LIVE FROM THE PIT: Lacuna Coil and Blind Channel

Both bands on the bill revering the antithesis to overnight success, tonight witnessed the collision of Italian gothic metal and Finnish violent pop. It was an eagerly anticipated supporting slot from Blind Channel ahead of their hiatus which cemented an energetically disparate foundation for the night. They indulge their sound with cheeky boy band feel, tempering with some strategic hip-hop laced nu-metal wonder. From the stomping-electro number DEADZONE to the slicker-than-slick XOXO, they’re injecting confidence in our bones and we’re finding the antidote in jumping around— unsurprisingly, many fans in the venue were here solely for Blind Channel, leaving promptly after.

Whilst the smoke machines may have obscured most of our view of our support act, the rush of bodies to the front for our headliner didn’t help much either. Despite their Download appearance, the band are sorely sought after as a live act.

The jagged juggernaut of Blood, Sweat, Tears perfectly encapsulates the unrestrained darkness at the heart of what Lacuna Coil represent. As an opener, it’s a sonically charged compilation of Andrea Ferro’s guttural snarls juxtaposed magnificently with the precise nuance of Cristina Scabbia’s soaring vocals. Vocals which undeniably, dominatingly deserve all the praise and flowers she deserves: every note is hit and held exceptionally clear, whilst the run and range of Scabbia’s voice is unbelievably consistent.

Flanked by projected imagery and videos to accompany each song; armed with a nineteen song setlist artillery, this sense of consistency is scaled upwards into a fiery bluster of surround sound symphonies. Recent material Reckless and Apocalypse are ascendant, uniting anthems of this new-age, nu-metal-esque band. Their near thirty year run as a band has seen their sound evolve from the traditional gothic metal grandiose, a medley run-through of tracks from their reconstructed Comalies XX album showcasing this with beautiful regard. They garner just as much vitality in the mosh pit as our oldest track on offer, Our Truth—and the truth of tonight's show is passion.

Passion is the underlying thread of their musicality. Perhaps that’s the Italian stereotype speaking for itself, yet every track boils over with unadulterated, appreciative passion for what this scene means; it’s a sentiment reflective in the wide-eyed smiles of both the performers and the pit. With raised fists, synchronised clapping, and acoustic call-backs, there’s the feeling that Lacuna Coil are so finely tuned into their audience that is only tangible in these grassroot venues.

“Music is therapy,” Cristina takes a moment amongst all the noise to connect with the audience. “With this night, I want you to inhale all the positive energy and bring it back home with you until the next time Lacuna Coil are in town!”

'Now Or Never' seemed to become a pivotal point at which Ferro’s microphone was actually turned on—we jest, but whether by the grace of their sound technicians or a second wind of breath, Andrea was loud. Spitting heavily, snarls in full force to rival that of the bass, he became your sole focus on that stage. Strobe lighting hammering their silhouettes into our retinas, 'My Demons' was a true crescendo of the band’s strengths: kickdrum going ten to the dozen and a sonically empowered guitar solo, we’re enraptured with the noise reverberating around the venue.

Their new album 'Sleepless Empire' may not be releasing until Valentines Day, yet they lovingly bestow upon us singles Hosting The Shadow, In The Meantime and Never Dawn. It’s a testament to the band that they’re consistently at the top of their game and have a fan base who’re consistently tuned into their sound. Chants of ‘Bloodstock! Bloodstock!’ are well received, Cristina agreeing: “Bloodstock? Fuck yeah, we’ll see you at Bloodstock!”. It seems we just can’t get enough.

Lacuna Coil are a band unafraid to be a hauntingly familiar medley to the soundtracks of our lives. There’s an intriguing harshness and emotional depth to their musicality that we can all relate to, and with their infamously featured Depeche Mode cover curating a singalong, they urge that whilst you should Enjoy 'The Silence', you should also enjoy the music.

Words: Talia Robinson

Photos: Dan Ayres