Evanescence VS Lacuna Coil

I was just reading a book on the theory of photography, and that prompted me to write this review, although, in theory, bands like Evanescence aren't highly regarded among true metalheads. By the way, for the same reason, I didn't give this work a rating. Read to the end and draw your own conclusions...

"The problem of qualitative and quantitative analysis of the perception of artistic works, and photography in particular, has repeatedly worried scientists and mathematicians. The main disagreements are related to the relationship between two variables: the orderliness of the image and its complexity (the number of details, colors, lines, and so on). Ultimately, the conclusion was that a less complex and more orderly work is easier for most viewers to understand, but it is less effective. In other words, a photograph where you simply stand is perceived faster by the viewer than one in which you take an elaborate pose. However, the effectiveness of the latter will be higher. But it should be taken into account that the desire for orderliness can lead to conflicts in the viewer's mind. In a person, any visual perception ends with the identification of an image. That is, the brain identifies it with some object already known from its own experience. When considering an image and not finding anything that would help to recognize it, the viewer experiences a whole range of feelings and emotions."

It seems that the ideas expressed here apply not only to photography but also to art in general, and to music in particular.

So, Evanescence's album "Fallen" can be confidently called nu-metal gothic, as it has everything needed for this: a girl on vocals, moderately heavy guitars in the style of Linkin Park, not too elaborate and somewhat sad melodies - look, it's all very simple.

If a hardcore metalhead listens to this, then, according to the quote I provided, his brain will instantly identify this surrogate with dozens of gothic metal albums he knows, starting, for example, with the first and ending with the last album of Theatre Of Tragedy. Of course, against the background of all this, such a simple and orderly creation as "Fallen" will go straight to the trash can.

But if you give such a thing to some pop music enthusiast, and even in the form of a video in which a girl in a nightgown climbs on drainpipes, of course, he will "experience a whole range of feelings and emotions." Of course, his brain will not be able to recognize this and find analogies, because he has not even heard the latest ToT (those who think otherwise are greatly mistaken). For him, this is simply a cultural shock, a blow. How, Evanescence is so cool and extreme, it's so new and unusual. Add to this good advertising, and here is the result: all the stalls are filled with Evanescence CDs, and young "extremists" eagerly buy them, feeling their incredible coolness :)

Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say unequivocally. Nevertheless, passing by them, we can with good reason smile a condescendingly mocking smile, and in our player at this time will be playing the new album Bloodflowerz. And, of course, we know that "7 Benedictions, 7 Maledictions" is a much more pleasant, more complex, and better work than any "Fallen". And if a pop music enthusiast heard it, he would choke on his tie (if he has one), in a word, it will be "MUCH" more difficult for him to understand. No, metal is definitely not for everyone.

The Italian band took a rather long break after the release of their successful album "Comalies"; it took the musicians almost four years to record a new full-length album. They are, of course, not the only ones who make fans wait in anticipation; the important thing is that these years are not wasted.

I got "Karmacode" and, anticipating hearing material that would dispel all doubts about the need for such a break, I put it in the player. Here I had to remember those not quite four years and everything else. To my great regret, the album is weak, unexpectedly weak. First of all, the absence of bright hits, of which there were plenty on "Unleashed Memories" and "Comalies," is alarming. Is it really that bad? To make sure I wasn't wrong, I listened to "Karmacode" for a couple more days, but no revelation happened. It cannot be said that the compositions are bad, but most of them are somehow sluggish, and if it weren't for Christina's voice, one could give it a three. But you can't win over the listener with just a voice; by the way, there is too much vocal embellishment, it is too tiring, and there is not enough dynamics in Christina's vocal parts; if there were more, perhaps the material would sound different. And the most prominent thing in the album turned out to be the perfectly performed cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence"; all the original material simply fades against its background. A rare case when there is nothing special to highlight, except for some short fragments. Except perhaps the opening track "Fragile," which is repeated periodically, it reminds of the very characteristic rhythm sections of Korn, and this is not a minus at all. Also, "Devoted," "What I See," and "Fragments Of Faith," which again cannot be called hits, only individual elements attract attention. By the way, Korn's motifs are again heard on "What I See." What is this?

Lacuna Coil's new work is in no way comparable to "Comalies" and "Unleashed Memories"; if there are those for whom even these albums are not particularly pleasing, then "Karmacode" is definitely not recommended.