LACUNA COIL
HALFLIFE
EP CENTURY MEDIA RELEASE: MARCH 20 2000 REVIEW: MARCH 30, 2000

This wasn't very entertaining. Listening to the EP "Halflife" from Italy's Lacuna Coil is like having a thick layer of boredom hanging over your head. You know from the very beginning, their sterile mixture of goth and metal won't bring you any surprises.
Guitar-solos sprung out of the middle of the 80's, a male vocalist caught singing while taking a dump and non-existent melodies are excellent tools when digging your own grave. And it's not a healthy sign when a record's most endurable track consists of a lame cover (in this case, Dubstar's "Star"). It would be very dishonest of me to say that I'm looking forward to Lacuna Coil's upcoming full-length album. So, let's just say I don't.

ERIK ALMGREN