Scarlet Rebels – Show Your Colours
Wales has always kept a musical welcome in its hillsides and vales (put two or more Welsh men or woman together and they’ll immediately start a choir).
It also has quite the reputation for producing big voiced belters (the late Mr Secombe, Sir Tom and Dame Shirley, to name but three) and highly imaginative or hugely successful rock acts (Super Furry Animals/ Stereophonics) but those hillsides and vales are equally alive today with the guitar-led sounds of rock-metal, hard melodic rock, heavy blues rock and a pretty healthy Indie/ alt-rock movement.
The latest contemporary rock act from Cymru to declare their sonic intent are the Scarlet Rebels, via debut album Show Your Colours.
And, not to put too fine a point on it, this is one seriously strong offering, musically, sonically and lyrically (these ‘Rebels aren’t singing for the usual clichéd rock and roll causes; front man Wayne Doyle’s lyrics are as strong and well-conceived as the songs themselves).
That Show Your Colours (perfectly named; the album showcases the quintet’s musical wares to the full, from rock-metal to hard melodic rock to infectious hard pop-rock to power balladeering) is such a weighty offering shouldn’t come as a surprise given the band were formed from the core of earlier outfit, V0iD, featuring Wayne Doyle, power-hitter drummer Gary Doyle and the purposeful bass lines of Wayne "Pricey" Esmonde.
V0iD popped out three albums between 2009 and 2015 but when the Doyle boys and Esmonde were joined by lead guitarist Chris Jones and second guitarist/ keyboardist Josh Townshend (son of The Who guitarist Simon Townshend and nephew of the other Who guitarist – someone called Pete, apparently) a name change and more song orientated focus followed.
The results are a far stronger band at every level with Show Your Colours emphasising those strengths from the get-go through the one-two opening salvo of 'No-one Else to Blame' (a vibrant, high-energy slice of contemporary rock that slaps down world politics – "pointing fingers here and there to get away from your own mistakes") and 'Take My Breath Away,' a huge, hooky slab of top-notch melodic power-rock that became an air punching fan favourite as soon as it appeared in the set lists.
The various rebellious tones of the Scarlet ones then manifest themselves through the rocking boogie of 'Head’s in the Ground' (Wayne Doyle pinning his laudable, reactionary colours to the mast – "fake news that turns into your gospel; building walls won’t ever solve your problems…"), the southern affected blues rock cry of 'Part Of Me' and the atmospheric 'Heal,' which builds to a clever, and not a little emotive, two-voice finale.
Beyond those different musical shades the chorus harmonies and hooks keep on coming, via the high powered, up-tempo trio 'Let Your Love Go,' 'Nothing to Say' and the sing it loud declaration that is 'Save Me.'
The band then dial it down before building it back up in a chorus crescendo and crying in sympathy lead guitar for 'Blinded by the Pain,' one of a number of songs that are, thankfully, starting to emerge in rock and pop about the issues of depression, mental health and the dangers therein ("everything I thought I knew just failed before my eyes… if I took this magic pill I’d be leaving you behind…").
'Shattered Dreams' is another weighty and highly contemporary proposition, built on a hard hitting, repeating drum pattern and a wall of shimmering guitars (the Scarlet Rebels go three guitars deep when Wayne Doyle straps on his six-string); the quintet then showcase their hard pop-craft credentials on 'Can I Open My Eyes' (the band’s Stereophonics moment).
'Returning Light,' which builds from voice, acoustic guitar and piano beginnings to develop in to a warmly uplifting ballad of emotional release (lyrically the song deals with loss and bereavement) closes out what is, for FabricationsHQ, the best contemporary rock release of the year, bolstered by an excellent production (with a great drum sound) from Tim Hamill and some tasty, what-the-song-needs lead work from Chris Jones.
And here’s the kicker, folks, it gets even better when you include the two digital/ streaming only bonus tracks 'Losing End' (the 'Rebels in melodic power-pop mode) and 'Radio Song,' a stupidly infectious number that belies its cynical but on-the-money manufactured wannabees lyric ("hungry for you to know who they are, what they want, what they’ve done and how they’re the Coming... everybody’s waiting for your radio song").
Couldn’t have written it better myself (and I have; many times).
In summary? This is how to Show Your Colours on a debut album.
Well lush, it is.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
It also has quite the reputation for producing big voiced belters (the late Mr Secombe, Sir Tom and Dame Shirley, to name but three) and highly imaginative or hugely successful rock acts (Super Furry Animals/ Stereophonics) but those hillsides and vales are equally alive today with the guitar-led sounds of rock-metal, hard melodic rock, heavy blues rock and a pretty healthy Indie/ alt-rock movement.
The latest contemporary rock act from Cymru to declare their sonic intent are the Scarlet Rebels, via debut album Show Your Colours.
And, not to put too fine a point on it, this is one seriously strong offering, musically, sonically and lyrically (these ‘Rebels aren’t singing for the usual clichéd rock and roll causes; front man Wayne Doyle’s lyrics are as strong and well-conceived as the songs themselves).
That Show Your Colours (perfectly named; the album showcases the quintet’s musical wares to the full, from rock-metal to hard melodic rock to infectious hard pop-rock to power balladeering) is such a weighty offering shouldn’t come as a surprise given the band were formed from the core of earlier outfit, V0iD, featuring Wayne Doyle, power-hitter drummer Gary Doyle and the purposeful bass lines of Wayne "Pricey" Esmonde.
V0iD popped out three albums between 2009 and 2015 but when the Doyle boys and Esmonde were joined by lead guitarist Chris Jones and second guitarist/ keyboardist Josh Townshend (son of The Who guitarist Simon Townshend and nephew of the other Who guitarist – someone called Pete, apparently) a name change and more song orientated focus followed.
The results are a far stronger band at every level with Show Your Colours emphasising those strengths from the get-go through the one-two opening salvo of 'No-one Else to Blame' (a vibrant, high-energy slice of contemporary rock that slaps down world politics – "pointing fingers here and there to get away from your own mistakes") and 'Take My Breath Away,' a huge, hooky slab of top-notch melodic power-rock that became an air punching fan favourite as soon as it appeared in the set lists.
The various rebellious tones of the Scarlet ones then manifest themselves through the rocking boogie of 'Head’s in the Ground' (Wayne Doyle pinning his laudable, reactionary colours to the mast – "fake news that turns into your gospel; building walls won’t ever solve your problems…"), the southern affected blues rock cry of 'Part Of Me' and the atmospheric 'Heal,' which builds to a clever, and not a little emotive, two-voice finale.
Beyond those different musical shades the chorus harmonies and hooks keep on coming, via the high powered, up-tempo trio 'Let Your Love Go,' 'Nothing to Say' and the sing it loud declaration that is 'Save Me.'
The band then dial it down before building it back up in a chorus crescendo and crying in sympathy lead guitar for 'Blinded by the Pain,' one of a number of songs that are, thankfully, starting to emerge in rock and pop about the issues of depression, mental health and the dangers therein ("everything I thought I knew just failed before my eyes… if I took this magic pill I’d be leaving you behind…").
'Shattered Dreams' is another weighty and highly contemporary proposition, built on a hard hitting, repeating drum pattern and a wall of shimmering guitars (the Scarlet Rebels go three guitars deep when Wayne Doyle straps on his six-string); the quintet then showcase their hard pop-craft credentials on 'Can I Open My Eyes' (the band’s Stereophonics moment).
'Returning Light,' which builds from voice, acoustic guitar and piano beginnings to develop in to a warmly uplifting ballad of emotional release (lyrically the song deals with loss and bereavement) closes out what is, for FabricationsHQ, the best contemporary rock release of the year, bolstered by an excellent production (with a great drum sound) from Tim Hamill and some tasty, what-the-song-needs lead work from Chris Jones.
And here’s the kicker, folks, it gets even better when you include the two digital/ streaming only bonus tracks 'Losing End' (the 'Rebels in melodic power-pop mode) and 'Radio Song,' a stupidly infectious number that belies its cynical but on-the-money manufactured wannabees lyric ("hungry for you to know who they are, what they want, what they’ve done and how they’re the Coming... everybody’s waiting for your radio song").
Couldn’t have written it better myself (and I have; many times).
In summary? This is how to Show Your Colours on a debut album.
Well lush, it is.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ