Review by Gary Spiller for MPM
It’s been just over two years since Llanelli’s Scarlet Rebels created huge waves by gatecrashing the top 10 of the UK Official Album Charts with ‘See Through Blue’.
My personal album of that year it has been road-tested extensively since with treks right across the UK and even across the Channel but it’s high time for some new material and in the humblest of my opinions they have served up an absolutely delectable rocking platter with their latest dish ‘Secret Drug’.
Coinciding with the announcement of the pre-order of their third album ‘Where The Colours Meet’ (see Press Release here) this single represents a massive advance in musical terms. An industrious statement of intent hewn from the very peaks of Bannau Brycheiniog and Eryri. As with time itself things are moving ever forwards and herein The Rebels employ an expansive broadening of their collective horizons.
This is a band harnessing the energies of what has gone before but preparing to cross over into an increasingly mainstream appeal. Arenas should be on standby as this is where this belter rightfully belongs! Produced by Colin Richardson (Bullet For My Valentine, As I Lay Dying, Slipknot) and Chris Clancy (Machine Head, Kill The Lights, Those Damn Crows, Massive Wagons) ‘Secret Drug’ engages from the very first moments to the closing crescendo.
With a burst of vividity, as vibrant as their brand spanking new logo, lead guitarist Chris Jones leads the herald with a six-string intro, infused with notes beloved of The Who, before the rest of the band, a few seconds later, joins in the morphing romp that shakes a clenched fist or five in the direction of both The Cult and Primal Scream. Frontman Wayne Doyle, in his distinctive tones with more roar than the veritable pride of lions, makes an opening line declaration.
I ain’t got a chemical dependency” he offers before furthering “but I still need to get a taste of what I need!”
Well, this most certainly is a taste of what this scribe requires on this spring-time evening! Driven by the rhythm section of ‘hammer of the gods’ pairing of the ever-pounding Gary Doyle and silky bassist Carl Oag, who has slotted into the Rebel’s ranks seamlessly whilst deputising for Wayne ‘Pricey’ Esmonde, the track swerves down an AC/DC-lined avenue. Agrona, the Welsh warrior goddess, is for certain proud of her charges as they proudly fly the Ddraig Goch from upon high.
It’s quintessentially Scarlet Rebels but the shackles have been robustly shaken off and the brakes released as the widening expanses beckon raucously. CJ’s Les Paul dodging off into Skynyrd inhabited realms, sears a conflagrant southerly course, with heat enough to turn rock into a molten form; hot indeed, very hot. Full of venom and sparking dynamics The Rebels lay down an astral marker for 2024.
‘Where The Colours Meet’ is out on 16th August 2024 and is available to pre-order on limited edition vinyl, signed CD, collector’s bundles and more at earache.com/scarletrebels
Pre-order Album – https://earache.lnk.to/WhereTheColoursMeet
Secret Drug is out now on all digital platforms – https://earache.lnk.to/SecretDrug
