Text by: Marcelo de Freitas
Less than a year after their last visit to Brazil , the band Lacuna Coil returned to the country with the Sleepless Empire 2025 .
With shows scheduled for the cities of São Paulo, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, and Brasília, the Italians landed in the São Paulo capital for their first concert, with tickets sold out more than a month in advance. The historic performance took place at the Carioca Club on the 15th, to a packed house, proving that the fans' passion for Italian gothic metal remains stronger than ever. The line stretched for blocks, a rare phenomenon at the venue, which caused apprehension among those present about the possibility of not being able to get in on time. In the end, everything went well.
Currently composed of Cristina Scabbia (vocals), Andrea Ferro (vocals), Marco Coti Zelati (bass), Richard Meiz (drums), and Daniele Salomone (guitar), Lacuna Coil delivered a performance full of weight, emotion, and intense interaction with the audience. The opening with "Layers of Time" ignited the atmosphere, but the contrasting vocals of Scabbia and Ferro were slow to appear due to a technical problem with the vocalist's microphone, preventing the duo from performing at various points in the song. Fans tried to fill in for Scabbia's voice, who showed frustration with the malfunction. However, when she took Ferro's microphone, the audience went wild.
Without giving the audience time to breathe, the band followed with “Reckless,” keeping the adrenaline high with its intense sound and catchy chorus. As the microphone problem persisted, Scabbia switched to a wired one. The setlist spanned different phases of the band's career. Regardless of whether they were classics or recent tracks, such as “Hosting the Shadow” from the album Sleepless Empire (2025), the impact was the same.
One of the most memorable moments came with “Tight Rope XX,” a powerful version that had fans jumping and vibrating with every beat. The heaviness of “Kill the Light” and the anthem “Our Truth” were received with euphoria, solidifying the intensity of the night. In “Trip the Darkness,” the audience participation was impressive, with the verses being sung as if each person were living the song. Next came “Apocalypse” and the intense “Now or Never.” “In The Mean Time” brought an engaging groove, preparing the ground for one of the most celebrated moments of the show: the cover of Depeche Mode .” Lacuna Coil's version, full of emotion and heaviness, had everyone present singing from beginning to end.
The performance up to that point had been explosive, and the audience was bordering on hysteria. At times, the fans almost drowned out the vocalists with their screams. To calm things down a bit, they played the rhythmic “Entwined XX” and “Heaven's a Lie XX”. However, this pause was short-lived, as the band soon resumed the heaviness with “Blood, Tears, Dust” and “Oxygen”, which made the Carioca Club tremble. During “Blood, Tears, Dust”, Scabbia received a hand-painted portrait from a fan. The vocalist seemed amazed by the warm reception from the audience.
Next, she took the opportunity to tell a story about the "I Wish You Were Dead" music video, mentioning that the choreographer forced them to do a dance that she considered pathetic. At that moment, bassist Marco Coti Zelati reproduced the choreography steps, providing a hilarious moment that even made Scabbia laugh. Joking aside, the song reignited the audience's energy. The main set ended with "Veneficium," one of the songs that revives the characteristic gothic metal that made the band famous.
After a short break, the band returned for an encore with "Never Dawn," followed by the powerful "Gravity," which thrilled the audience with its heaviness and captivating melody. The show's climax came with "Swamped XX," one of Lacuna Coil's greatest classics, which had everyone singing along in one of the most emotional moments of the night.
To end on a high note, “Nothing Stands in Our Way” was the perfect anthem to celebrate the intense connection between band and audience. The Carioca Club became a single chorus, with fans giving their all to this final moment. Lacuna Coil delivered an impeccable, intense, and unforgettable show, proving once again why they are one of the most beloved bands in the genre. The connection between band and audience was visceral, and the fans' devotion was reflected in every verse sung, every applause, and the incredible energy that dominated the Carioca Club, reaffirming the strong bond between the band and the São Paulo audience. Without a doubt, a night that will be forever etched in the memory of the fans.
Check out the images from our photographer Marcela Lorenzetti :
