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Withering Soul – Apochs.net Now Streaming Four Tracks From “No Closure”!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, gothic metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHERING SOUL – Packed with more Metal than your grandma’s hip replacement, our good buds at Apochs.net have again extended a fiery set of horns and are currently streaming four (yes, four) new tracks from the recently released slab of Blackened brilliance No Closure from Chicago’s WITHERING SOUL. Hook your laptop up to the good speakers and cruise over to: Apochs.net – Apochs Metal Review

No Closure is a combination of Symphonic Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal with some Gothic overtones thrown is as well. As an added treat, guest backing vocals have been provided by Melissa Ferlaak. Inclusive of quality Scandinavian influences, but now with mature competency, they have carved their own path that is destined to generate a buzz in the underground and capture fans across the board.

(Source: Clawhammer PR)

* Check out my full review for No Closure (posted on February 20, 2011), by clicking the big header link below:

Withering Soul – “No Closure” Explodes With Black Metal Impressiveness

Track Listing For No Closure:

Night of the Revenant

Phantasmal Chaos Divinity

The Sequitor

Tides of the Accursed

Possession of Deception – Part II

Sadistic Redress

Manifest Transparency

Lifeless They Lie

Unquiet

Requiem of Sorrow

* For more info on WITHERING SOUL, click the links below:

WITHERING SOUL – Official Website

WITHERING SOUL – REVERBNATION

LONG LIVE WITHERING SOUL.

Stone.

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CRADLE OF FILTH – “Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa” Releases November 9, 2010 In North America!

Posted in black metal music, extreme metal music, gothic metal, Hard Rock, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 25, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

CRADLE OF FILTH – As 2010 is drawing towards a close, the new Metal releases just keep on coming! On Novermber 9, 2010, Cradle Of Filth’s ninth studio album – Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa will be released, on Nuclear Blast USA for North America. Dani Filth and his band have returned… and from what I’m hearing, this Cradle Of Filth album is the fastest and heaviest yet! November shall be quite the “filthy” month for Metal once this Cradle Of Filth album hits the street. Did you get it? “Filthy”… Cradle Of “Filth”? Man, my corn-dog side is coming out again.

You can bet your last Metal dollar I’ll be buying this new Cradle Of Filth album… especially after I’ve had to endure looking at thousands of political campaign commercials while I’m trying to watch my nightly ghost hunting and paranormal reality shows on television. It feels like my Metal world has been invaded by all of these lying, slimy and backdoor dealing politicians, each time their overpriced commercial hits the t.v. screen.

I’m voting… you better believe it, it’s an American privilege that I shall never take for granted. It’s just that these phony politicians aren’t gonna “sway” my vote just because they are name calling and throwing stones at each other every night on television… like a bunch of preschoolers in a playground. I’m into facts and the pursuit of happiness… not mud slinging.

I don’t mean to get off track here… my Metal point is: I’m thankful that Metal exists, that bands like Cradle Of Filth exists, to keep my attention away from the political garbage that network news and politicians try to feed society on a daily basis. Long live Metal and Cradle Of Filth. Metal be thy name.

I’ve listened to Lilith Immaculate several times already… this is a strong epic song to savor on Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa. Atmospheric and layered in all of it’s eerily dark richness, with speed and heaviness not taking a back seat. Dani Filth is as vocally Extreme as ever, with Black Metal fire resonating from his every syllable. Extreme, Gothic and Black Metal fans will find plenty to embrace from this fantastic song. If the rest of Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa is like this… whoa.

Metal has never messed up a society… politicians have.

Track Listing For Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa:

The Cult Of Venus Aversa

One Foul Step From The Abyss

The Nun With The Astral Habit

Retreat Of The Sacred Heart

The Persecution Song

Deceiving Eyes

Lilith Immaculate

The Spawn Of Love And War

Harlot On A Pedestal

Forgive Me Father (I Have Sinned)

Beyond Eleventh Hour

Cradle Of Filth, as they appear on Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa:

Dani Filth – lead vocals

Paul Allender – lead guitar

James Mcllory – rhythm guitar

Ashley Ellyllon – keyboards, backing vocals

Dave Pybus – bass

Martin Skaroupka – drums

* For more info on Cradle Of Filth, click on the link below:

CRADLE OF FILTH – Official Website

Metal Reigns Supreme.

Stone.

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DEATHSTARS – “NIGHT ELECTRIC NIGHT” ILLUMINATES THE DARK SIDE OF HEAVY GOTHIC METAL

Posted in black metal music, gothic metal, gothic metal albums, gothic metal bands, hard rock music, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 14, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

DEATHSTARS – This Gothic/Industrial Metal band from Sweden has been stalking about the planet for several years now. Their first studio album Synthetic Generation had a 2003 European release. Termination Bliss followed in 2006 and now Night Electric Night has been available for your Metal listening enjoyment since January of 2009. Deathstars play and promote their Gothic and Industrial styles well, exhibiting their Black Metal influence and roots within their Metal.

Mark Of The Gun is my favorite track on Night Electric Night, it really grooves along with all of it’s ultra proficient Gothic and Industrial glory. Deathstars can deliver some heavy grooves within their Metal and that is one quality I like about this band. Lyrically, dark themes and topics are explored… of course. It’s very easy for me to embrace Deathstars affinity for melodic songs, as well as dynamic verses that keep their music interesting and far from boring.

Whiplasher Bernadotte on vocals makes the songs on Night Electric Night illuminate the dark qualities they encompass. It’s difficult for me to imagine any other vocal style attempting to sing these songs… this music was meant for Whiplasher to sing, undisputedly so. The Fuel Ignites is another standout song on Night Electric Night, seamlessly escalating a rhythmic flow, highlighted and enriched by very infectious keyboards.

The electronics/keyboards are incredibly necessary for Deathstars, adding a consistent, textured sound and feel that elevates each song to even darker majesty. Venus In Arms is standout song #3 for me, brandishing it’s stomping rhythm section, coinciding with the atmospherics, making for a semi-epic sound. Deathstars cohesiveness as a unit is their greatest strength. Your not going to hear riveting guitar solos, what you hear is guitar proficiency that melds within the layers of Deathstars Metal.

Gothic Metal, Industrial Metal and Extreme Metal fans surely know Deathstars by now… hopefully. If you are a fan of Metal Music and are looking for something new to order off the Metal menu, then Deathstars comes recommended by Metal Odyssey. Deathstars Night Electric Night is not an album you should listen to once and pass judgement on, there are just too many musical elements that need to be heard.

DEATHSTARS – as they appear on Night Electric Night:

Whiplasher Bernadotte – vocals

Nightmare Industries – guitars & electronics

Skinny Disco – bass

Cat Casino – guitars

Bone W. Machine – drums

* Night Electric Night was released on January 30, 2009, on Bieler Bros. Records.

* Night Electric Night was produced by Nightmare Industries.

Track Listing For Night Electric Night:

Chertograd

Night Electric Night

Death Dies Hard

Mark Of The Gun

Via The End

Blood Stains Blondes

Babylon

The Fuel Ignites

Arclight

Venus In Arms

Opium

Stone.

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lacrimas profundere – “AGAIN IT’S OVER” EP LENDS AS A GOTHIC METAL MIND STORM

Posted in 1990's gothic metal bands, 1990's metal bands, 1990's metal music, album covers, current gothic metal bands, gothic hard rock bands, gothic hard rock music, gothic metal, gothic metal albums, gothic metal bands, gothic metal music, gothic metal songs, hard rock music, heavy metal music, metal music, metal music albums, metal music ep's, metal odyssey, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 4, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

lacrimas profundere is a Gothic Metal Band hailing from Germany. They trace their Gothic Metal roots back to the early ’90’s, with nine studio albums and three EP’s under their Gothic belts. Their third EP, Again It’s Over, was released in 2006 on Napalm Records. Christopher on lead vocals is the focal point in this band’s Gothic sound. He extols the doom and gloom and at times sinister vocals with a commanding tone. Metal truth be told, I find it difficult not to be entertained by this Gothic Metal vocalist named Christopher. There are moments where the creep out meter begins to rise, due to Christopher’s vocals, especially on To Love Her On Knees. The melancholy and nightmarish keyboards played by Christian also assist in the creepy department as well, To Love Her On Knees makes for a foggy nights drive theme song.

Supreme Surrender is a non-album track, without hesitation is my favorite song on this EP. The Metal riffs are attention grabbers and Supreme Surrender is just a strong and heavy song… period. Again It’s Over is just as heavy and riff infested of a song as Supreme Surrender. This song has every dire and gray attribute necessary to be considered a Gothic Metal head turner, both lyrically and musically. Gallowsong, (non-album track), is the most Gothic saturated song on Again It’s Over. The backing vocals behind Christopher’s sullen vocals are what drives this down trodden song into the depths of Gothic despair… it’s a very good song indeed.

To Watch Her While She Wipes Her Eyes, (non album track), puts me in this semi-dark and misty, run down warehouse, where I feel surrounded by a bunch of lost and forgotten night dwellers, all dressed in black. Hey, I do refer to this EP as a Gothic Metal mind storm for a reason… certain music I listen to, makes my mind wander into strange and make believe worlds, Metal be damned… I just cannot help it.

In a Metal nutshell, I like the Gothic Hard Rock and Metal of lacrimas profundere. This band can be labeled as either Hard Rock or Metal, it just depends on the song, either way it makes no difference to me. Fans of Gothic music of any genre should take an easy liking to lacrimas profundere. For those of you who like to dabble into different genres of heavy music, lacrimas profundere is a Gothic Metal Band I have no problem in recommending. Again It’s Over EP is a fine starting point, to sneak into the Gothic Metal world of lacrimas profundere.

lacrimas profundere, as they appeared on Again It’s Over EP:

Christopher – lead vocals

Oliver Nikolas – lead & clean guitars

Christian – keyboards

Daniel – bass

Tony – guitars

Korl – drums

Track Listing For Again It’s Over EP:

Again It’s Over (single version)

Gallowsong (non-album track)

Supreme Surrender (non-album track)

Again It’s Over (album version)

To Watch Her While She Wipes Her Eyes (non-album track)

To Love Her On Knees (album version)


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ATROCITY – “COLD BLACK DAYS” EP RESONATES WITH GOTHIC METAL

Posted in cool album covers, current gothic metal bands, Extreme Metal, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme metal music albums, extreme music, gothic hard rock bands, gothic hard rock music, gothic metal, gothic metal albums, gothic metal bands, gothic metal music, gothic metal music 2004, gothic metal songs, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal music ep's, metal odyssey, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 23, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ATROCITY – hailing from the grand Metal country of Germany, has their musical origins tracing back to 1985, while their Atrocity roots date back to 1989. The early years of Atrocity has them as a bona-fide Death Metal Band, with changes in their style taking them in the Industrial Metal and Gothic Metal directions. This brings me to this Atrocity EP – Cold Black Days, a bizarre and chilling track list of four songs. The bizarre adjective used prior, borders alongside haunting. Understandably, these are the adjectives one wants to hear when Gothic Metal is being discussed, it goes with the Gothic territory. To say the songs heard on this EP from Atrocity are a soundtrack to a vampiric slasher film, makes all the sense in the Gothic scheme of things. There are those times when one needs to take a nibble before they order the complete meal, lending an ear to EP’s makes sense… it’s sampling a band before an entire album purchase is made a reality.

I won’t tell a Metal fib… I like this Atrocity band and all of the Gothic nuances that go along with their music. From the articulate arrangements heard on the single Cold Black Days to the eerie atmospherics, with lead vocalist Alexander Krull narrowly hypnotizing my senses with his sinister delivery. I am not running for cover… I am now more intrigued by Atrocity than ever before. Antediluvian World is for all intents and purposes, Gothic in it’s mood and overall heavy appeal. However, this song plays out with some Thrash meets Symphonic, interwoven with a sliver of Hardcore. A wonderful blend of extremities I hear in Antediluvian World, while a dark Gothic cloud of mourning hovers over it. Atrocity has succeeded in welcoming me into their mysterious and melancholy world of Gothic Metal, thanks to this Cold Black Days EP.

ATROCITY, as they appeared on Cold Black Days EP:

Alexander Krull – lead vocals

Mathias Roderer – guitarist

Thorsten Bauer – guitarist

Chris Lukhaup – bass guitarist

Martin Schmidt – drummer

Cold Black Days – EP Track Listing:

Cold Black Days

Cold Black Days (Radio Mix)

Antediluvian World

Cold Black Days (Das Ich Remix)

Cold Black Days EP was released on Napalm Records/SPV in 2004.

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LULLACRY – “Fire Within” EP – Gothic Metal Music and a W.A.S.P. cover too

Posted in Album Review, cover songs, gothic hard rock bands, gothic hard rock music, gothic metal, gothic metal albums, gothic metal bands, gothic metal from finland, gothic metal music, gothic metal music 2004, gothic metal music this decade, gothic metal songs, hard rock music this decade, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, Music, rock music, symphonic metal, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 11, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

16842Lullacry is a Gothic Metal/Hard Rock band straight out of Helsinki, Finland. I stumbled upon this band, by perusing the incredibly insane selection of Metal Music – over at Century Media Records online, (CM Distro.com). What caught my attention with this Lullacry “Fire Within” EP were two things: the price was $2 for the CD (!) and this band does a cover of the legendary W.A.S.P. song – “L.O.V.E. Machine”. Hey, for two bucks it seemed like a pretty risk free proposition… especially since I never listened to this band before. (I purchased several items on this order, therefore my shipping cost per CD was low). One of the recurring living on the edge moments of my life is when I purchase a Metal CD without really knowing what I’m getting. Well, what I did get with Lullacry, is a darned solid and sound Gothic Metal/Hard Rock band that has raised my curiosity in their other albums out there. This is the only Lullacry CD that I own… delving deeper into their catalog of music might be a Metal option for me in the near future. Before I go any further, this band is not for every Metalhead out there, the overriding Metal sound is Gothic, due in large part to the lead vocals of Tanja. This female vocalist is very reminiscent of Amy Lee, (from Evanescence fame), on the song “Crucify My Heart pt. II (piano version)”, as Gothic sounding of a song if there is one. This song is definitely a Gothic ballad, Tanja emits quite a captivating voice here, in my Metal opinion.

This five song EP opens with “Fire Within”, it is a fast paced and catchy Heavy Metal song, no real trace of Gothic styles, musically. Tanja’s vocals on “Fire Within” can be compared to Dale Bozzio of early 1980’s New Wave Band – Missing Persons (yeah, that is my Metal opinion, believe it or not). “Be My God (tribal reprise)” has all the Gothic Metal elements happening, the guitars, vocals and slow downs make for a rather impressive song at that. “The #1 Rebel” is Gothic Metal with a faster tempo and a tad edgier than “Be My God (tribal reprise)”. Now, for the cover song from Heavy Metal legends W.A.S.P. – “L.O.V.E. Machine”… Blackie Lawless and only Blackie Lawless can sing this song… with W.A.S.P.’s crushing Heavy Metal overpowering everything and anything around it. With that said, it is an interesting and cool cover version. Listening to Tanja sing this song, only solidifies why I consider myself such a diversified Metal Music fan in the first place. Lullacry as a band, will never match the Metal intensity of W.A.S.P. with “L.O.V.E. Machine”, yet I do not think that this was their intention to begin with.

 

lullacry_banner_small

 

 

As I previously mentioned, Lullacry is definitely a band for Gothic Metal fans or fans of Metal Music that do not mind diversifying outside their own Metal genre realm. Symphonic Metal fans and fans of Lacuna Coil might just get a kick out of Lullacry as well. A commercially accessible and at times, heavy Gothic band can lend itself to a cool listen, for me, Lullacry is just that. The Lullacry lineup, as they appeared on the “Fire Within” EP: Tanja on vocals, Sami Vauhkonen on lead guitar, Sauli Kivilahti on guitar, Heavy on bass and Jukka Outinen on drums & percussion. This “Fire Within” EP was released in 2004. The website for Lullacry is Lullacry.com.

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Paranormal reality television and scary Metal music mirror one another

Posted in Alice cooper, Black Metal, Danzig, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Gene Simmons, ghost hunters, gothic metal, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal vocalists, horror metal, Iced Earth, king diamond, Metal, Misfits, Motorhead, Music, paranormal television shows, Power Metal, Punk rock, rob zombie, Rock, rock music, Slipknot, speed metal, Thrash Metal, Vocals, W.A.S.P. with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 17, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

3283538It is an obvious Metal music marriage, the paranormal being put to lyrics in Metal songs. Any King Diamond album supports this statement, that is for certain. Horror and the paranormal rules the Metal world’s lyrics with it’s mystery, shock, and imagery. This to me, is one of the great attributes to Metal music, the paranormal and horror has given personality and life to throngs of Metal bands as: Alice Cooper, Misfits, Kiss (with makeup), Lordi, Rob Zombie, Slipknot, Danzig, W.A.S.P., Cannibal Corpse and of course, King Diamond again. The list could go on and on, regarding which Metal bands represent the horror and paranormal subjects best.

I highly recommend taking a listen to Iced Earth – “The Horror Show”, this is an album dedicated to just the legendary horror movie monsters: Dracula, The Wolfman, Frankenstein and The Phantom of the Opera are covered just fine by Matt Barlow’s vocals and the writing and musical genius of Jon Schaffer. I also highly recommend the horror concept album, that for me is now a true Metal classic – “Abigail” from King Diamond, released in 1987. In my opinion, “Abigail” was/is a triumphant representation of Black Metal, even though the music includes heavy duty Speed Metal throughout. This King Diamond lineup on “Abigail” also bestows the talented Mikkey Dee on drums, who has been a mainstay with Motorhead, since 1992.

When I listen to my favorite Metal bands playing tunes about the macabre, horror and the paranormal, I cannot help reflecting on my favorite paranormal television shows. The material that King Diamond covers, for example, mirrors what many of the paranormal shows offer. My favorite scary & spooky television shows are: “Ghost Hunters”, “Penn State Paranormal”, “Most Haunted”, “UFO Hunters” and “Monster Quest”, all delving into the mysteriously unknown, paranormal, the dark side and real life monsters. Any Metal band can get hordes of information and subject matter for their music, just by watching this scary paranormal reality television.

Now, do I believe in all of this paranormal subject matter that these shows discuss/cover? Do I believe in real life monsters like Bigfoot, Moth Man and UFO aliens? Let’s just say, I get entertained and spooked out like anyone else, I really like the unknown aspect of these topics. I am also never going to be one of those, who back when Christopher Columbus sailed the seven seas, thought our planet Earth was square. It is an absolute fact, that new species of any of our known living organisms, (plants, fish, animals, insects), are being discovered on a daily basis. There are many, many, mysteries and dark questions out there that still have to be answered, for me it is great fun delving into these scary topics through Metal music and paranormal reality television. My feeling is that, paranormal reality television and Metal music just seem to go together, both never cease to thrill and entertain me.

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Saturday, April 11, 2009, is National Heavy Metal Day!

Posted in Black Metal, Extreme Metal, gothic metal, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, Music, Power Metal, symphonic metal, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

metalodyssey5Metal Odyssey has taken upon itself to proclaim: Saturday, April 11, is National Heavy Metal Day! Therefore, you may take these helpful tips/advice and put them into action, (if you like) and spread and/or share the great music of Heavy Metal to those around you.

* Listen to any or all Metal genres today!

* Play any or all Metal music LOUD today!

* Wear your favorite Metal t-shirt with pride today!

* Listen to any or all Metal genres with someone you love today!

* Buy or trade some Metal music today!

* Buy that special someone or your favorite buddy a Metal music gift! (give the gift of Metal)

* Share a Metal album/CD with someone!

* Share your Metal music knowledge with someone today!

* Read a decent mainstream or underground Metal magazine today, (not a Metal mag written by babies).

* If you are lucky enough, go to a Metal concert/club gig today!

* Watch a cool Metal movie today – “Trick or Treat”, any John Carpenter film or any Metal concert film will suffice.

* Surf the net for all of your favorite Metal bands and Metal news!

* Find an outdoor flea market for Metal music stuff – here’s a tip – buy low!

* Organize your Metal album/CD collection!

* Hang up a Metal poster of your favorite band(s) with pride!

Come to think of it, it seems like every day is a National Heavy Metal Day for me! It might feel that way to some of you out there too. Regardless, it just sounds and feels so cool, a National Heavy Metal Day, doesn’t it? Remember – BE TRUE TO METAL AND METAL WILL BE TRUE TO YOU.

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Women of Hard Rock & Metal – Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil

Posted in Century Media, gothic metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, lacuna coil, Metal, metal music from Italy, Music, Rock, symphonic metal, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 10, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

9125332Gosh, is the mainstream Rock radio world missing out or what. Try listening to any desensitized FM radio station these days, try as you may, you will never hear who I feel is Hard Rock and Metal’s most underrated female vocalist today – Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil. Symphonic, Gothic and at the end of the day, Lacuna Coil is still – Metal. Cristina Scabbia has proven to me, that you can have a beautiful female voice and still sing Metal music. I find Metal brilliance in Lacuna Coil for many reasons, (Cristina Scabbia’s vocals being #1), including the total musicianship and co-vocalist Andrea Ferro. Lacuna Coil means empty spiral, there is nothing that I find empty about any of the music created by Lacuna Coil. 

I find Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro to compliment each other extremely well, vocally. Cristina’s vocals  can lead you down many paths, from gentle solitude to dark and gothic to emphatic emotion. Then, Andrea will come in and either maintain the mood or sweep it off the table. These two vocalists do work vice versa as well, Andrea can be hitting the emotional anger on high and Cristina lends a symphonic vocal interlude that seamlessly blends into the song. There is no question that Lacuna Coil has their world following, deservedly so. There have been and continue to be many great articles written about Lacuna Coil in mainstream Rock and Metal magazines. Lacuna Coil and Cristina Scabbia are justifiably popular, I just feel that this band should be on the FM dial as often as Nickelback.

If you are already a fan of Lacuna Coil, you are then familiar with the bounty of integrity and musicianship they bestow. In the event you are new or unfamiliar with Lacuna Coil, I suggest a great starting ground would be their EP’s: “Lacuna Coil” and “Halflife.” In my opinion, every album from Lacuna Coil is worthy of Metal praise. The union of so many musical styles with two featured lead vocalists, providing incredible dual harmonies is quite tough to pull off. Lacuna Coil has been succeeding with this unique Metal style since 1997, Cristina Scabbia is the vocal centerpiece that is easy to embrace.

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