The South Wales group, Scarlet Rebels, have unveiled their new album titled Where The Colours Meet as a follow-up to their highly acclaimed See Through the Blue. True to form, they’ve neither become complacent nor taken the easy route. Instead they have built on that rock solid foundation and with additional keyboards, in keeping with the 80s rock base, they sound the same but different. As frontman Wayne Doyle says, “This album is a melting pot of lyrical themes and sonic elements – from mental health to love and dreams, from piano and sitar to joyful bells – so it’s truly where the colours meet.”
They have also included a couple of tasty co-writes: the first is with the delightful Elles Bailey (who also happens to have an album out at the same time, called Beneath the Neon Glow, reviewed here on RAMzine too.) The track is ‘Out of Time’; a power ballad that wipes the floor with many of that ilk as Wayne and Elles have a beautifully handled musical conversation. The guitar solo carries that conversation on so cleverly too.
Of a more rocky nature, the closing song, ‘My House, My Rules’ was a written with Ricky Warwick and it kinda shows in the way it soars but the Rebels make it very much their own. The drum fills and guitar solo make for a great listening experience on top of the melodies.
Elsewhere we get the tubular bells backing in the rocking ‘Declining’. ‘Let Me In’ and ‘Practice Run’ have been performed live for a while and now make a studio appearance without losing the energy. ‘Streets of Fire’ is a Springsteen-ish structure with bite, both musically and lyrically. The current favourite is the true heavy rock delight that is ‘Divide and Conquer’ with a great riff and acidly accurate lyrics.
Another very strong album that shows growth and maturity without losing the fire and grit we love them for.
Where The Colours Meet is out now via Earache Records.
