Infected Rain / The Underworld / London
A school night train ride down to the ‘big smoke’ for a show I did not want to miss, with Infected Rain playing at the iconic Underworld in Camden. Located on Camden High Street, conveniently right opposite the tube station, the Underworld if located in the basement of The World’s End pub. It’s a compact venue, with a capacity of abut 500 but it has hosted some of the biggest names around including the Foo Fighters, The Offspring, Placebo, Queens Of The Stone Age, Radiohead, Reef, Sepultura, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden and Fall Out Boy playing here. Its dark and full of atmosphere and character, with a triangular stage tucked away in the far corner of the room. Its become one of the foremost metal venues around.
First up on stage are North London locals Secreum who are Sonny Antoniou (vocals & guitar), Deano Coldham (guitar), Nicholas Meeks (bass) and Shawn Tillett (drums), and what a treat they served up. The set was packed with powerful riffs and pounding drums, with some wonderful bass work from Nicholas that was an incessant assault on the audio senses.
What I ,loved was this is a band that can deliver some the best hardcore thrash metal, but mix it in with a fun, light hearted style and approach. Frontman Sonny was brilliant, not just interacting with the crowd but joking and larking about. I loved seeing a band totally at ease, part of the crowd simply enjoying their material to the max.
Perhaps my favourite track from the set was Voice of Reason for which they were joined on stage by Charlotte Jones, who does all the work behind the scenes keeping things ticking along such as the artwork & design. But a talented singer too, adding a great additional element to their sound.
By the end of the set, the place was getting to capacity, and the heat was rising, mainly from the frantic, energetic set from Secreum. A great set up for the night and a band well worth seeing.
Setlist
Venomous
Trapped From Within
Clouds
Voice of Reason (with Charlotte Jones)
Unspoken
Next up were Skarlett Riot, a four piece hailing from Scunthorpe. Formed in 2010 they released their self-titled first EP in the November. They are Chloe "Skarlett" Drinkwater (vocals), Danny Oglesby (guitar), Luke Oglesby (drums) and Tim Chambers (Bass). I last saw Skarlett Riot onboard Thekla in Bristol back in 2022, when, along with Sigkret, they supported Mushroomhead on their UK tour. (A memorable night with the venue staff crazily trying to tape bin bags over all the monitors and wires between Skarlett Riot’s set and the headliners to save the electrics from the waterdrums lol). I thought that Skarlett Riot delivered a great set that night.
Initially I wondered about their inclusion here. Back in 2020 I really enjoyed their set, but I wouldn’t have classed it as particularly heavy and it seems on paper a funny fit. But, I’m more than happy to be proved wrong. The last couple of years have seen Skarlett Riot develop and flex their muscles, and tonight’s show is a much heavier performance than before. Danny delivers some cracking guitar solos and heavy riffs and Chloe prowls the stage with a broad grin from ear to ear as she delivers some seriously good vocals.
Skarlett Riot remain that more heavy rock feel, but the metal edge certainly cuts through the performance now much more than before, and their new style is seriously good. Again, like with Secreum, the performance is tight and its clear they simply LOVE what they do.
Setlist
Chemicals
Breaking the Habit
Gravity
Luminate
Stronger
Underwater
Human
The Underworld is living up to its name now, and is seriously hot. I’m beginning to think this might be the first level in Dante’s inferno. We’re all sweating and we haven’t even started with the main act !
Infected Rain are a heavy metal band formed in 2008 in Chișinău in Moldova on Napalm Records. They released their first album “Asylum” in 2011 and their latest title “Time” came out earlier this year. Infected Rain are Elena "Lena Scissorhands" Cataraga (vocals), Vadim "Vidick" Ojog (guitar), Eugen Voluta (drums) and Alice Rain (bass).
A band on the rise that have a reputation for incredibly energetic stage shows, with their signature dreads (Elena and Vadim) and fresh from their recent performance at Bloodstock they step out tonight onto the humble boards at the Underworld to huge cheers and applause.
Once again, we’re presented with a band that are tight…… air tight and latest band member Alice (joined 2023) fits right in. Indeed, I thought her bass was one of the highlights of the set, deep, heavy and incessant – grinding out some brutal bass rythyms, and doing it with some style !
Infected Rain are a brilliant visual spectacle as well, with both Elena and Vadim swirling their dreads around impressively at every opportunity. Right at the front with the camera I can confirm dreads can hurt lol ! Vadim doesn’t stand still all night and commands the stage, switching sides hammering out some insane riffs.
All this going on, and then we have Elena. Her striking yellow dreads and tattoos creating an impressive visual presence, as well as knocking out some stunning vocals, with an impressive range.
Infected Rain have the whole package. The current lineup are tight and work well of each other, knowing where each other are on stage, and the timing is absolutely spot on. Their sound is heavy, but crisp and clear and then there’s Elena’s vocals, soaring over the top while they deliver a visual metal show to be proud of.
Watching them its hard to believe they are playing somewhere so small, but this is a band that loves their craft and are at one with their fans. Music made for huge arenas and festivals, that’s equally at home in rock clubs as well.
By the end, performers and fans alike are dripping. The energy in the room is electric and there is a real buzz (no pun intended). Watch out for Infected Rain, they are going places, and its somewhere you’ll want to be !
Setlist
A Second Or A Thousand Years
The Realm of Chaos
Pandemonium
Vivarium
Fighter
The Answer Is You
Paura
Lighthouse
Orphan Soul
The Earth Mantra
Dying Light
Never to Return
Because I Let You
Encore:
Enmity
Sweet, Sweet Lies
