Moldova’s heavy metal scene is relatively small but has been steadily growing since the 1990s, after the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. During the Soviet period, access to Western rock and metal was extremely limited, so the first Moldovan bands developed only after 1991, influenced by thrash, death, and gothic metal from Europe.
One of the earliest notable acts was Infected Rain, formed in Chișinău in 2008, blending metalcore, nu-metal, and melodic elements, and becoming the first Moldovan metal band to gain major international recognition. Other local names include Abnormyndeffect, known for brutal and experimental death/grind, and Cuibul, who started as alternative/rock but influenced the heavier underground.
Chișinău remains the centre of Moldova’s scene, hosting small but dedicated festivals and club shows, often connected with the Romanian and Ukrainian metal communities.
CITIES
FAMOUS METAL BANDS FROM MOLDOVA
Abnormyndeffect
Esperoza
Infected Rain
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