Moldovan modern metal force Infected Rain have released a new video single, "Stranger". The track offers the first glimpse into the band's upcoming musical chapter and marks the beginning of a new creative phase as they continue to evolve their sound.
Built around themes of identity, transformation, and inner conflict, "Stranger" dives deep into the moment of realising you no longer fully recognise the person you have become, pairing introspective lyrics with driving rhythms and the band's sharp, modern metal edge.
Vocalist Lena Scissorhands explains the inspiration behind the song: "'Stranger' came from the moment when you realise you don't fully recognise yourself anymore. It's an inward fight with identity, with the roles you've worn for too long, and the distance that grows between who you are and who you think you should be. In the end, it's about becoming strangers to ourselves, and trying to find the way back".
The release arrives just days before the band hits the road for their Mutation Phase tour across Europe and the UK, co-headlining alongside Butcher Babies. Kicking off on 25 March in Glasgow, the tour will bring the band's explosive live show to audiences across the continent, featuring a mix of fan favourites and brand new material.
Speaking about the new single and the band's current direction, Infected Rain comment: "'Stranger' is part of the Mutation Phase Infected Rain is entering right now. It's the sound of Infected Rain pushing forward, leaving comfort behind, and stepping into something sharper and more direct. This song belongs in the setlist for the upcoming EU and US tours because it represents what the band is becoming. The album is still in progress, but we're proud of where it's heading and wanted to share a first taste of the next record with everyone already now".
With new music on the horizon and a new album currently in progress, the band now enters what they call their "mutation phase" - a period of transformation that pushes their sound into even sharper and more direct territory while maintaining the raw intensity that has defined their impressive career. Link
* Infected Rain - Mutation Phase Tour 2026 with co-headliners Butcher Babies and supporting band Black Spikes:
25 March - Glasgow, UK - Slay
26 March - Newcastle, UK - Anarchy Brew
27 March - Manchester, UK - Club Academy
28 March - London, UK - O2 Academy Islington
29 March - Bristol, UK - Fleece
30 March - Birmingham, UK - O2 Institute
31 March - Southampton, UK - The 1865
01 April - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
03 April - Kortrijk, BE - DVG Club
04 April - Nijmegen, NL - Doornroosje
05 April - Oberndorf am Neckar, DE - Easter Cross Festival
07 April - Essen, DE - Turock
08 April - Mannheim, DE - Alte Feuerwache
09 April - Paris, FR - La Machine
10 April - Lyon, FR - La Rayonne
11 April - Barcelona, ES - Salamandra
12 April - Madrid, ES - Mon
14 April - Toulouse, FR - Metronum
15 April - Milan, IT - Legend Club
16 April - Zurich, CH - Dynamo Saal
17 April - Lindau, DE - Club Vaudeville
18 April - Munich, DE - Backstage
19 April - Budapest, HU - Barba Negra
20 April - Vienna, AT - Szene
22 April - Warsaw, PL - Hybrydy
23 April - Hamburg, DE - Bahnhof Pauli
24 April - Copenhagen, DK - Pumpehuset
25 April - Stockholm, SE - Kollektivet Livet
28 April - Helsinki, FI - Ääniwalli
30 April - Kopervik, NO - Karmøygeddon Metal Festival
* Infected Rain - Mutation Phase Tour 2026 in the US:
04 May - Lubbock, TX - Jakes
05 May - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
06 May - Dallas, TX - Club Dada (Outside)
10 May - Daytona, FL - Welcome To Rockville
12 May - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
13 May - Greensboro, NC - Hangar 1819
14 May - Virginia Beach, VA - Scandals Live
15 May - Baltimore, MD - Zen West
16 May - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
17 May - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
19 May - Millersville, PA - Phantom Power
20 May - Rochester, NY - Montage Music Hall
21 May - Lakewood, OH - The Winchester
22 May - Columbus, OH - The King Of Clubs
23 May - Westland, MI - The Token Lounge
24 May - Joliet, IL - The Forge
26 May - Denver, CO - The Roxy
27 May - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Music Hall
29 May - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
30 May - Portland, OR - Star Theater
02 June - San Jose, CA - The Ritz
03 June - Los Angeles, CA - Whisky A Go Go
04 June - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
05 June - Mesa, AZ - The Rosetta Room
06 June - Las Vegas, NV - Swan Dive
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"I'm quite obsessive, and when I work on music, I can overwork and get myself in trouble. I always had a breakdown when I finished an album, because I drove myself to the brink." - Mick Moss
"This time we're trying not to complicate things too much. We want to have a simple message, but that doesn't mean there will be fewer arrangements or less songwriting..." - Pedro Paixão
"Within this darkness, where there's no light at all, the golden raven still shines. It's not like a perfectly cut statue of Michelangelo..." - Val Perun
"When I make a song, I know I could do it better, but I'm happy with it. It doesn't have to be perfect, and I like it when it's not. That's why I can make it that way." - Rapha Hell
