Live Review: Lacuna Coil with Blind Channel at The Roundhouse, London (25/10/24)

Mainstays of the gothic and alternative metal scene, it’s hard to believe that Lacuna Coil have been doing this, in one form or another, for around 30 years. A career that has seen countless highs and lows, it’s simply stunning to see this band as relevant as ever as 2024 comes to an end. Not only delivering a stellar live show that could only ever come from a band so well versed in the live environment, but showcasing new music on route to the release of a brand-new album.

I am, of course, talking about Lacuna Coil’s tenth album ‘Sleepless Empire’, out on February 14th, 2025. Of which we’ve had several singles already with all being aired tonight (Hosting the Shadow, In the Mean Time, Never Dawn, and Oxygen). Each new track goes down very well, but it’s certainly Hosting the Shadow and In the Mean Time that sound particularly crunchy and heavy. I’d say something here about getting a hungry crowd moving, but London has brought the energy to the Roundhouse for Lacuna Coil. Who, themselves, are on fantastic form.

Of course, this is the Roundhouse in Camden so great sound is expected, but even then, Lacuna Coil sounded immense. Before I go further into the detail around their live show though, Finnish nu and alternative metal band Blind Channel were in the house to warm the crowd up and deliver a set that can best be called bittersweet.

On the one hand, they’re an absolute anthemic blast who do a wonderful job of getting the energy up inside the venue. Not just with their own exciting, intense, and heartfelt music, but with a couple of covers that go down a treat. A trimmed down, but manic version of System of A Down’s BYOB and, hilariously, Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by The Backstreet Boys.

On the other hand, they’re about to go on hiatus, so we may not see them for a while. Even if a documentary that captures their incredible journey is to be released on December 16th.

Still, what a way to sign off. If this show is any sign of how they’ve performed over the entirety of the tour, then they’re pressing pause on the band in style and ensuring they will be greatly missed. Here’s hoping their hiatus isn’t too long, but gives the band exactly what they need, break-wise.

Enough about that though, let’s focus on this particular show and how Blind Channel threatened to blow headliners, Lacuna Coil, off the stage with an outstanding showcase of heavy and infectious intensity and a bevy of songs that sound even more robust live than they do on record. A stage and a sound system like the Roundhouse suits this band and they look so comfortable on it as they knock out banger after banger. WOLVES IN CALIFORNIA, FLATLINE, DIE ANOTHER DAY… just a few heavyweight hits we get treated to. The latter of which also saw guest vocalist, RØRY make an appearance on stage. Easily one of the best moments of the entire night.

Exit Emotions. Exit Blind Channel. Until we all meet again.

The lights go down, the voice chatter turns into roars of approval and with great cinematic aplomb (thanks to the big screen displaying images at the back), Lacuna Coil take to the stage. Any doubts about their continued popularity are put to bed by the response of the crowd to their arrival, with the loudest cheers saved for vocalists Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia. The latter being rightfully considered an icon and one of the best vocalists in the world.

That is not hyperbole either, even as the years tick by, Cristina sounds immense and she continues to play off Andrea’s harsh vocals perfectly. Be it the brand-new tracks, the stuff from Black Anima (Apocalypse, Now or Never, Veneficium), or the stuff from Comalies XX (Entwined, Swamped, Heaven’s A Lie), not only do their vocals sound great, but Lacuna Coil as a unit sound great.

Of course, they’ve been doing this a very long time and have a vast back catalogue to pick and choose from. So, dotted around are tracks from the likes of Karmacode (Our Truth), Delirium (Blood, Tears, Dust and My Demons), and Dark Adrenaline (Trip the Darkness) all getting a showing. A lot of it goes down very well, hell, they even get a fair few crowd surfers going over the barrier, but there are also one or two tracks that fall a little flat. Performed more than competently, but hardly an exciting watch or listen.

The positives far outweigh the negatives though and their mammoth stage presence inevitably wins out. Lacuna Coil are giants of the metal scene and shows like this prove it unequivocally.