Album review: SCARLET REBELS – Flawed By Design

Earache Records [Release date 13.11.26]

No pressure on the lads in Scarlet Rebels as their previous album, 2024′s ‘Where Colours Meet’ made the Albums of the Year selections for myself and fellow scribes, Karen Clayton and Andy Nathan. Amazingly this is Scarlet Rebels fourth album to date, and their lineup is the same, namely Wayne Doyle (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gary Doyle (drums), Chris Jones (lead guitarist) and Carl Oag (bass), with the album produced again by Chris Clancy.

“I want us to be recognized for the depth of our material,” says Wayne. “I want us to be known as a band that writes heartfelt songs that resonate and touch people. We want to move people physically, but we want to move them emotionally too.”

Scarlet Rebels have such a knack for penning memorable, hook filled rockers like ‘This Is Happening Now’ and ‘Don’t Look Down’, the latter one of 2026′s songs of the year. No real surprise that these two were amongst the four singles released ahead of the album.

Like a Welsh Foo Fighters, with a touch of Nickelback (less that band’s often cringey lyrics) and with the spirit of The Alarm, Scarlet Rebels manage that special feat of not only sounding modern but having plenty of musical references from the 80s and 90s rock scenes. A sonic banger like ‘Run’ being a prime example of this and got to love that soaring guitar solo midway through.

The album’s pace is relentless, with ‘Let It Out’ and ‘Fool Your Heart’ – a live favourite in the making – just prove the band are at the top of their musical game. To be fair, ‘Fool Your Heart’ is a tad slower than the rest of the album, a modern power ballad with a full-on sing-a-long chorus.

Never in any doubt really with a band as talented as Scarlet Rebels that we have another album of the year contender in ‘Flawed By Design’. Play it loud, enjoy the tunes and catch them live if you can, as this band are one of the best UK rock bands out there currently. ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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Josh now hosts “Taerk’s Tracks” as part of the Singer Songwriter Sunday sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.

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Power Plays w/c 26 October 2026

BLACK RIVER DELTA Shame On You (Despotz Records)
DAYTONA Listen To The Silence (Escape Music)
SUCKERTRAP Sacred Lies (indie)
WOOD BURNT RED Count My Blessings (indie)
BLACKLIST UNION Heavy Is The Crown (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 26 October 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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