Live: Lacuna Coil in Tilburg, NL
Italian gothic rockband Lacuna Coil played in the Netherlands and of course we had to be there! Because some of us had to work that day, and the venue is at the other end of our country, we missed both support acts Gothminister and Poison Black. The last band was just leaving the stage when we walked in. So we got a few drinks and waited for the crew to change equipment. Because it wasn’t sold out, we could walk to the front quite easily and got a very nice spot with a good view of the stage.
When the lights dimmed, the curtains were opened, revealing the band members standing on stage like statues, all wearing the Karmacode mask. Half a minute later singers Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro (yes, that is a man) walked out, kicking off into You Create. Lacuna Coil has arrived.
The band’s latest album Karmacode was released in the spring of 2006. Naturally, most of tonight’s setlist comes from that, sometimes mixed with songs from the previous album Comalies [2004]. The difference between their older work and the new album is clear; Karmacode is calmer and smoother. Especially when compared with 2001’s Unleashed Memories. They played two tracks of that for ‘the older Lacuna Coil fans’; 1.19 and personal favourite To Live Is To Hide. Both are much darker, harder and more metal than the new songs. It takes a while for the crowd to get really into the show, but the vibe is good and most of the people are headbanging like crazy. The band plays for just over an hour, but return to bring us their biggest hits Our Truth, Heaven’s a Lie and of course Enjoy the Silence. Yes, that Depeche Mode song, Lacuna style!
Verdict: Great sound, good show, and of course Cristina Scabbia is amazing to look at! Ok, her moves weren't very spontaneous, but who cares!