Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil are just days away from releasing their brand new album Sleepless Empire Via Century Media Records on February 14th, 2025.

Sleepless Empire is a beautifully created album full of emotions, and passion. From the first song "The Siege" you are put into a full trance, captured via the Strong Vocals of Andrea Ferro and perfectly time drums from Richard Meiz. You are transported into a world of a Sleepless Empire.
"Oxygen" one of the singles that has a music video to go along with it is such a strong song. The vocal range of Cristina Scabbia is perfection throughout the song the lyrics are powerful and show the conflict and emotions of drowning in a toxic environment and fighting to get away from it, Moving forward with the battle, and breaking free.
"Scarecrow" Kicks off with Andrea's heavy growl of "Standing Like A Scarecrow" followed by Daniele Salomone's guitar riffs breaking through the song and capturing your attention with the bass by Marco Coti Zelati giving the song such a full body. Scarecrow is about not blending into society behind matching a copy and paste that is expected. Showing your differences and ignoring the judgment but being able to be yourself "A freak of Nature" but in the best way.
"Gravity" kicks off with an enchanting orchestra and Latin chanting "Decretum Fatale, Aeterna Sententia, Cruciatus Immani, Servitus Perpetua, Aeterna Lacuna, Divinum Refugium, Nefasta Fortuna" The slower song truly shows the balance between Cristina and Andrea vocals with 31 years of Lacuna Coil performing they don't slow for a second. It's gothic richness is bewitching in the most beautiful ways.
"I Wish You Were Dead" picks back the album back up from the previous slower song. "I Wish You Were Dead" is rich body of a song that is catchy and strong. It's one of the shortest songs on the album but its melody and perfect sound just capture you. It is a song that a lot of us can understand the feelings of giving it all to somebody to receive nothing back. The passion that you capture from within the guitar, Bass, and Drums throughout this song is the perfect balance in creating a story in a short space of time.
"Hosting The Shadows" (Feat. Randy Blythe) The first song on the 11-song album which features the vocals of Randy Blythe from Lamb Of God/Burn The Prest. It's dark, and heavy, with soul-grabbing low vocals growls. being paired with the clean vocals from Cristina it sweeps you around in the darkness encasing you and entrapping you in the shadows. The intense fast pasted sound from behind the vocals brings you in and fills you with the full body of the song.
"In Nomine Patris" translated from Latin means In The Name Of The Father. Which is part of the Trinitarian Formula, we are taken back to a low organ hmm which takes us back to the Holy path asking for forgiveness against the cross. The Guitar solo on "In Nomine" fills in perfectly pulling you into the song and holding you there. Before twisting us into another part of the song almost pulling us in different directions it's captivating. Throughout the entire song, it just feels like a journey from the darkness to wanting to forgive. The storyline that has led to this moment.
The album title song "Sleepless Empire" returns us to the heavy side of Lacuna Coil. The song features the world we live in and how technology has captured us in its grips where social media has taken us prisoner in its world. We are remembered for how we existed in the world of analogy and the modern world. The search for evolution and trying to reclaim yourself in a world full of technology. It's a passionate song that just fits so well in the album leaving questions but making you feel like there is a way forward within this crazy world. Sleepless Empire just has a little bit of everything that runs throughout the album.
"In The Mean Time" features Ash Costello (Vocalist for New Years Day) Having released the single 9 Months ago was the taste we had of the Sleepless Empire album and what Lacuna Coil was moving into. The reset restart that we see in the music video fits in well with the Sleepless Empire story line with Ash Costello's Vocals sitting perfectly within Lacuna Coil's music. The lyrics "Start Over Again" feel like a connection to the game passion that Lacuna Coil has via their card game "Horns Up". "In The Mean Time" features Ash Costello (Vocalist for New Years Day) Having released the single 9 Months ago was the taste we had of the Sleepless Empire album and what Lacuna Coil was moving into. The reset restart that we see in the music video fits in well with the Sleepless Empire story line with Ash Costello's Vocals sitting perfectly within Lacuna Coil's music. The lyrics "Start Over Again" feel like a connection to the game passion that Lacuna Coil has via their card game "Horns Up".
It also links to their final song on the Sleepless Empire album which is a collaboration with Zombicide a single called "Never Dawn". it is a perfectly crafted single with "Run" being the first spoken song on the song it sets it up perfectly. It's passionate, It fits so well and gives light and hope at the end of the album. It's heavy and dark, and uses every single member of the band's quality to the highest point "Be Brave" and "The Dark Sun Will Never Dawn" are two lyrics that will stick with a lot of fans and complete the album.
Sleepless Empire is much more than just an album. It tells a story, and it shows the dark side of life, and the light it is such a passionate album. it's the small details in this album that will capture Lacuna Coils fans. Having already heard some of the songs live on the In The Mean Time Tour In Manchester back in October of 2024 seeing how they fit so delicately into the Sleepless Empire album universe. There is a little something for everybody on the album something that ties the audience together with the Gothic Italian metal band which is Lacuna Coil. This can easily be one of my favorite albums I have ever listened to and easily listen to it for hours on repeat. I love the small details which connect Lacuna Coil to their listener. It a dark gothic emotional story the flows perfectly together.
Lacuna Coil which translates to "Empty Spiral" started 31 years ago in 1994 and they aren't going to be slowing down anytime soon! The Sleepless Empire is out on February 14th, 2025 Via Century Media.
You Can Pre-Order the album now via Lacuna Coil. The band has also created an "Oracle Game" with custom-made dice which are only available via the Boxset of Sleepless Empire.

Want to meet Lacuna Coil on album release day? There will be a signing at HMV Oxford Street in London, UK February 14th, 2025 at 6 PM Ticket and more information can be found here. Lacuna Coil will be touring the EU/UK on their recently announced tour more information is here or at Bloodstock Festival in August 2025.

Massive thanks to The Noise Cartel & Lacuna Coil for having me review Sleepless Empire.
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