Following on from their ninth studio album Black Anima, Lacuna Coil are back with their debut remix release Comalies XX.

The new record is a re-arranged and re-recorded version of their iconic 2002 album release, Comalies, a millennial body of work that helped to catapult Lacuna Coil into the spotlight. Twenty years later, the band knew that this anniversary was the perfect opportunity to revamp these exemplary tracks to have more of a modern, reimagined sound. 

The first track on the album is ‘Swamped,’ which is just as good as we remember! It shows off Lacuna Coil in the best way possible, but even more so with the advanced, modern production; it’s just mind-blowing, entirely transporting the song into 2022. ‘Heaven’s A Lie’ highlights Cristina Scabbia’s fantastic vocal talent, with a catchy, infectious chorus leading the way. However, the chorus falls flat in this modern rendition. The instrumental introduction of ‘Daylight Dancer’ leaves you intrigued before Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro arrive on dual vocal duty. ‘Humane’ is up next, which starts fantastically with Ferro’s incredible vocals. As it evolves, it forms into another pleasant track, but it doesn’t completely wow us, sadly. 

‘Self Deception’ is easily the most memorable song on the release, with a genuinely infectious chorus that will stick in your head for months to come. This modern version is just even more impactful. ‘Aeon’ is up next, forming a fantastic, mystifying instrumental containing haunting segments of Scabbia’s vocals, ultimately leaving us bewildered and unsure. ‘Tight Rope’ is just as great as we remember, undoubtedly the true fan favorite on this album. The starting instrumentals in ‘The Ghost Woman and the Hunter’ just boom through our veins before Scabbia’s vocals take our breath away again. ‘Unspoken’ is another fantastic re-recording, which keeps you on your toes from start to finish. 

‘Entwined’ isn’t quite as dramatic as the original, leaving quite a stark contrast in its path. Then there’s ‘The Prophet Said,’ an iconic version of a song that doesn’t stand the test of time. Ferro’s unclean vocals sound a little flat in comparison. ‘Angel’s Punishment’ is successfully updated for the current times, with spoken words about the infamous Covid-19 pandemic and a possible reference to Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine. The final track is ‘Comalies,’ an incredible ending to a celebrated album. In this song, you hear Scabbia sing in Italian; it’s fantastic to hear Lacuna Coil openly connect back to their heritable roots. Unfortunately, the overall outcome is just a little lackluster. 

In summary…

Overall, this album is very hit-and-miss. Some songs stand the test of time, and others seem to fall a little flat. Nevertheless, it’s been an interesting and varied listen.

Comalies XX was released on Friday, October 14, 2022.