On a wet and cold Newcastle evening, fans braved the elements to gather at Northumbria Student Union for a night of gothic metal intensity. The atmosphere felt fittingly dark and wintry, setting the perfect backdrop for Lacuna Coil’s Sleepless Empire tour, a night of melodic heaviness.

The night opened with Florida based nu-metalists Nonpoint, whose sharp energy provided a sharp stylistic counterpoint to Lacuna Coil’s theatricality. Their energy was infectious, warming up the crowd with aggressive riffs and relentless enthusiasm. Opening up with Breaking Skin, all members are filled with vigour, not a single body still on the stage or crowd. A couple amusing references comparing their appearance to other nu-metal bands as jested by vocalist Elias Soriano, pointing back to the backdrop. “If you can’t for some reason read this, we are Korn”, followed by an all to familiar 2 second riff tease, referencing to Korn’s hit Blind. Later on, a crowd loved cover of Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight which resulted in the audience singing along, made this a thoroughly enjoyable set, and I’m glad to have found this band, better late than never. Giving very much a 00’s vibe, if you like bands such as Mudvayne, Skindred and Sevendust, give Nonpoint a check out ASAP!

After that energetic set, the tension is palpable waiting for headliners Lacuna Coil. The lights tantalisingly dim as a steady stream of mist fills the stage.

A low rumble omits from the stage as drummer Richard Meiz makes his way to the kit, waving at the audience to make some noise, followed by bassist Marco Zelati and guitarist Daniele Salomone. The opening chimes of Layers of Time (Black Anima, 2019) echo as Andrea Ferro waltzes on, getting into position for that opening roar. Cristina Scabbia dances through the rest of band, whirling around effortlessly while energetically moving to the rhythm. Her voice soars through the room, hitting every corner without a hitch. Scabbia’s crystalline voice cut through the heaviness with precision, while Ferro’s growls anchored the sound in raw intensity. Cristina briefly talks about getting to collaborate with Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe before exploding into Hosting The Shadow, one of our favourite tracks from Sleepless Empire. Kill The Light is a stomper taking us back to 2012, resulting in a sea of rhythmically moving heads, then transporting us further back into 2009 with Spellbound. Meiz’s thundering snare and kick are prominent, and Melati’s bass reverberates in our feet during Delirium. Salomone’s guitar pair elegantly with Scabbia’s alluring vocals as she starts the verse of Heaven’s A Lie XX.

We’ve reached our halfway point. The red lights throbbing and more smoke curling towards the audience in creepy tendrils, all members stood with heads low. The eerie rumbling bass resonate and harmonies linger, waiting for for Ferro to rip into “IN NOMINE PATRIS”. Cristina reaches towards the audience during her effortless chorus, the audience bouncing and reaching in return, before turning to welcome Salomone into the spotlight for a perfect solo.

Gravity felt ethereal yet commanding, Andrea practically spitting the lyrics out in a ferocious manner followed by floating notes from Cristina. Oxygen made the room pulsate, bodies swaying and convulsing to the quick tempo, Marco eyeing up the front of the crowd, almost egging on for more energy. As the song comes to an end, the band swiftly exit the stage. Not a single person believed this to be the end of the night, as the unremitting chants for “LACUNA COIL” only get louder. The Italian group rapidly return and don’t dawdle, smashing into The Siege, followed by I Wish You Were Dead. Swamped XX takes us on a nostalgic journey, Cristina’s vocals mystical and transcendental. The evening finishes on the new albums closing track, Never Dawn, leaving the room with a sense of catharsis.

Nearly three decades into their career, Lacuna Coil remain a force to be reckoned with. The ability to marry darkness with beauty and aggression with symphonic melody with their beloved theatrical flair, the Italian masterminds continue to showcase their enriching discography with ease.