Italy has made numerous contributions to metal and rock music over the years. From the proto-black metal sounds of Bulldozer and Death SS, to power metal favourites Rhapsody, to the symphonic death metal assault of Fleshgod Apocalypse, the southern European country has given headbangers plenty to enjoy. When looking at these bands in terms of size and impact, few would dispute that Milan's Lacuna Coil is at the top of the pile, being the unofficial metal ambassadors for their nation. Having formed in 1994, they eventually took on their now familiar moniker in 1997 and have solidified their legacy by now releasing their tenth studio album, "Sleepless Empire."

It's been five years since their last album of new material, "Black Anima," which co-vocalist Andrea Ferro summed up as something of a compilation album, in that it incorporated elements of all their albums. To some extent, the same can be said of "Sleepless Empire," albeit with more of a focus on their earlier, darker works. This is immediately evident on the opening track, "The Siege," which has a truly vicious sound, perhaps nastier than Lacuna Coil has ever sounded before. Ferro's abrasive vocals are met with Cristina Scabbia's bewitching singing, and it all comes together very well to craft a song which will please fans of any era of the group, but also brings in a fresh sound.

Throughout the album, listeners will find a good mix of the familiar and the fresh. "I Wish You Were Dead," for example, is catchy in a way that Lacuna Coil has demonstrated before, with Scabbia delivering one of her best performances on the record. In contrast, "In Nomine Patris" stands out as one of the most surprising tracks on offer, creating an absolutely amazing atmosphere, thanks in part to the Dune-like intro, before an incredible whirlwind of sound sweeps in to blow away fans. Meanwhile, the singles "Oxygen" and "Gravity" contain choruses that will help them go down well live, which could also be said of "Hosting The Shadow," which contains a guest appearance from Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe, which is a notable cameo but I can't help but feels Ferro could at least match his offering, if not beat it.

While there's a lot to enjoy, there are a few examples of songs that don't quite make an impact. Despite the brief techno-inspired intro and alluring Scabbia showing, "Scarecrow" kind of goes in one ear and out of the other. Elsewhere, "Sleep Paralysis" is very atmospheric, feeling like it's drenched by rainfall, but doesn't offer too much besides this. The album closes with "Never Dawn," which is fine and displays a lot of aggression, perhaps more than Lacuna Coil has utilised before, but feels a little disjointed and may be a bit much to handle, especially at such a crucial point on the record.

All in all, Lacuna Coil can be proud of "Sleepless Empire" and fans won't be disappointed either. They have the enviable accolade of being a group which have found their signature sound, but can still venture into new areas successfully, and they show this off very well on their tenth outing. They're a band that's not keen to rest on their laurels and still have the hunger to express themselves in new and exciting ways, even if it doesn't always pay off. It's definitely what keeps Lacuna Coil so popular twenty six years on from their debut album, while some of their contemporaries have fallen into the trap of releasing albums that don't progress much, if at all. "Sleepless Empire" might not have the same overall brilliance of some previous efforts, but it's a good addition to an impressive catalogue.