Karmacode
The bass sits unusually far forward on Karmacode. In 2006, Lacuna Coil move towards a more compact, heavier rhythmic sound, with clear influences from nu metal. Keyboards and singing maintain the connection to their gothic origins. The change makes sense, although not every song is strong enough to keep it interesting for an entire album.
Our Truth demonstrates the possibilities well. The firm riff and Cristina Scabbia's decorated vocal melody support each other. The backing remains simple enough to let the voice emerge clearly. Fragile also uses the difference between heavy foundations and a flexible melody. The band's familiar features remain present, now with a more prominent rhythmic base.
To the Edge has a direct pulse and enough hooks to connect quickly. You Create initially gives the gentler singing more room, before What I See brings the guitars forward again. That transition provides a welcome change of intensity. Without Fear reveals a softer side through its Italian singing, offering another kind of contrast.
Still, the same combination of bass, guitars and vocals returns too frequently. Some choruses are less effective than the sections leading into them. Andrea Ferro's voice also works less convincingly beside Scabbia's at times. When the melody cannot carry enough weight, the limits of the simple backing become more obvious. The strong production cannot solve that completely.
The closing cover of Enjoy the Silence fits the chosen sound reasonably well, but adds little excitement. Karmacode has several strong songs and an immediately recognisable singer. As a complete album, it remains too uneven to make full use of its greater directness. The finest moments work because melody and rhythm give each other something extra.
