Few bands truly attain legendary status, but Lacuna Coil—a band whose name translates to “empty spiral,” mirroring their outlook on life—has reached those heights. Italy’s iconic goth metal quintet has built a career spanning over 25 years, bolstered by nine studio albums, sold-out tours across continents, main stage spots at the world’s biggest metal festivals, and an array of awards, including Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods for Best Live Act. This resume stands among the best in metal history.
The band’s lineup has remained remarkably steady, with Cristina Scabbia’s ethereal vocals playing off Andrea Ferro’s growls, a dynamic that has become the band’s hallmark. Marco Coti Zelati anchors their sound with brooding bass lines, while drummer Richard Meiz joined in 2019 and newcomer Daniele Salomone was added on guitar earlier this year. Together, they’ve managed to evolve while remaining faithful to their goth-metal roots.
Come early 2025, fans will see the release of Lacuna Coil’s anticipated tenth studio album, Sleepless Empire. Described as a modern take on their signature sound, it’s packed with heavy metalcore riffs and hooks for days. This album promises to be a dark, cinematic exploration of rebellion, calling for a return to oneself in an era lost in digital noise.
Over the years, Lacuna Coil has fostered a love affair with Bristol, playing nearly every major venue in the city. On Saturday night, fans lined up in black T-shirts stretching around the block to Bristol’s O2 Academy, eager for a preview of the new album. Inside, every square inch was taken, balconies packed tight as the crowd pressed in for a night with metal royalty.
The stage was set in solid red light as the band’s silhouettes took form, kicking off with “Blood, Tears, Dust,” shaking the venue to its core. Andrea Ferro’s brutal growl launched the crowd into a frenzy, his painted face looming over the edge of the stage, eyes locked onto fans with fierce intensity. Then came the ethereal contrast—Cristina Scabbia, bathed in icy white light, her mezzo-soprano voice cutting through the dark with a bone-chilling force. The crowd’s adoration was palpable.
On record, Lacuna Coil is compelling, but live, they’re unstoppable. This was the final night of an exhaustive tour, yet the band’s energy was boundless, as if it were the tour’s opening show. Every member commanded their space with a powerful presence: Marco, in his signature face paint, dominated with bass riffs full of character, connecting with the crowd effortlessly. From behind the drum kit, Richard Meiz kept the energy high, often goading fans with a drumstick clenched between his teeth. And Daniele Salomone, shrouded in mystery like a villain from a graphic novel, brought new life to the lineup, his guitar shredding through the haze like a blade.
A Lacuna Coil show is built to be grand, crafted for huge stages, and meticulously arranged to give fans everything they crave. If you’d asked their die-hard “Coilers” to design the ultimate setlist, this night would come close. Heavy hitters like “Reckless” and “Trip the Darkness” lit up the first 15 minutes, while older favorites like “Our Truth” were pulled from the vault. They teased the future with “Oxygen,” and when “Heaven’s a Lie” hit, the atmosphere hit a fever pitch. Every time Cristina took center stage, the room pulsed with energy, each note a reminder of why she’s one of metal’s most captivating voices.
As the regular set wound down, the band delivered one of their signature live tracks—an unforgettable cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence.” By now, Lacuna Coil has made the song so their own that some fans might swear it belongs in their catalog. With arms outstretched, the crowd sang with everything they had, the band a pantheon of rock gods above them. The encore brought out gems from Comalies XX, their 2022 reimagining of the 2002 classic. The night culminating in the anthem “Nothing Stands in Our Way,” a triumphant finish to an unforgettable night.
This wasn’t just a concert. For the fans, it was as close as it gets to the perfect metal experience.
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
