LACUNA COIL (part 1)

Lacuna Coil is a heavy metal band from Milan, Italy formed in 1994. Formerly known as ''Sleep of Right'' and ''Ethereal'', the band was inspired by gothic imagery and gothic metal music, and the members have been known, musically, for composing midtempo songs consisting of guitar lines overlaid with prominent keyboard work, and contrasting dual female/male vocal harmonies to help create a melodic detached sound.

Much of the band's recent material, however, sees a more down-tuned style, featuring a more distinct bass line and a higher mixing of the guitars within the songs. According to the band, they are and have been influenced by Paradise Lost (band), Tiamat, Anathema, Septic Flesh, Black Sabbath, Type O Negative, Imago Mortis, Depeche Mode, In Flames and Amorphis amongst others. They have played among the world's biggest heavy metal festivals on the main stage including Ozzfest, Bloodstock Open Air, Wacken Open Air, and are scheduled to play with Megadeth on their Gigantour tour this November. The band's 2006 release, ''Karmacode'' peaked at number 28 on the Billboard 2000.

Andrea and Marco formed ''Sleep of Right'', but soon changed their name to ''Ethereal'', and signed to Century Media at the end of 1997.Finding that the name ''Ethereal'' was already taken, they changed their name to Lacuna Coil, which means ''empty spiral''.

The band consisted at that point of co-vocalists Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro with bassist/keyboardist Marco Coti Zelati. The band recorded a self-titled EP released in 1998, and went on tour supporting label-mates Moonspell. The band was accompanied for this tour by guitarist Cristiano Migliore and drummer Cristiano Mozzati.

Following a second European tour, the band recorded their debut full-length album, ''In a Reverie'', and added second guitarist Marco Biazzi. The band supported the album with another European tour, co-headlining with Skyclad (band).

Following another EP in the form of "Half-Life" in 2000, and album entitled ''Unleashed Memories'' in 2001, the band released ''Comalies'' in 2002, an album which received acclaim and rave reviews from certain corners of the heavy metal music world. Over a year later, the first single from this album, "Heaven's a Lie", began to receive radio and media attention and pulled the band into the mainstream. The second single, ''Swamped'', was played in heavy rotation, and was used in the video game "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines", both in one of the game's fictitious clubs and along with the game's endgame credits. Music videos were filmed for both songs and broadcast on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball.

By 2004, ''Comalies'' had become the best-selling CD in Century Media's history. The band appeared at Ozzfest in between headlining club tours in United States and Europe.

In an effort to best take advantage of Lacuna Coil's ascendant popularity, the band and label postponed the release of their highly-anticipated follow up to ''Comalies'', ''Karmacode'', to early 2006. According to the band's website, this made it possible for more time to be spent on production while also avoiding the crowded summer 2005 release schedule for metal albums. On December 23, 2005 the band announced via their official web site that all recording, mixing, and mastering had been finished and that ''Karmacode'' is complete. It was then announced that Karmacode would be released in USA on April 4, 2006. One of its tracks, "Our Truth", is the first single (and video) and is featured as well on the soundtrack of the movie ''Underworld: Evolution'' in stores on January 10, 2006. The video has had rotation on MTV.