Home
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Album Review // 2020-11-12

Infected Rain

86

Released: 2017-04-20


I wanted to hear more from Infected Rain, a band I heard was from a small and poor area of the world. This band had to work hard and really want this, for them to become known.

I saw an interview where Lena said she was very proud of this album. That is why I decided to do this one.

"Stop Waiting" and "Silent Movie" are great songs that made it to my first playlist. I was drawn to find out, "Do I like this band overall, or will there be a song here or there that I like?"

The name of this band is interesting. I love rain when it is warm. I see it as energizing and nourishing. Often people see it as gloomy and overtaking. The use of the word "infected" makes me think of something that can't be resisted but is harmful to you. I am not sure what the intention was here. 

I knew I liked Lena, the vocalist. I had been told about her youtube channel, Bananas, and enjoyed watching some of her videos. Quite frankly she seems like an amazing person. She seems like someone who has had to persevere, someone who cares about people, someone that wants to make a difference. And I really liked the vocals I heard from her.

Upon looking around for interviews with the whole band it seems I could only find ones with her. She is very clearly speaking for the band. Maybe people are just drawn to her personality and want to talk to her. I know I always thought she would be a great vocalist to talk to about her musical journey. I couldn't hold back trying to meet her, if ever I get the opportunity. I definitely have a message for her - it is that although I think she is beautiful, it doesn't matter. She is her, and she doesn't need to measure up. She doesn't need to make everyone happy! I think she needs to love herself, and I feel compelled to tell her.

Mood

Overall this album feels like it is positive. It is acknowledging issues and looking for solutions. At times, I find the music to be hyper and kinda crazy!

Album Art

I assumed this picture was Lena, from a distance. But when looking harder, it seems to be another woman. She has no hair and looks like she is in distress. She is almost naked and is hovering, almost like she fell down the stairs but caught herself at the last minute. I don't love this piece of artwork, but I think it gets a point across. 

Vocals

Lena is talented! She is the star of the show, here. (I don't like that dynamic. I prefer that it not be one member stand out, drastically.) She goes all over the place with her voice. From growling, to high screams, to rapping, to whining. Not just anyone can do this. I am not a fan of some of the styles; rapping does nothing for me, nor does the talking-sounding voice. She just does too much in some songs for my liking! She has a beautiful singing voice and a great scream!

Music

The music has a specific sound to it that is obviously them. Certain parts are predictable and then there are parts that go right off the track. Personally, I don't understand the electronic parts.  A lot of times I hear odd sounds mixed in with the rest of the music and it feels out of place. I have to say, almost every song has parts I like. When the parts get put together, it often becomes something I don't like. They are excellent at putting together choruses that are easily remembered. Overall, the music just doesn't stand out to me. It feels busy, but not complicated.

Lyrics

The lyrics seem very authentic. They seem to be coming from a place of trying to understand and move forward in a better way. I like that these lyrics have great purpose. It takes bravery to put your heart out there.

Mold

I think this is referring to the mold that grows in the right conditions, especially when things are left in these conditions too long. Mold isn't good for anyone. I am allergic and have had serious reactions in my lifetime. The point is it is easy to be upset and do nothing to help yourself.

Get up from the couch
Your life is passing by you
Your lazy bones just keeping you down
Heavy limbs imprisoned you
Complaining about everything
You don't move to change a thing
Too busy criticizing, hating everyone
You forgot to become someone

Serendipity

It seems like there have been hard times. Maybe a person is looking at something they could have, but it will be really hard getting there. The tree is visible, but dying from thirst.

Serendipity tree is dying from thirst
My lips are cold, covered in dust
Tired of being silent, tired of being lost
There is only one trail I can truly trust

I can't hide from my past, but I'll change what I'll become
I just need to find what will make my flowers bloom
Unbind my chest from the rough, harsh leather
I'll find my way out to hover like a feather

I like the illustration of removing harshness and blossoming.

Freaky Carnival

These lyrics are a little cheesy but at the same time make sense. It talks about all kinds of crazy things at a circus or freak show, and then basically says that it isn't actually a show. This freaky stuff is your life, your choices.

Here magicians cut ladies to pieces
Dancing with death
Dancing with death
Dancing with death
Making rabbits appear from nowhere
Playing with flames
Playing with flames
Playing with flames

Welcome
This place is magic
Welcome
The truth is tragic
Everything is shiny here
Everything is perfect here

Endless Stairs

I think this is kind of like the mountain that is hard to climb. In this case the stairs are endless. I have had that feeling before. I got through one thing and here comes the next. It sounds like a struggle with depression or anxiety. I know Lena is forward about her mental health struggles.

Tired of staying speechless in the dark, dark corner
Tired of tasting nothing but bitter and sour
Tired of screaming under my breath, under my breath
Tired of this endless pain in my chest
How can I find my way out from these endless stares
I need to find my way out from this heavy trap
I just want to be a flower, swimming in the sunlight, begging for water
I just want to be a tree, stretching up to the sky, carelessly dancing

I like these two illustrations, the flower and the tree, that seem to be free of burdens and full of joy.

Orphan Soul

This seems to be talking about a person that at least feels like an orphan, whether he or she is actually without their parents or not. There are many people that have grown up with rough households and never felt stable, never had solid parents to support them. They found family in friends, or distanced themselves from others. There are those that were tossed around from foster home to foster home, and were abused along the way. Those that had distance between themselves and their parents for various reasons. Some children who were given up with their best interest in mind, but still hurt to not know their parent.

This song speaks to feeling unstable, but moving forward and finding your place. Moving past the crap that surrounded you.

My personal experience was that I always had someone stable in my life at any given time, as a child. My parents had to leave me to attend to my sister who was deathly ill. I cannot blame them for that. I am thankful my grandma and grandpa stepped in to ensure I could still be in school during unstable times.

In another world I would adopt many children and give them a stable place to rest. But I am not even close to what is needed. I fall short. I am thankful and in awe of families that adopt and foster that truly love the children they bring in.

Dear Daddy, I'm coming home
I know you don't remember me
But I used to be your doll
I used to be your princess
Your heart and your soul
I used to be your angel
But, always alone
In an empty house
Of stolen dreams
And broken hearts

Dear Mom, I'm coming home
I hope you are proud of me
I am not alone anymore
I found a reason to live
A reason to breathe
I found a place in this world
For my orphan soul
For my orphan soul
My empty house
Of stolen dreams
And broken hearts

Fool The Gravity

This feels like when you are nervous about trying something. You have been crushed so many times, but you know something needs to change.

Questions and doubts are eating you alive
You want to live but slowly you die

Feel the light dancing, see the reality
Hear your heart screaming, fool the gravity

Breathe in the marmalade sky
Absorb its colors it's divine

Breathe in the marmalade sky
Absorb its colors it's divine

Fear of losing and mistaken again
Will take everything you have and leave you in pain

Close your eyes, no one can see us
Let the new story begin

Close your eyes, no one can see us
Let the new story begin

Intoxicating

The lyrical content is upsetting to me. It happens time and time again. Somehow another person is put on a platform that they don't deserve. You see them as perfect, you follow their every whim. You lose yourself in the process. I think it is about that all encompassing relationship or past relationship that consumes you. Lingering infatuation that distorts reality.

The sore, wanting body
Is curling in pain
The full, greedy lips
Are burning in flames
The thoughts of you
Sweet agonizing torture
I invented you
And you are so perfect
You're perfect
You're perfect
You're perfect
You're perfect
You're perfect

I kinda personally hate the word perfect. I felt like there is no such thing.

The ground vibrates
Beneath my feet
You're in my head
You are so deep
Madness in my veins
Explosions in my brain
Please, please just go away
Cocooned in my own thoughts
I still hear your whispery voice
Intoxication veins
Block my heavy breath
Please, please just go away

The person seems to recognize that it needs to stop but is struggling to put an end to it.

Smoking Lies

I think this is talking about the lies that we tell ourselves. They feed us giving up and not doing any better.

What, what exactly should we do?
Just give up or try harder?
Who, who exactly should we be?
Warriors or fucking cowards
Where, where exactly should we go?
To the dawn or to the sunset?
Who, who do we have to listen to?
Ourselves or corrupt idiots?

Wasting every minute doing nothing
You forgot once you had a dream
Your life became eating and sleeping
Congrats, you're part of the game

Peculiar Kind Of Sanity

This song seems to be working through some powerful things that can own people. Anger, addiction, fear, guilt, negative thoughts about yourself.

Anger and guilt stand out for me in this list. I have struggled with turning every emotion into anger throughout my life. It was just easier. I feel guilty no matter my choices.

Anger is a corrosive acid
Eating you from the inside
Sense of self importance is a narcotic
Addictive and destructive
So what to do and how to be?
Body in a conflict with the mind
There are no rules, no one to lead
No signs of the finish line

The unknown is terrifying
One thing you have to be afraid of is fear itself
Washing away the guilt
One more thing you have to learn is loving yourself
Is loving yourself
The smiles and sparkles are only an illusion
Don't get fooled, open your eyes
Reality is a lie but, there is a solution
You'll need a crystal clear mind

Queen Of The Candy World

Seems to be about what is shown on the outside not reflecting what is actually happening on the inside, or when others aren't watching. Or maybe it is your perceived thoughts about yourself.

When I worked with vulnerable clients in the past, I always thought we should have cameras on everywhere, watching us at work. We should be treating clients respectfully. If someone was watching, you would know there was nothing to hide. Who are you when no one is watching?

Everything has gone too far, this is serious
Your thoughts and speech are delirious
You're not the queen of the candy world
You're a flower with a putrid core
Life is not an endless party
With drugs and men with Bugatti
The game you're playing is theatrical
The game you're playing is theatrical
It's going to end dramatical
The game you're playing is theatrical

You are a nightmare
Dressed like a daydream
No one you care about
Too busy vomiting glam
Disgusting little freak
With a small mind
You make me sick
I can't stand your lies

My Home

Sounds like another person was extremely important. The person(s) isn't helping/supporting. You feel yourself crashing down. It feels like you have lost your home, which should be a place that is comfortable and secure. 

I thought I have you but I feel alone
You are my gravity but now I fall

Fall, now I fall
Fall, now I fall

But I've been following your footprints
Following your leads
But I've been following your footprints
Following your leads

I want to go out and get lost
In the forest in the dust
I want to forget my way back home
And get more drunk the further I go

Playlist Pick

Overall, I can say that this band is a band that will have songs I enjoy, and some that I do not. This album as a whole is not for me. The crazy level in this album was rather surprising to me, and it isn't my kind of crazy. I am sure it fits some people just right.

Orphan Soul will be on my playlist. I like the emotion in this. You get the sense that someone in the band has experienced abandonment. They have had to move on in their life without a parents/family support. I like the layout of this song. Goes along with the emotion nicely. I get it stuck in my head.

I will also put Fool The Gravity on my playlist. This song stays on a path that I liked. I like the message of trying to get past your own doubt.

Overall Rating
4

Readers' Average Rating
5

How would you rate this album?
[Back to Top]