should have listened to the leaks people were putting on the internet. I would have not rushed to by the album so fast.
Anyway if I would have known that most of the songs in the album was going to sound like 'Our Truth' then I would have not been in such a rush to buy it. There is no variety in the album and the songs sound like the same bass riff Korn uses.
What I need to ask is why on earth would anyone want to sound like Korn? They are one of the worst bands that ever emerged and here is a beautiful Italian band with a unique sound who stripped away their beauty to sound like Korn? That's sad.
Another thing is Cristina's vocals are much lower and she barely sings as much as the previous other albums. She's more like an afterthought to many of the songs and Andrea takes more lead in the songs. Cristina Scabbia is, unfortunately, the balls and estrogen in the band. How many of you really care about the rest of the band, and be honest. Andrea's vocals are more annoying in this album. He is getting his fair share, but the two singing together sound like chaos in some songs. It is an ear soar.
Poor musicianship, like always, but this time no "italo-pop meets metal"-charm. No songs like "senzafine" and so on. But lots of mediocre Nu Metal Riffs. Strange mix on this. The singers voice sounds very thin. Very overproduced. Sounds like Evanescences worst pre-fallen demos. Totally unmemorable songs. Especially the first three songs, the most "Nu Metal-ish", suck so bad... It pees in your butt. Uuuh, that were some wasted minutes. I could have earned 10 bucks in the hour I just wasted for listening to this. I allways liked at least 3 or 4 songs on their previous albums. But this album totally lacks everything, that made their previous albums even partially worthwhile. Other bands don't even get a record contract for this kind of crap. And this band needed 4 years for this??
Ive been a fan for many years. It's obvious they the are lying through their corporate ass kissing teeth when they say that this is "just the natural Progression, and the perfect bridge between european, and american metal" Yeah, they went into the studio with the intention of doing that, it's artificial, and very superficial. Not memorable at all..
If Century Media or the band wanted to get huge or commercial acceptance in America they sure will since the majority of the songs in Karmacode sound like the same Nu-Metal crap I have to put on with in MTV and many times Fuse together with the Emo crap.
The only 3 good songs on this album is "Within Me", "You Create"(Cristina chanting) and the cover of "Enjoy The Silence". That's about it.
Go buy The Gathering's new album called "Home" instead and don't waste your money on this crap.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
