Most bands talk about “sacrifice,” but Stellvris is actually living the wreckage of what it takes to bloom from the shards of a broken lineup. Nicol sits down with Chris to expose the “Illusion of Success” that modern labels demand you perform on social media. From operatic cleans to bone-shattering growls, she reveals why the “Madonna Playbook” is more relevant to metal than you think. If you want the unfiltered truth about the cost of the road, you’re in the right place.

👉 JOIN THE VIP INNER CIRCLE: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

- The “Madonna Playbook”: Mixing Pop Sensibilities with Pure Rage
- Operatic Cleans vs. Harsh Vocals: Nicol’s Brutal Transition
- The Shatter and Bloom: The Ugly Truth Behind Band Politics
- The Social Media Trap: Living Online vs. Experiencing Life
- The “Illusion of Success” and the Private Jet Myth

WATCH "TIME'S UP" HERE:

Buy Stellvris’ SHATTER & BLOOM HERE: https://amzn.to/3ZWGmJH

🔥 SPONSOR GEAR:

Van Halen 76-92: https://amzn.to/4oaeFqr

Black Sabbath 70-75: https://amzn.to/4oUeEIg

Sammy Hagar Residency: https://amzn.to/48gl3qj

📚 CHRIS AKIN’S VAULT:

Call Me Chris: https://amzn.to/4aFj8Ni

🛒 OFFICIAL MERCH:

CMS Pint Glass: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/listing/cms-pint-glass

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Cameo (Custom Video): https://www.cameo.com/chrisakin

Substack (Audio Feed): https://cmspn.substack.com

Follow on X: https://www.x.com/cmsrocks

Saturday Night Live: THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW is Live Saturdays 9pm-3am EST on Rumble/Locals.

Moldovan modern metal force Infected Rain have released the official music video for their brand new single "Stranger." The track offers the first glimpse into the band's upcoming musical chapter and marks the beginning of a new creative phase for the group as it continues to evolve its sound.

GET INFECTED RAIN'S ENDORPHIN ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/411fUzj

Vocalist Lena Scissorhands explains the inspiration behind the song: "'Stranger' came from the moment when you realize you don't fully recognize 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 the "Mutation Phase" tour across Europe and the UK, co-headlining alongside Butcher Babies. Kicking off on March 25 in Glasgow, the tour will bring the band's explosive live show to audiences across the continent, featuring a mix of fan favorites 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 U.S. 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."

Formed in Chișinău, Moldova, Infected Rain have become one of the most distinctive and rapidly rising acts in modern heavy music. Fronted by the charismatic and powerful Lena Scissorhands, the band blends elements of modern metal, metalcore, nu-metal and alternative influences into an intense and emotional sonic identity.

Over the past decade, the band has built a global following through relentless touring and a series of acclaimed releases, including albums such as Endorphin, 86, Ecdysis, and TIME. Known for their explosive live performances and emotionally charged songwriting, Infected Rain have appeared on major international festival stages and toured extensively across Europe and North America.

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.

TOUR DATES:

MUTATION PHASE TOUR 2026: WITH BUTCHER BABIES SUPPORT: BLACK SPIKES
3/25 — Glasgow, UK — Slay
3/26 — Newcastle, UK — Anarchy Brew
3/27 — Manchester, UK — Club Academy
3/28 — London, UK — O2 Academy Islington
3/29 — Bristol, UK — The Fleece
3/30 — Birmingham, UK — O2 Institute
3/31 — Southampton, UK — The 1865
4/1 — Brighton, UK — Concorde 2
4/3 — Kortrijk, Belgium — DVG Club
4/4 — Nijmegen, Netherlands — Doornroosje
4/5 — Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany — Easter Cross Festival
4/7 — Essen, Germany — Turock
4/8 — Mannheim, Germany — Alte Feuerwache
4/9 — Paris, France — La Machine
4/10 — Lyon, France — La Rayonne
4/14 — Toulouse, France — Metronum
4/11 — Barcelona, Spain — Salamandra
4/12 — Madrid, Spain — Mon
4/15 — Milan, Italy — Legend Club
4/16 — Zurich, Switzerland — Dynamo Saal
4/20 — Vienna, Austria — Szene
4/17 — Lindau, Germany — Club Vaudeville
4/18 — Munich, Germany — Backstage
4/23 — Hamburg, Germany — Bahnhof Pauli
4/19 — Budapest, Hungary — Barba Negra
4/22 — Warsaw, Poland — Hybrydy
4/24 — Copenhagen, Denmark — Pumpehuset
4/25 — Stockholm, Sweden — Kollektivet Livet
4/28 — Helsinki, Finland — Ääniwalli
4/30 — Kopervik, Norway — Karmøygeddon Metal Festival

MUTATION PHASE 2026 IN THE U.S.:
5/4 — Lubbock, TX — Jakes
5/5 — Austin, TX — Come And Take It Live
5/6 — Dallas, TX — Club Dada (Outside)
5/10 — Daytona, FL — Welcome To Rockville
5/12 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade
5/13 — Greensboro, NC — Hangar 1819
5/14 — Virginia Beach, VA — Scandals Live
5/15 — Baltimore, MD — Zen West
5/16 — Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts
5/17 — New York, NY — Mercury Lounge
5/19 — Millersville, PA — Phantom Power
5/20 — Rochester, NY — Montage Music Hall
5/21 — Lakewood, OH — The Winchester
5/22 — Columbus, OH — The King Of Clubs
5/23 — Westland, MI — The Token Lounge
5/24 — Joliet, IL — The Forge
5/26 — Denver, CO — The Roxy
5/27 — Salt Lake City, UT — Metro Music Hall
5/29 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
5/30 — Portland, OR — Star Theater
6/2 — San Jose, CA — The Ritz
6/3 — Los Angeles, CA — Whisky A Go Go
6/4 — San Diego, CA — Brick By Brick
6/5 — Mesa, AZ — The Rosetta Room
6/6 — Las Vegas, NV — Swan Dive

INFECTED RAIN ARE:
Elena "Lena Scissorhands" Cataraga — Vocals
Vadim "Vidick" Ozhog — Guitars
Alice Lane Pandini — Bass
Eugene Voluta  Drums