by Andy Hinds

Lacuna Coil's second full-length album successfully combines the backbone of metal with the ethereal trappings of goth. While vocalist Cristina Scabbia gives the band their sonic calling card, additional vocals from the group's male singer, Andrea Ferro, add tonal variety and balance. Rarely succumbing to heavy-handedness, Lacuna Coil escapes the stylistic straitjacket of the goth/metal formula, making them more accessible than many of their peers. The special-edition release includes the band's Halflife EP as an added bonus.