Review by HanSathanas on July 15, 2026.

After the considerable success of "Comalies", Lacuna Coil returned with what was arguably their most anticipated release to date, "Karmacode". As a longtime fan, I was convinced they would deliver an even better album than anything they had released before—or so I thought.

When I bought this album, my expectations were sky-high, especially after the band had repeatedly told the media that this would be their finest full-length to date. As soon as it arrived, I eagerly put the CD into my stereo, hoping to be surprised once again. The opening track, 'Fragile', was both catchy and promising. However, I soon found myself distracted by Andrea Ferro's increasingly dominant vocals, which often overshadowed Cristina Scabbia's performance. He certainly had a much larger role here than on "Comalies", where Cristina carried most of the melodies while Ferro mainly added weight and aggression to the heavier moments.

About halfway through the album, though, I realized something had gone terribly wrong. Nu metal influences had begun creeping into Lacuna Coil's music. The Korn-inspired bass lines were impossible to ignore. I have never been a fan of Korn—in fact, I can't stand them—and it felt as though albums like "Twisted Transistor" had somehow influenced Lacuna Coil into embracing nu metal elements within their gothic sound. To a certain extent, progression is healthy. Every band needs to evolve rather than stagnate. But this particular direction diminished what had made Lacuna Coil one of the leading gothic metal bands in the first place. That said, I'm not about to scream, "Fuck Korn, fuck nu metal and all their fucking garbage!" I've never been that extreme, despite my disappointment.

It seems Lacuna Coil were aiming for a broader mainstream audience, perhaps encouraged by Century Media. Unfortunately, I think they sacrificed too much of their gothic identity in pursuit of greater commercial appeal. What remains is an Italian metal band with noticeable nu metal influences, while the gothic elements often feel more like decoration than the band's foundation.

The production is clean but not without flaws. The bass lacks punch, and Ferro's vocals are mixed too prominently. On the positive side, the keyboards are tastefully arranged and retain one of the band's signature strengths. There are still a few memorable moments, particularly Cristina's haunting vocals on 'You Create' and the following track, 'What I See'. The latter has some genuinely enjoyable choruses, where Cristina's voice sounds especially clear and captivating. Unfortunately, whenever Ferro enters, much of that atmosphere disappears.

I almost forgot about 'Our Truth', which was featured on the soundtrack to Underworld: Evolution. I enjoyed the film immensely—it was one hell of a movie. The song, however, is another story. To be honest, it does very little for me. I'd rather listen to the "Not Too Late" or "Silent Hill" soundtracks.

There isn't much else to say about this disappointing release. While it contains a handful of enjoyable songs, they are ultimately forgettable and pale in comparison to the band's earlier work, especially "In a Reverie" and "Comalies". Despite my frustration, a 50% rating feels fair.

To Lacuna Coil's devoted fans, don't despair. Even great bands stumble from time to time. Metallica experienced a similar decline during their mainstream period with "Load", "Reload", and "St. Anger". Hopefully, Lacuna Coil will eventually rediscover the qualities that made them such an outstanding gothic metal band. Every band produces a mediocre album now and then. Nobody is perfect—they simply need to put in the effort and deliver something stronger next time.

Rating: 5 out of 10