So, it’s been just under three weeks since we caught the charismatic Infected Rain at Bloodstock with their impressive set on the Sophie Stage and this time round we had an appointment with them in the cosy and oppressive surroundings of the Rebellion Club in Manchester.
Skarlett Riot were opening up the proceedings and they well and truly rocked the joint with their brand of hard rock and melodic metal. Drinkwater tamed the crowd with constant interactions and conversation, even including a declaration that Manchester is one of the bands favourite cities to play in, all of which attracted a response which only went to cement that theory I’m sure.
The band were slick and fluid throughout, the riffs were crunching and delivered with purpose and intent while Luke Oglesby was like a caged animal, pounding out his duties with flair and flamboyancy while crawling all over his kit in order to gain a better vantage point in moments of pause. Danny Oglesby stalked the stage, manipulating his strings with dexterity and passion while the thicker strings were being reprimanded by Chambers with a muscular agility and accuracy. ‘Breaking The Habit’ was powerful and raucous in the most controlled of ways while ‘Stronger’ was absolutely mesmerising, a future rock anthem which showcased the vocal range from Drinkwater, angelic with a blackened tinge to the core of each syllable she exuded.
This had well and truly been a welcomed return to a Mancunian stage for all that were familiar with Skarlett Riot before tonight, and a successful introduction to all who weren’t acquainted with them before. An energised and contagious set from an obviously ecstatic British Rock contingent, bring on the next gig with a flyer emblazoned with their moniker on it, I for one simply cannot wait.
As the stage was transformed in anticipation for the headliners the venue swelled with copious amounts of eager and excitable figures all of whom spanned a truly diverse and eclectic landscape of rock and metal aficionados and were residing in the Manchester venue for one common goal, to be well and truly battered by the Moldovan Metal maestros.
Once the lights dipped and we caught our first glimpse of the striking and piercing dreads of Lena Scissorhands the energy went through the roof. ‘The Realm Of Chaos’ battered us from the off, the vocals were caustic and pure in equal measures, delivered with pride and passion which was compelling and enthralling while the bass was well and truly disciplined and restrained by Lane, an absolute majestic pillar on the left wing for the majority of the set.
‘The Answer Is You’ was crunching and allowed us to witness the full vocal abilities of Lena while she unleashed her dreads in a controlled manner which resembled the colourful flares which we are more accustomed to witnessing on the fifth of November. ‘The Answer Is You’ was delicate yet barbaric and ‘Never To Return’ was my own personal highlight of the evening. Vidick was an absolute maestro of his dreadlocks, managing to orchestrate an intricate and energetic display from his cranium extensions while still navigating his fretboard and strings with precision and flare and was enthralling and captivating beyond this world.
Latest opus ‘Time’ made up the majority of the set and while it was really good to see these new tracks get the airing they deserve it was really good to hear the classics being represented in the absolutely colossal and marathonic set list tonight.
Another fabulous evening spent with Infected Rain and an evening I can’t wait to replicate over and over and over again.
