The Inside Track - Black Magic
Kerrang!|Issue 1797
When CRISTINA SCABBIA found herself enfulged in darkness, one thing helped pull her through. The result is the most important album of the LACUNA COIL vocalist’s life...
Steve Beebee
The Inside Track - Black Magic

Two years ago, Cristina Scabbia was considering how she would cope not if, but when, the worst happened. The Lacuna Coil vocalist’s father had died suddenly in December 2016 and now cancer was about to take her mother’s life, too. At around the same time, a long-term relationship with Slipknot guitarist Jim Root was coming to an end.

It was a potent combination of circumstances, enough to make anyone look inward, to retreat into an increasingly isolated world. The fact that her band was approaching its 20th anniversary and undergoing a profound visual makeover was, at first, scant consolation for the escalating losses she faced.

“You try to imagine how it will be, so you can prepare yourself,” Cristina reflects. “I was expecting to be devastated, but I also expected to shut off. I thought of shutting myself away from the world in my house and feeling depressed, not going out unless I had to.”

Today, Cristina is in London to talk about Black Anima, the band’s newest and, inevitably, darkest release to date. Despite this fact, she’s in good spirits, and none of it looks like an act. Like many artists, she’s found a way to put the intensity of sadness to good use – using music as therapy.

“Every time you’re going through a tough moment, of course it is hard to overcome those feelings,” she shrugs, “but then you sit and think about yourself, or your ex, and about what you can do to get out of the bullshit.

“Those times when you’re not feeling great are actually the perfect moments to create art, whether it’s writing music or painting or whatever. You have to take the best out of everything. I’m at my least creative when I’m happy and carefree – I would never write a song while in that mood.”

Denne historien er fra Issue 1797-utgaven av Kerrang!.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Issue 1797-utgaven av Kerrang!.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA KERRANG!Se alt
Don't Stop Believing
Kerrang!

Don't Stop Believing

Chicago’s own FALL OUT BOY’s shapeshifting second chapter captured on their latest Best Of…

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 1798
Like Phantoms Forever…
Kerrang!

Like Phantoms Forever…

Six-and-a-half years after MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE stunned the world and called time on their inimitable career, the New Jersey quartet have announced a comeback show. Killjoys, make some noise…

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 1798
K! Investigates When The Music's Over
Kerrang!

K! Investigates When The Music's Over

One day you’re on top of the world and feeling indestructible. The next, you’re on the scrapheap and lost. But what happens to rock stars who fall on hard times? Addiction and mental health issues are rife, but in an industry slowly waking up to its duty of care there is hope and outlets for support…

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 1798
Follow The Leader
Kerrang!

Follow The Leader

As BRING ME THE HORIZON drop epic single LUDENS on the DEATH STRANDING: TIMEFALL soundtrack, OLI SYKES reflects on the song’s inspiring message – and how the world needs a hero…

time-read
10 mins  |
Issue 1798
Back From The Dead
Kerrang!

Back From The Dead

One year on from their very public onstage demise, the resurrection of CREEPER begins now. And as WILL GOULD and IAN MILES reveal, the journey to see this day has been a challenge that none of them could ever have imagined…

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 1798
Screaming For Change
Kerrang!

Screaming For Change

STRAY FROM THE PATH fight for the future on angry, but positive, ninth album…

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 1797
The Inside Track - Black Magic
Kerrang!

The Inside Track - Black Magic

When CRISTINA SCABBIA found herself enfulged in darkness, one thing helped pull her through. The result is the most important album of the LACUNA COIL vocalist’s life...

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 1797
The Big Story-Out For Blood
Kerrang!

The Big Story-Out For Blood

How do you celebrate your 20th anniversary as a festival? If you’re BLOODSTOCK, you announce two legendary bands – BEHEMOTH and JUDAS PRIEST – to headline, of course. Brace yourselves…

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 1797
On The Road-American Dreams
Kerrang!

On The Road-American Dreams

They’ve broken through to the big time on home turf, but that’s just the first step towards world domination for DON BROCO. As a rapturously received first U.S. headline run comes to its close, frontman ROB DAMIANI gives us a picture-postcard recap of horizons expanding with each passing show...

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 1797
Die Another Day
Kerrang!

Die Another Day

Every song tells a tale. And the 13 songs that comprise FALL OUT BOY’s upcoming GREATEST HITS album tell the story not only of one of rock’s most “improbable” reunions, but of an unparalleled reinvention, too. PETE WENTZ, PATRICK STUMP, JOE TROHMAN and ANDY HURLEY reflect on the past six years’ journey, track by track...

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 1797