Infected Rain with Skarlett Riot at Manchester Rebellion.

Moldovan heavy metal band, Infected Rain, return to Manchester for their headline tour after dominating the crowd at Bloodstock Festival in the summer. The last time the band were in Manchester was to open for Skindred down the road from Manchester’s Rebellion, but this time they have brought along UK’s own, Skarlett Riot on the road with them.

Skarlett Riot are up first, the last time we saw Skarlett Riot was at Club Academy and the crowd did not fit the vibe for these guys at all. This time it’s definitely a 180, these guys have the crowd bouncing the energy to another level and you can tell it makes their performance even better. The British hard rock band from Scunthorpe were a billion times better this time around, the crowd was better suited for them and they had the confidence that just grew and grew as the show carried on. From start to finish the crowd is bouncing, with additional encouragement from the guitarist the pit opens with a bit of additional space for him in the middle as he jumps off the stage and makes his way to the middle with the crowd running circles around him, these guys have some of the best crowd interaction that I’ve seen in a while, going into the crowd to perform with the fans and getting the ones on the front row the chance to finish the lyrics.

Vocalist Chloe “Skarlett” decides to join in on the crowd fun, as the crowd departed to allow her the space and the freedom to practically take in her kingdom around her. It’s like these guys own this room entirely. These guys are creating memories for everyone in this room, plus one way to get a Manchester crowd going even harder is to tell them that London might have put them down. Compared to the last time I saw these guys, which was only a few months ago, the chance in their performance is definitely there from the sound to the way they are on stage, they have massively improved with everything that they’re doing.

Setlist:

Chemicals
Paralyzed
Breaking the Habit
Gravity
Hold Tight
Luminate
Stronger
Underwater
Human
Warrior

9/10 huge improvement from last time, I can see them evolving into something bigger

After a short change over (which let’s face it is what we all want) the legends Infected Rain take to the stage in front of a packed crowd, with people spread out from the front to the back of the venue. Vocalist, Elena “Lena Scissorhands” Cataraga has an aura about her that shows her dominance as she walks onto the stage, with orange dreadlocks capturing everyone’s attention the second she takes to the stage, it’s her mannerisms and the way she holds the everyone’s attention that makes her intimidating.

Intimidating physically and vocally, Lena dominates the stage during The Realm of Chaos instantly putting herself into this scary but incredible persona. Every single member of this band owns everything that they’re doing with an incredible skill, every member with intense facial expressions which really helps bring you into their performance even more, you almost feel like you’re not good enough to be watching them with the way they stand over the crowd. You feel welcomed in the crowd but you know they’re the masters of the evening with the way they watch the crowd open insane mosh pits to each and every song, which sends those in the front row into the stage.

Infected Rain took to the stage at Bloodstock Open Air and drew in a crowd there and they seem to have gained a following for this tour, as when you look around every single person in the room is under their spell and is captivated by their performance from start to end. I was captivated the last time I saw them perform and It continues onto this one. The bass playing from Alice Lane is thrilling and makes you pull the “this is a dirty riff” heavy metal face that we all do, the drums from Eugen Voluta just ties everything together perfectly as Vadim Ojog on guitar shreds the guitar while swinging his dreads like no one is in front of him.

Infected rain has gotten better in terms of performance from the last time I saw them and I would happily join this crowd for the next tour that they headline, they’re even worth catching them on any support spot just for them and them alone.

Setlist: