Live Review : Infected Rain + Skarlett Riot @ Rebellion,Manchester on August 30th 2024

Moldova's Infected Rain blew us away with their set at Bloodstock Festival a few weeks ago, and we couldn't pass up the chance to see them play a more intimate venue in Manchester. Their take on modern metal is unique and dynamic, and in Lena Scissorhands they have a charismatic and engaging focal point. We managed to catch up with Lena for a chat prior to the gig (Interview HERE) and then were treated to a superb headline set.

With a club night on at Rebellion after the gig it's an early start for tonight's gig, but with just one support band we're promised a lengthy and special set from tonight's headliners. First up though we have Britain's very own hard rockers Skarlett Riot. This tour will have been perfectly timed for the band with latest single 'Luminate' freshly out, and the ability to generate buzz ahead of their incoming album “Caelestia”. All signs point to a heavier more metal direction for the band and a slot supporting an established and dynamic metal band like Infected Rain can only help them. 

Tonight they confidently command the stage, strutting and holding poses as they interact directly with the crowd at every chance they get. Singer Chloe Drinkwater flashes her beaming smile throughout and looks to fist bump the front row from the off. They have a slick and cohesive image and the sound to match, with additional tracked guitars and vocals enabling some elevated harmonising. There's a definite traditional British hard rock feel to the melodies, and you can see how they appeal to both rock and mainstream metal fans alike.

Headliners Infected Rain bound onto the stage with more energy and vitality you can imagine. Singer Lena Scissorhands and guitarist Vidick immediately unleash their long swinging dreads - it's a whirling, stylish and invigorating vision. But it's their dynamic mix of modern, nu and metalcore metal that truly delights. It's a hyper professional performance from start to finish, with brilliant sound production to really do justice to their layered sound and song writing. But even though it's a very slick and controlled performance there's still loads of emotion, passion and energy. 

It's obvious that fans of Jinjer and Lacuna Coil will love this band, but what I really hear is links to nu metal bands like American Head Charge and heavier cinematic metal like Fit For An Autopsy. Lena delivers both raspingly vicious harsh vocals and also uniquely beautiful cleans that remind me of Bjork. Lena mentioned to us pre-gig that this kind of long set in an intimate venue affords them the opportunity they get to play their full range of tracks and styles. It means we get the chance to hear some of the more electronic influenced, deliciously churning, and even more vulnerable tracks.

The crowd don't let up once throughout the set though, and I think they even managed the biggest circle pit I've seen in Rebellion for a long time. Infected Rain are set to tour plenty of continents they've not hit before in the next few months and, together with their eyes on writing new material next year, we can expect even bigger things from this metal powerhouse in the future.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Infected Rain + Skarlett Riot