By 2009, Lacuna Coil weren’t just another gothic metal band in the shadows — they were aiming for the stars. Shallow Life is the Italian crew’s boldest, glossiest release to date: a polished, hook-heavy ride that blends alternative metal, gothic rock, and radio-ready heavy riffs with Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro trading off vocals like a darkly romantic duet from the underworld.

This was Lacuna Coil stepping outside their crypt and strutting into the light — but don’t mistake the sheen for softness. Tracks like “Spellbound”, “I Like It,” and “Underdog” hit with industrial crunch and nu-metal edge, while the band’s trademark melancholic atmosphere still seeps through in haunting slower moments like “The Pain” and “Wide Awake.” It’s emotional, it’s sleek, and it’s undeniably catchy — a love-it-or-hate-it evolution that brought them a whole new audience.

This Record Store Day 2023 reissue from Svart Records captures that era perfectly on clear vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve. Limited edition, EU-pressed, and near mint, this pressing gives fans a rare chance to revisit or discover a turning point in the band’s career — the moment Lacuna Coil traded catacombs for stadiums without losing their gothic soul.

Whether you’re a diehard from the Comalies days or you caught the wave with Shallow Life‘s MTV-era presence, this one’s worth spinning loud.