FIRST TIME HEARING MOLDOVAN METAL MONSTERS! Infected Rain - VIVARIUM - Reaction

[@RussInCanada]

Background: Lena (Elena Cataraga) is Moldovan born, moved to Italy as a teen, now lives in Las Vegas. Spent about 12 years working as a make-up artist and hairdresser (where she was pinned with her nickname). She speaks 5 languages, is vegan, does modeling and works as a professional dog trainer.

[@chriso6719]

Had a feeling you would like this band. They do have others that will probably hook you. I almost inadvertently saw them in concert a couple years ago. They were opening for Stitched Up Heart and Butcher Babies, I wanted to see Stitched Up Heart, but couldn't make the show. Yes, this is the newest single, the 4th from the upcoming 6th album, Time. Record is due out Feb 9. The 1st 3 are "Dying Light", "Never To Return", and "Because I Let You". Heard some older songs, but haven't done a deep dive yet. A few I have heard, and can recommend, are "Mold", Black Gold" , and "The Realm of Chaos" feat Heidi Shepherd (Butcher Babies).

[@RussInCanada]

Fun fact: she had not sung, ever, before joining Infected Rain. She got a dvd by metal vocal coach Melissa Cross, and eventually took lessons from her, where she learned how to sing and scream without hurting herself.

[@Iamsmallfry]

I finally got to see them in November in Kansas. They were opening for Wednesday 13, but I was there to see Infected Rain. I got to meet everyone except Vadim. Got to talk to Eugene the drummer on the sidewalk for a little while. I can’t wait for them to catch the current and get headlining tours like Jinjer, etc. I’m 51 and have lost 125lbs over the last year or so. I did it by just becoming obsessed with walking. In turn, my most listened to playlist is called, Walking Metal. There’s a lot of Lena and IR in it. I love Routine, Sweet Sweet Lies, fighter, Me against you (with Tatiana), and the cover of Slayer’s Stain of mind among a plethora of other songs. But to be honest, I can just put on her/their playlist and go for 5-10 miles. Or search, “feat. Lena Scissorhands” and get a bunch of songs other bands feature her on.

[@ThePentagenarian]

That is very cool! I've started walking more and more myself because I need to lose about the same. Playlists are so important for that kind of activity. As always I appreciate the comment!

[@RussInCanada]

YAYYYY!

[@RussInCanada]

This bass player, Alice Lane, is a recent addition. From Italy, her other band is a really cool female metal trio called Hand Of Juno.

[@RussInCanada]

She has many facets. Here's a list of favourites: With Moldovan duo, Seas On The Moon: The Regress. Sanctuary. The Rule Of 21. Bad Omens. Opium. Another. With Death Dealer Union: The Vow Of Silence. The Integument. Ill Fated. Borderlines. With Infected Rain, her main band: Because I Let You. Highly recommend. Serendipity. Orphan Soul. Black Gold. Post Mortem part 1. The Earth Mantra (both official video and live from Devil's Dozen). Storm (live from Devil's Dozen, 100% clean vocals). Never To Return. Fighter. That should keep you busy for a while.

[@RussInCanada]

Devil's Dozen is pretty interesting. Last year, while cooped up, Infected Rain decided to film an entire high production virtual concert, and just upload it as a treat for the fans. It will be released soon as a Blu-ray disc.

[@ekkanofiqandriyana7325]

Iam a big fan of them since about 2010 My favorite songs are Judgemental Trap (highly recommended) No Idols (very short song but so fun and catchy as heck and the riff is soooo gooooooood) Orphan soul (very very powerful song)

[@SteveSmith-os5bs]

6 years a go, I became a fan of a Ukrainen band called Jinjer. This led me down a rabbit hole that brought to Infected Rain and Ignea. The Eastern European bands are really amazing. I think it is because they have a different perspective on life.

[@ThePentagenarian]

I agree completely. I am a fan of Drunk. One of my biggest regrets as a reactor is that I saw the Pisces video by Jinjer before I became a reactor. LOL

[@RussInCanada]

Lena and Tatiana are pals.

[@RussInCanada]

If I had to narrow it down to 2 suggestions for each band, I'd go with: The Vow Of Silence, Borderlines. Because I Let You, Serendipity. The Regress, Sanctuary. Definitely read her lyrics, she has a gift with words.

[@MetalForever895]

Orphan Soul & Dying Light are must listen songs from them.

[@danw6048]

I am glad you discovered Lena Cataraga, one of my favorite female metal singers with harsh vocals. She is not quite with the trinity of Tatiana Shmayluk (Jinjer), Fernanda Lira (Crypta) and Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy) but she is right behind, along with Mayu (Nemophila). It looks like others have provided some background on Lena, so I won't repeat any of it. I would be interested in your reaction to Crypta. They are a no holding back, brutal Death Metal band from Brazil. Fernanda is the bassist as well as the vocalist, and they have a great two guitar attack as well as a fantastic drummer. They have only released two albums, the most recent released this past August, and I own both of them. I will be seeing them live next month at a fairly small venue in Dallas. They are headlining with one local support band so I am looking forward to a lengthy set. If you are interested, here is a link to their song Lord of Ruins from their most recent album Shades of Sorrow - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqK1l4ljorKsi9E

[@ThePentagenarian]

Thank you very much for the information, comment, and Link. I will definitely be checking out Crypta.

[@RussInCanada]

New video just dropped! "Lighthouse" And still recommend "Because I Let You".

[@ThePentagenarian]

Check in around 1p, Eastern US time... :-)

[@RussInCanada]

@@ThePentagenarian Awesome! I'll save this surprise for after work!

[@reneedevry4361]

I only recently discovered this band from another reacter "Matt's Mosh Pit". It was this very song and while I know he has an interview with Lena, I have not checked it out yet. (Been very busy on the Dimash front the last few days plus checking out the threads of the cool Middle Eastern music you recently introduced me to😅🤭) I really like the sound of this song but agree that there is nothing here that would blow my mind. I really like Lena's clean vocals but am only slowly warming up to her harsh vocals. Might be the timbre but not sure.🤔 I really love the interesting lyrics, which is tricky to notice on a first listen. I also thought the video was fairly creative. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge as I knew nothing about the origins displayed in the music.😏 Thank you🔥🫶🔥 🥰🥰Best wishes from a Canadian Dear🇨🇦

[@RussInCanada]

Matt's interview is really good. I've been binging on her music for several months, and honestly there's stuff I like more than this song. She leans more into the harsh vocals with IR. For a more even use of cleans, I'd suggest her work with Seas On The Moon. Death Dealer Union has her singing with a more 80s shred sounding band.

[@reneedevry4361]

@@RussInCanada Thank you very much. I appreciate the heads up on the clean vocal song to try next.👍 I will likely check out the interview this weekend on my big screen.❤️

[@RussInCanada]

@reneedevry4361 I bought the Death Dealer Union cd, and have listened to it continuously. First thing I saw of her was the Borderlines video, and I've probably watched that 30 times. For solely clean vocals from her, Storm, live from Devil's Dozen.

[@RussInCanada]

I've watched a bunch of interviews with her, and my takeaway is that she's an incredibly sweet, smart, thoughtful person that is very gracious with interviewers. She has a lot of integrity and carefully chooses music projects, and is constantly approached with products to endorse, and she turns down most of them if she has never actually used them, or if she thinks the connection will reflect poorly on her or her band. She really is the Gwen Stefani of metal. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJnHl6aIbt9ggbssi=w6dXB4MhJwHBi1mc

[@hiawatha.g]

Eastern Europe is producing some of the best metal in the world. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in the former Soviet bloc, and life is pretty grim for a lot of people there. It may help explain groups like "Infected Rain". The name of the band is partly inspired by their living in the radiation footprint of Chernobyl.

[@RussInCanada]

I'm pretty sure Lena said they're the only rock band in Moldova. There were literally no clubs to play in, and 'colourful' people like her got looked down by the older Soviet generation. The name does make sense when Chernobyl is taken into account.

[@hiawatha.g]

@@RussInCanada there are other rock bands there but this is by far the best one I know of.