Stitched Up Heart / Infected Rain – Rochester, NY

Stitched Up Heart and Infected Rain Bring Myth and Mutation Phase to Rochester

***Stitched Up Heart – Montage Music Hall*****, Rochester, NY**

Montage Music Hall hosted a packed Wednesday night of heavy music that balanced melody, aggression, and atmosphere as Stitched Up Heart joined Infected Rain on a bill that showcased two distinct but complementary approaches to modern metal and hard rock.

Stitched Up Heart, fronted by lead singer and band founder Alecia ‘Mixi’ Demner, delivered a focused and visually striking set in Rochester, NY. The lineup also featured Merritt Goodwin on lead guitar, Randy Mathias on bass, and Delaney Jaster on drums, who also happened to be celebrating her 22nd birthday. Mid set, Jaster was surprised on stage with a cake and balloon, a brief moment of celebration that contrasted nicely with the darker tone of the night.

Demner continues to stand out as one of the premier female voices in modern hard rock and metal touring today. Her stage presence leaned into a distant, statuesque persona that matched the evolving aesthetic of the band’s current era, shaped by their recent label change to Judge and Jury Records and the rollout of their upcoming album Medusa, this June. That mythological Gorgon influence came through in the performance. According to Greek mythology, the Gorgons are three monstrous sisters whose gaze could turn people to stone. Medusa is the most well known of the three and has been portrayed in many ways, from a feared monster to a protective symbol, a figure of rebellion and liberty, and even a tragic victim of a curse.

That layered meaning fit the Medusa theme Stitched Up Heart is building toward and added depth to the live presentation. It also aligned with Mixi’s stage presence, which often felt statuesque and controlled, then suddenly powerful when the vocals hit. The result was a performance that balanced beauty and danger, restraint and release, in a way that echoed the myth itself.

Musically, Stitched Up Heart blended hard rock, metal, and emotionally driven melody in a way that translated strongly in the live setting. The set moved through both established favorites and newer material, including “Sick Sick Sick”, “To The Wolves”, and the recent single “Glitch Bitch”. From there, the band shifted into “My Demon” and “Cannibal” followed by “Possess Me” and “Lost” before closing with “Immortal” and “Monster”.

Goodwin’s guitar work was a clear anchor throughout the set. His riffs were heavy, tight, and consistently assertive, giving the songs their metal backbone while still leaving space for melodic hooks to breathe. Mathias and Jaster shaped the rhythmic base with restraint and accuracy, allowing the guitars and vocals to move freely over top.

The set felt a bit too short, especially considering how well the material translated live. There is a strong balance in their sound, heavy enough to hit with force but melodic enough to remain memorable after the show. Demner’s vocal delivery and stage control were central to that impact. She becomes the focal point immediately, projecting confidence and a performance style defined by contrast, not excess or understatement

There is a strong emotional core running through Stitched Up Heart’s newer material, especially in the way cinematic tension builds into explosive release. Their live sound emphasizes that dynamic range, shifting between restraint and full force without losing cohesion. It is the kind of performance that highlights both the weight of the instrumentation and the expressive purpose behind it.

***Infected Rain – Montage Music Hall, Rochester, NY***

Infected Rain closed the night as part of their Mutation Phase Tour 2026, a run that captures the band in a period of transition and expansion. The tour frames their current live shows as a shift between eras, pulling material from across their catalog while also pointing toward what is next creatively. Hailing from Moldova, a place the band is sure you have never heard of, they blend metalcore, nu metal, groove, electronic elements, and emotionally charged songwriting into a style that refuses to sit in a single category.

Frontwoman Elena Lena Scissorhands Cataraga was the clear focal point of the set. Her ability to move between brutal screams and melodic passages felt effortless, and she carried the emotional weight of each song with intensity and control. The rest of the band, Vadim Vidick Ojog on guitars, Eugen Voluta on drums, and Alice Lane on bass, kept the performance tight and forceful, building a strong foundation for her vocal delivery.

The set opened with “The Answer Is You” and “Dying Light” setting the tone for a night built on contrast and momentum. Seamlessly shifting into “Fighter” and “Orphan Soul”, two tracks that continue to anchor their live identity. “Black Gold” and “Stranger” followed, keeping the focus on their more recent material and evolving sound.

Cataraga’s bright orange dreadlocks became a visual focal point throughout the set, her hair flips landing like punctuation between vocal shifts, while Ojog’s blonde dreadlocks were constantly in motion; creating a chaotic, almost octopus like silhouette under the stage lights.

Infected Rain’s set carried a different kind of energy compared to the earlier performances. It was darker and more aggressive, but also empowering, driven by a sense of identity and confidence. There was no sense of compromise in their approach, only a clear understanding of their sound and purpose.

Together, both bands offered a compelling snapshot of modern heavy music, where melody and heaviness are not in opposition but working together. Stitched Up Heart brought cinematic hard rock with emotional punch, while Infected Rain delivered raw intensity with atmospheric depth. It was a strong pairing that left a clear impression of two bands pushing their own lanes forward while sharing the same stage.