And my (triumphant?) return to reviewing:

Lacuna Coil - Visual Karma (Body, Mind, and Soul)

Does Lacuna Coil really need an introduction at this point? They've been around for a while, although they arguably exploded into the international spotlight when Evanescence's debut prompted people to go searching for other gothic metal bands with female singers. (Guilty as charged; I discovered Lacuna Coil, along with The Gathering and Tapping the Vein, thanks to a Revolver article on just that topic.) A few years later, they released Karmacode, to mixed reviews. And now, another couple years later, they're gearing up for a new release in 2009 called Shallow Life. Oh, and let's not forget having master track versions of "Closer," "Swamped," and "Our Truth" available for various incarnations of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. What's a band to do in the meantime? Release a concert DVD!

(continued...)