Italian metal band Lacuna Coil has been gaining steam for several years now, and with their latest album Shallow Life, it looks like that steam will take them on a collision course toward the top of the metal world.  Their seemless blending of heavy rock music with beautiful and powerful vocals from Cristina Scabbia make them an interesting and unique act with wide appeal, and this new album should help them gain even more notoriety.

For their fifth studio album, the band tapped producer Don Gilmore, best known for his work on Linkin Park's first two albums.  On Shallow Life, Gilmore helps Lacuna Coil's sound become crisper than before.  Production effects are certainly present but not at all overbearing.  The vocals are especially clear, making it easier to feel the meanings in the words.  Guitarists Cristiano Migliore and Marco Biazzi are solid throughout but take a few moments to shine such as on the skilled soloing of "Unchained."  The band does well creating a style that is both heavy and eerie with even a touch of Middle Eastern flavor mixed in. 

Their usual style is intact, with Scabbia trading vocal duties with her opposite, the gruff-voiced Andrea Ferro.  The two work well together in providing distinct sounds that operate as one.  Though often compared to Evanescence, Lacuna Coil leans further toward metal than alt-rock but not so much as to sound harsh.  Scabbia's voice is lovely and somewhat dark while Ferro and the rest of the band provide a crunchy hard rock element that keeps the music energetic.  They exhibit a good amount of range on Shallow Life, most notably in the piano-backed ballad "Wide Awake" and its immediate successor, the hard-charged "Maze," on which Ferro takes center stage more than usual.

"I Won't Tell You," easily one of the band's livliest numbers, is fast and bouncy with a dynamic chorus that will most likely help this song become the followup single to the drivingly intense "Spellbound."  Many songs give off an air of confidence and strength in both music and lyrics.  "Survive" is a strong example of that swagger, and "Underdog" is a fun fight song that proclaims, "You can't kill my soul and kill my dream" while threatening, "You are going down."  Opener "I Like It" is an uplifting rocker that has Scabbia joyously stating, "I'm free to be what I like / I'm celebrating my life."  And of course, every one of these tracks is backed by music that, while not exactly aggressive, is certainly determined and capable of pumping up any listener. 

Lacuna Coil is a talented band with a unique sound and the potential to be very big.  While I wouldn't say there's anything mind-blowing here, there's certainly enough to impress.  Shallow Life is a solidly enjoyable rock album, one of the band's best, and one that should help Lacuna Coil continue its rise.

Recommended: Yes