Song Saturday: Lacuna Coil Block {With Their Better Songs}

How's it going lurkers? Last October, I published a Song Saturday blog featuring the Italian Goth Rock/Metal band, Lacuna Coil. While helping my uncle with his on/off again company last year, I listened to Lacuna Coil's Dark Adrenaline album. As much as I love the band, their earlier albums from 1999 to 2002 were and still are the best.

Lacuna Coil's 2002 album, Comalies became mainstream 1 year later. I loved that album. I listened to Lacuna Coil's earlier albums such as In a Reverie (1999) and Unleashed Memories (2001), during my years in college because of Comalies.

Before, during, and after I graduated from Carthage College in 2006, Lacuna Coil's single, "Our Truth" was featured on the Underworld: Evolution Soundtrack. "Our Truth" was also featured on the band's 2006 album, Karmacode. It's a decent song as well as their song, "Within Me." However, I really don't care for Karmacode and the rest of Lacuna Coil's more recent albums.

I hate saying that Lacuna Coil "sold out," but in a way they did sell out. Their more recent albums sound nothing like their earlier albums. Then again, Ozzfest is somewhat "The Kiss Of Death" for most Metal and Hard Rock bands.

It's great that Ozzfest helped give obscure bands more exposure. At the same time, their music completely changes after they reach their pinnacles.

After those bands change their sound, they soon begin to lose their integrity by pandering to the wrong audience. I understand that bands must evolve in sound over the years, but... 

If it's not broken, why fix it?

Take KoRn, for example. Their music was enjoyable, until they reached their pinnacle in 1999. Then, KoRn became a Shit Sandwich. 

Even though I still like 3/5 the original band members, I haven't bought a KoRn album, since I was a teenager in the late '90s. Their music has become unrecognizable.

The same most definitely applies to some of the original band members' personalities (*cough-cough* "Head's" for example). Talk about being pretentious and self-righteous, since he has now found Jesus. Don't even get me started.

At least I can't say this for Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro (I'm really more of a Cristina Scabbia fan). I still like them as people even though I do miss the band's earliest sound.

This Song Saturday is a LENGTHY  block of Lacuna Coil's songs between 1999 and 2002. 

Before listening to the block, here's an interview Cristina Scabbia did with Mike DiQuinzio of JAM Magazine.

JAM Magazine: Mike DiQuinzio Interviews Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia {NEW} (2014)

 

The following songs are from their albums In a Reverie, Unleashed Memories, and the album that made the Goth Metal band popular, Comalies.

 

1) Lacuna Coil "My Wings" In a Reverie (1999)

2) Lacuna Coil "To Myself I Turned" In a Reverie (1999)

3) Lacuna Coil "To Live Is To Hide" Unleashed Memories (2001)

4) Lacuna Coil "Senzafine" Unleashed Memories (2001)

5) Lacuna Coil "Cold Heritage" Unleashed Memories (2001)

 

6) Lacuna Coil "Lost Lullaby" Unleashed Memories (2001)

7) Lacuna Coil "Aeon"/"Tight Rope" Comalies (2002)

8) Lacuna Coil "Entwined" Comalies (2002)

9) Lacuna Coil "Comalies" Comalies (2002)

Early Song Saturday: Drain STH {Double Dose}

How's it going lurkers? Since I will be really busy this weekend, I've put a rush on Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday. I'm sure it's already Saturday in other countries. It just turned Friday in America, several hours ago. 

I must shop for both my mother's and youngest aunt's birthday presents. Their birthdays are next week. On Easter, we are going to dinner with family. Therefore, I'm sharing Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday early.

Earlier this week, I debated whether or not to publish a Song Saturday blog about Type O Negative (since Monday was the 4th anniversary of Peter Steele's death), or Drain STH. 

Because most people have never heard of Drain STH in America and overseas, this Song Saturday will be focused more on them. 

Drain STH was a female Swedish Grunge/Metal band that formed in the 1990's. 

In fact, the band performed at Ozzfest in 1997 and 1999 with Type O Negative and other bands. Both of Drain STH's albums, Horror Wrestling and Freaks of Nature, were released those same years and I own both of them. 

On 101.7 WIPZ, I mostly played songs from the Swedish Grunge/Metal band's debut album (Horror Wrestling), 11-12 years ago. I especially got someone, who I was "sorta seeing," 10 years ago, to love Drain STH. 

As soon as he heard their debut single, "I Don't Mind," he put Horror Wrestling into his CD burner. Wow! It's amazing how time flew!

Maria Sjoholm, who happens to be married to Black Sabbath's guitarist, Tony Iommi, was the vocalist of Drain STH. They met, while working on Drain STH in 1996 and married in 2005. 

Hmm, this makes me wonder if they're still married. Some of us consider Drain STH to be the female, Swedish version of Alice in Chains. Whenever I hear Drain STH's song, "Mind Over Body," I cannot help thinking about Alice in Chains, since Drain STH was highly influenced by them. This does not surprise me in the slightest.

It's like I said last Song Saturday, Alice in Chains heavily influenced many bands of the past and present.

Drain STH disbanded in 2000. It's a shame they never completely mainstreamed. I don't recall of MTV ever airing their music videos. However, I sometimes heard Drain STH's single's "I Don't Mind," "Crack the Liar's Smile," "Enter My Mind," and "Simon Says," as a teenager on Rock stations. 

From both albums, it seems like "Crack the Liar's Smile" and "Simon Says" were played the most. 

Years ago, I read that Drain STH were dropped from their record label and never became mainstream simply because the chauvinistic Metal masses said they were "too pretty" to be taken seriously. 

Talk about some chauvinistic, superficial, Boys Club Only, bullshit!

According to the Metal Edge Magazine's 1999 Readers' Choice Awards, Drain STH was voted "Female Performers of the Year" and "Most Underrated Band."

So... Where is Drain STH, Now?

Maria Sjoholm completely retired from music. Meanwhile, drummer/backup vocalist Martina Axen sang in Snake River Conspiracy and is currently recording a solo album. 

Guitarist Flavia Canel currently manages Sonic Syndicate and stopped professionally playing guitar. 

Lastly, bassist Anna K. joined Hanzel Und Gretyl, Revolting Cocks, and Opiate for the Masses. 

Now, Anna is working on a Stockholm, Sweden based project, which involves the members of Clawfinger and Skintrade.

This Song Saturday, I present the only 2 music videos that I have ever seen from Drain STH. "I Don't Mind" and "Crack the Liar's Smile" are both from the band's debut album, Horror Wrestling.

Watching "I Don't Mind" automatically reminds me of their Horror Wrestling album cover. Well, enough about the band. Here's Drain STH's "I Don't Mind" and "Crack the Liar's Smile."

1) Drain STH "I Don't Mind" Horror Wrestling (1997)

 

2) Drain STH "Crack The Liar's Smile" Horror Wrestling (1997)