Afternoon my friends and apologies for the tardiness, what with raging cats and kittens, work, and daily household stuff, I am a bit frazzled. Never mind though, after a hellish two years, we eagerly await the start of 2022, because there you will find several albums calling out your names.
Today, it’s our Welsh cousins Scarlet Rebels, now I first came across these guys through www.greatmusicstories.com that effervescent cauldron of delight that brings us the latest on the Modern Rock scene, so harness the rebel in you and let us all see through blue.
‘I’m Alive’ kicks things off nicely, polish your stomping boots and get jiggy with it people! The anticipation is palpable here; we eagerly wait as the train keeps a-rolling with one shot in the arm after the another. The grand master of the mic is Wayne Doyle, who along with his merry cohort provide a sound that is typical of the hard Rock style, yet it is fresher and tastier in its execution. The heartfelt ‘Take You Home’ reaches out to the outcasts, the lost and the lonely, drawing on the familiarity of the old favourites, and placing itself neatly in the future favourites. The songwriting is in house which is evidence that new music is a viable and productive option; writers and composers are ready to share their work. Sadly, like many things there is an exploitative element in music that needs to be addressed to allow for fairness and equality. This is the band’s second album; maturity is key, using the decrepitude of a nation at breaking point, the songs are unassuming, uplifting and unifying.
The liberating and incredibly joyous anthem ‘These Days’ is a fan favourite, timeless and invaluable in your music library. The words ‘these days man I’m just here holding on’ are poignant and captivate the feelings of a populace that is teetering on the edge. Enough has been documented about the exceptionally cruel and vile state of affairs we face, but music is the one place we can unite, we can elevate our lives to a position of worth and sustenance, all through the vehicle provided by our artists. There is an upcoming tour scheduled for the New Year, if the situation allows, a precious opportunity to support the music scene at a time when it is most vulnerable. The penultimate track is the rip-roarious and utterly glorious ‘Everything Changed’ a sweet little earworm that will nestle happily in your head forever. We go over the finish line with the title track, and what Scarlet Rebels have provided is a thoughtful, perceptive yet stimulating and dynamic set of songs that are true, brave, and accurately portray what life has become. They say you need to walk in a person’s shoes to know how they feel, these guys have walked in ours, they have lived on the fringes, they have witnessed the despair.
When you’re on your knees, praying for sight, I’ll leave a light on my friends.
Merry Christmas and a peaceful festive season.
Azra Pathan
Scarlet Rebels – See Through Blue out 28th January 2022 via Earache Records.