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Karmacode Image
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

  • Summary: The Italian goth-metal outfit fronted by Cristina Scabbia attempts to make it big in the U.S. with this fourth album.

Top Track

Closer
Want to get closer, in too deep Where there is something I wish for I’ll go through Want to get closer into you No hell to discover I’ve got it... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Alternative Press
    80
    At once loud and elegant, Karmacode raises Lacuna Coil's heaviness tenfold without sacrificing a drop of the band's mystical ambience. [May 2006, p.168]
  2. Though obviously unconcerned with finding a place in the mainstream, this release just as cool and catchy as anything by Evanescence.
  3. Blender
    70
    A set of tuneful, atmospheric doom-pop gems that appealingly swirls stiletto-heel beauty and black-leather brawn. [May 2006, p.108]
  4. Karmacode does carry on for a few songs too many, and save for “Enjoy the Silence”, doesn’t take any bold steps forward, but it still shows just how good Lacuna Coil are at what they do, presented in a high-gloss, primed-for-stardom package that is bound to go over huge.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    Essential listening... but only if you're of that particular breed of misfit who grills their cornflakes before adding milk, in order to make breakfast that bit blacker an experience. [1 Apr 2006, p.41]
  6. Part of the problem is that the melodies are spicy, but the riffs are pedestrian, almost nu-metal.
  7. Q Magazine
    30
    With each mid-tempo riff swamped by syrupy harmonies and machine-tooled strings, this is metal with the edges filed down and all the soul sucked out. [May 2006, p.128]
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. codycode
    Dec 21, 2006
    10
    loved it. a really hardhitting sound with cristinas beautiful voice. the riffs are alot heavier which i love. as a huge lacuna coil fan i loved it.
  2. Jan 4, 2018
    10
    Lacuna Coil's Karmacode continues the success of the Italian metal band by creating songs that put visuals into your mind, like me.
  3. OrpheusF
    Mar 17, 2007
    9
    great album
  4. Feb 11, 2011
    9
    The first half of this album is absolutely brilliant with distinctive heavy riffs and a haunting voice. The last few songs begin to get slowerThe first half of this album is absolutely brilliant with distinctive heavy riffs and a haunting voice. The last few songs begin to get slower and become simply "decent". Still one of the more impressive metal albums of 2006â Expand
  5. JustinG
    May 18, 2006
    8
    good hard sound with a softer touch
  6. MarcoA
    May 17, 2006
    6
    this album have same sounds of the other lacuna coil's album. Nothing new, they needs more maturity and different music experiences
  7. AdamB
    Jun 7, 2006
    4
    Compared to Comalies (and Unleashed, and In A Reverie) this album is dense and tedious. The song structures are repetitive, and Compared to Comalies (and Unleashed, and In A Reverie) this album is dense and tedious. The song structures are repetitive, and Cristina's performance seems to have been buried under layers of 80s-sounding goth guitars and overwrought nu-metal riffs. The sound is dense and murky, with buried drums and obscured vocals. This is possibly the worst mix job since the disaster that was wrought on Metallica's otherwise-stellar Justice For All disc. Lyrically speaking, the band has progressed, but I still prefer the cleaner and more dynamic sound of the previous releases. One bright spot: LC's cover of Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy The SIlence' is hard-hitting and cleanly delivered. Expand