Just before summer began, Tomaz and I headed to a rather remarkable music event - remarkable both for its line-up (In Flames, Lacuna Coil, and Shores Of Null) and its location in the Italian resort town of Lignano Sabbiadoro. We set off in the morning to combine not business with pleasure but one pleasure with another: a seaside swim to kick off the season. It had been ages since we'd last visited Lignano, which isn't far, but I don't remember ever seeing such crowds in the pre-season. It was madness - on the roads, in the shop, queuing at the campsite entrance, and battling for space on the beach. Add in the punishing heat and a touch of sunburn, and the experience edged on the unbearable.

We later heard from Anders, In Flames' vocalist, that the band had spent time on the beach earlier that day - had we been more observant, we might've spotted them. We didn't linger either, since Shores Of Null were set to play at 7:45 PM and we needed food and a twenty-minute walk to reach Arena Alpe Adria. We'd timed everything well but still missed most of Shores Of Null's set - blame the heat, which sapped all energy, and the minor hiccup of not being on the accredited list. It's happened four times now, interestingly, always in Italy, but the organisers kindly sorted things out also this time. We caught the final two songs, though I can't remember which ones.

While Tomaz darted off to take photos under the stage, I, visiting the arena for the first time, scouted for the ideal spot to settle. Arena Alpe Adria, with its amphitheatre design, offers great acoustics and unobstructed views. I was genuinely impressed.

Once Tomaz returned from his "photo session", we considered grabbing a cold beer, but the queue at the only drinks stand quickly put us off. We climbed to the top of the left stand and found ourselves beside the paramedics, so we were, at least in terms of health safety, in the best possible position. The concrete-heavy design of the arena did nothing to temper the suffocating heat, but at least the nearby trees offered cooling.

At around 8:30 PM, Lacuna Coil stepped gracefully on stage with "Layers Of Time" - with the two vocalists pretty much (too) layered in clothes. For me, in a sleeveless shirt - although I am a bit too sensitive to high temperatures (and yet I've moved to the Karst, probably the most desert-like part of Slovenia, where temperatures don't drop significantly even at night) - my own skin was superfluous. So the next track, "Reckless", felt like the universe was mocking me. The third song, "Hosting The Shadow", marked the first from Lacuna Coil's new album Sleepless Empire, released in February. Cristina mentioned this gig was their first homeland performance with the new album, from which they played five of the fifteen tracks.

Alongside "Hosting The Shadow", they performed "Oxygen", "I Wish You Were Dead", "Gravity", and "Never Dawn", closing their set with the latter. Lacuna Coil's performance was, as always, flawless. Cristina's charisma, paired with the band's professionalism, guaranteed nothing short of excellence. The audience responded with contagious enthusiasm - perhaps because they were proud compatriots - but the biggest applause went to Depeche Mode's cover, "Enjoy The Silence" - well, only a little bigger.

As "Never Dawn" wrapped up, I quietly wished the sun would refrain from rising again, at least not at such a punishing angle. Eventually, night arrived, sweeping in In Flames around 10 PM, along with a swarm of winged insects that Anders feared he might eat. He joked about the heat melting him away or, combined with his frenetic stage jumps, finishing him off. He often paused between tracks to catch his breath, peppering the breaks with wit.

I left the performance critique to Tomaz, who knows the band far better than I do: "The crowd had been buzzing for In Flames - whenever the background music dipped, chants of 'In Flames, In Flames…' took over. Lacuna Coil had already sent the energy soaring, but by the time the Swedish legends of melodic death metal hit the stage, anticipation had boiled over. They kicked things off with 'Pinball Map' from what I'd argue is the band's best album, Clayman. The crowd belted out the chorus, even overpowering Anders. The hypnotic light show, compelling video projections, flawless sound across the venue, and a tight 17-song set made this one of the best performances I've experienced. Songs like 'Deliver Us', 'Trigger', and 'The Mirror's Truth' pushed the crowd into a near-trance. Anders spurred them on with animated gestures and the occasional sarcastic aside.

There were circle pits, stage dives, fluttering flags, and the ever-present chant: 'Ole, ole ole ole, In Flames, In Flames…' Tracks from the band's 2023 album Foregone - 'Meet Your Maker', 'In The Dark', 'State Of Slow Decay', and 'The Great Deceiver' - were surprisingly well received and seem destined to become staples in future setlists. When classics like 'Only For The Weak', 'Alias', and 'Take This Life' came on, the crowd erupted. The second half of the set featured the massive Jester Head mascot looming mournfully in the background. The final track, 'My Sweet Shadow' from Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004), closed the night. No encore - as usual - but with nearly two hours of music, the band delivered more than enough. Sure, I'd have liked to hear something from The Jester Race or Siren Charms, but that's just me. Despite not following them closely for the past 15 or 20 years, I was utterly blown away. One of the best gigs I've ever seen. Whether you're a fan or not, you should absolutely catch the band live if it's nearby."

After midnight, the arena stood empty, and we made our way back to the campsite. That night was one of the most uncomfortable I've endured. A storm was approaching, preceded by oppressive heat. Tomaz drifted off quickly, but my heart raced - easily at 100 bpm - and I began to consider a trip to A&E. I roamed the tent, opened whatever I could in it (the options were beyond limited, because the small tent, which we only use for one- or two-night stays, is best suited for camping in the Himalayas, where we never intended to go in the first place. (?!)

Fortunately for me, and without any notable consequences for others, around 3 AM, a lightning strike startled Tomaz awake, and we retreated to the car. Half an hour later, the worst had passed. Well, the camp, unlike the surrounding area, escaped the storm. The air finally cooled down, which was a blessing.

After six decent hours of sleep, we packed up and avoided the crowds at Lignano beach by heading to nearby Bibione. The weather started pleasantly enough, but a sudden sandstorm soon swept in. Winds battered us from every direction, though we only recognised the tramontana at the time. Other beachgoers had their tents and other belongings blown away, but this time we anchored ours like professionals. We mostly napped on the beach until late afternoon, when a local warned us of another storm. Just moments after we got in the car, it started raining heavily. What luck! May it always be with you, too. Until the next report - cheers! Jerneja

Report by Jerneja
Photos by Tomaz
Edited by Jerneja
Links: In Flames, Lacuna Coil, Shores Of Null