CMJ (10/28/02, p.29) - "...COMALIES is symphonic rock that will appeal to even the most groove 'n rap-minded mall-metaler..."
Initial pressings included a limited edition bonus disc containing live and acoustic tracks as well as the videos for "Heaven's A Lie" and "Swamped."
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Lacuna Coil: Cristina Scabbia, Andrea Ferro (vocals); Cristiano Miglior, Marco Biazz (guitar); Marco Cotu Zelati (bass instrument); Cristiano Mozzati (drums, percussion).
Recording information: Recorded at Woodhouse Studios, Hagen, Germany.
Representing a classic case of delayed fame, Italian goth-metal act Lacuna Coil broke into the American music consciousness via a much talked-about showing on the Ozzfest 2004 second stage, nearly two years after the release of their third album, COMALIES. Similar to its American counterparts Evanescence, this European sextet features the dual vocals of Cristina Scabbia and her male counterpart, Andrea Ferro. Despite the liberal amounts of keyboards added to the mix, guitarists Cristiano Migliore and Marco Biazzi more than hold their own, pumping choppy riffs into the 1980s-sounding "Self Deception" and the simmering opener "Swamped." What makes Lacuna Coil so unique in an often musically conservative genre is the band's ability to dabble with ethereal dynamics. Such is the case with the soaring title cut and equally potent "The Ghost Woman and the Hunter," both of which blend neo-classical riffing, swirling synth runs and a perfect juxtaposition of light and heavy vocal phrasing. To commemorate the group's Ozzfest 2004 stint, COMALIES was re-released with a bonus disc featuring nine cuts that include a mix of live and studio acoustic performances, along with videos for "Heaven's a Lie" and "Swamped."