Metal maniacs, rejoice! I am proud to present to you: INFECTED RAIN; hailing from Romanian grounds - performing Nu-Metal/Metalcore/Melodic Death Metal, on their 5th album entitled: "Ecdysis" (released 7th of January, 2022). Since formation in 2008; the quintet in question have 5 albums, 1 EP, 1 Demo and 11 Singles in their discography so far. I am introduced to their 5th album entitled: "Ecdysis", 12 tracks ranging at around... INFECTED RAIN arranges an intricately designed formula on some heavy-hitting Nu-Metal/Metalcore/Melodic Death Metal amalgamations.

Opening up with this synthetic but ambient array of techno-like percussive; an extreme yell within "Postmortem Pt. 1" unleashes with ruthless meatiness, shouty remedy & organic persistence from consisting vocalist Elena "Lena Scissorhands" Cataraga. Her cords roar with throaty raspiness, and clean bellows that soar with screaming retribution. The meat & potatoes of the riffing swerves with rampantly rompy finesse in extreme firepower exercise that thunders with pulsating impact, belting a clobbering crunch in harmonic heft and dynamic dexterity from guitar twinning maelstrom extraordinaires Vadim "Vidick" Ojog & Serghei Babici. Both fuel a blistering bombardment in gnarly distortion and amplified adrenaline, as boisterously bouncy calamities rips with weighty punchiness & melodic precision. "Fighter" distills a progressive technicality to it, drilling a chiseling element in hybrid experimentation & strident tightness.

Sulfurous yet volatile substance slays with killer laceration mobility & distinctively distinguished chimes that rift with razor-sharp triggering while trailblazing pandemonium towers with rapidly swift nimbleness, sturdy thuds and crushing reverb that trembles with rumbling virtuosity. Quintessentially grooving a brimming foundation in borderline frenzies, barraging like a battering ram within the wild rusher "Longing". Manifesting with blast-beating bruisers, techno vehemence & riveting revels that showcase an immersive amount of prodigious impact in electronica fueled entrancement. Dense strikes pursuit with frolicking gallops from hammering drummer Eugen Voluta who stomps the set with steely yet rambunctious piledriving, similarly profound with audible bass thumper Vladimir Babici. Both inject an infectiously venomous perseverance on flamboyant heft which seemingly supplies potent vibrancy, bludgeoning aggression and sonic versatility to boot.

"Goodbye" surges with mountainous variety, zestful songwriting musicianship ramifies with nothing but complex craftsmanship ability - enriching eardrums with relentless yet vivaciously berserking brutality - intertwined with this polychordal effect for good measure. There is a lot of that atmospheric forcefield within the thick layers of spectral waves of throttling mettle, while the vocals shroud one with more flourishing diversity that makes this an intensely inventive listen. "The Realm Of Chaos" features a guest appearance from Heidi Shepherd from none other than the mighty BUTCHER BABIES, implementing her signature style of crisp female chords into the mix. Which now catches an interesting furore within yours truly to engage in on this virtuoso quintet, more of that salubrious verve acutely rages on with screaming yet mellifluous malice. While "Everlasting Lethargy" cathartically gravitates with more monolithic mayhem, where tempos slab with solid avant-garde jumpiness.

This concretely gritty fabrication unearths otherworldly stability, synergising with spellbinding pummeling that pounds speakers & souls with bone-breaking tonality. "These Walls" smothers you with wondrous captivation, arming a groundbreaking assault while this monstrously creative contrast fuels a dimensional premise in all things metal. The perfect package should you need a flexibly fundamental fix on this prestigious but ambitiously adventurous project. "Showers" reigns down contorted hints of psychedelia infused havoc, I would say melancholic yet there's only small doses embedded of that. However, an adversely cordial emancipation continues to swathe upon you with authentic attribution and elegantly exquisite sublimity that subjugates you with majestic entrancement, especially in "November". Where this unorthodox transparency overarches with radically wicked trenches of enriching instrumental boundaries, as a futuristic but spacious trepidation takes over with uniquely hypnotic ingredients.

"Never The Same" & the pentultimate track "Nine, Ten" takes a breather from the vastly vitriolic dissimilation in bombing snappiness, using synth-like compression for an alluring yet mesmerising sensation. Similarly revered within the overall concluding epic "Postmortem Pt. 2", finishing off the record with ethereal expertise. Bottom line; I am compelled to say that INFECTED RAIN most surely outdone themselves with this one, an immense but dainty discovery that surely deserves a good few spins while remaining re-playable. An enjoyable but entertaining hour worthy of your time, do check it out.