Wild spirits were unleashed as Lacuna Coil enthralled in their first solo show in the Philippines!

The Italian Masters of Symphonic Goth Metal, Lacuna Coil, made their return to the Manila stage last December 9 at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura. The band consists of Andrea Ferraro on vocals, Cristina Scabbia also on vocals, Diego Cavalotti on guitars, Marco Coti Zelati on bass, and Richard Meiz on drums. They were first seen here last 2016 as headliners of PULP SummerSlam XVI: Come Out & Play, together with Veil of Maya and Belphegor.

The CoViD-19 pandemic had a large impact on everyone, even on the music industry. Due to the threat of the virus and local restrictions, most bands during this period canceled touring. Paid gigs and performances came to a shocking halt. Now everyone is getting back on their feet. With the Italian goth metallers, Lacuna Coil has their fiery vengeance onstage.

Decked in white jumpsuits with faces covered in sinister-looking corpse paint (except for Scabbia and Ferro). The band was in such high spirits when they started rattling the roof of the music hall with their opening song “Blood, Tears and Dust” along with the roaring excitement from the metal crowd. They continue pummeling the night with “Reckless”, “Layers of Time” and “Our Truth” their middle set includes “The Ghost Woman and The Hunter XX” and one of their biggest hit “Heaven’s a Lie XX” both from their current album the re-engineered and deconstructed Comalies XX. The band ended their repertoire with a cover of the Depeche Mode song “Enjoy the Silence” before coming back for an onslaught of encore “Aeon XX”, “Tight Rope XX”, and “Swamped XX” all from Comalies XX.

The band ended the night on a positive note, chanting “We Fear Nothing!” as a way of motivating everyone to fight the pains and sorrows caused by the void left by the pandemic before starting their last song, “Nothing Stands in Our Way”.

This was my first time watching the band perform live and I was really in awe of their powerful performance. Scabbia’s emotive angelic-Esque singing was countered by Ferro’s devilish growls. Backed by Zelati, Cavalotti, and Meiz’s tight monstrous rhythm. Overall, the band’s exuberant vibrancy and dynamics make me want more.

“Rising from the Dark” is the title of their current tour in support of their latest release, Comalies XX. I could say both are timely from the world’s viewpoint. It’s like everyone is waking out from a coma — slowly healing, carefully rising, and emerging stronger from the pandemic.

Words by Kerwin Riego de Dios

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Rising from the Dark 2022: Lacuna Coil Live in Manila was presented by PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invite to the event.