Scarlet Rebels - "Flawed By Design" Album review

Scarlet Rebels - Flawed By Design

Released 13 Nov, 2026

Review by Martin Goulden

Another stellar offering from these Welsh Rarebits—effective yet delicious, and thankfully, nothing too cheesy. South Wales is currently leading the charge when it comes to great UK Rock acts and Scarlet Rebels are right up there with the current cream of the crop.

These Llanelli lads are no strangers to keeping rock music alive and well in the UK album charts. Their 2022 offering, See Through Blue, charted in the top 10, followed closely by their 2024 release, Where The Colours Meet, which landed proudly in the top 20. Following up on that kind of success was never going to be an easy task, but with this latest collection and the various enticing physical packages on offer, the UK Chart may well beckon once again.

Clocking in at 11 tracks deep, Flawed By Design is an album that carries all the signature hallmarks and a definitive sound that instantly represents Scarlet Rebels: infectious hooks, sharp guitar work, and hard-edged rock topped with massive melodies that at times catch you completely off guard. With Wayne Doyle leading the charge on vocals and guitar, brother Gary on drums, Chris Jones working his magic on lead guitar, and Carl Oag holding down the low end on bass, the band has stepped into a bold new chapter and have successfully elevated their sound of rough-edged rock and sweeping anthems to a grander scale.

Kicking proceedings off with 'Gods Honest Truth', which offers a sharp look at the harder dealings of loss, opens by a Sultry Southern-esque riff. Then bang the start of those absolute killer riffs that carry this album along on the journey. It’s a very strong opener indeed, loaded with plenty of light and shade.

'This is Happening Now' keeps that momentum rolling, bearing a slight nod to Stereophonics at the intro before the full 'Rebel Machine' reigns down. That flows right into an instant first-listen favourite from the get-go: 'Don’t Look Down' just oozes attitude. That main riff is nothing short of sublime, and you can already picture it flattening a sweaty crowd in the live scene, though moving further down the track list, you're left thinking you can’t wait to hear every single one of these played live.

The infectious riffs just keep coming and the pace never wavers, hitting us next with 'Chains', featuring lyrics centred around acceptance and the urgent need to move forward. This neatly sets up 'Stuck', another thumping, riff-filled monster of a track. Spread a little Chris Jones guitar wizardry across the top for good measure, and these songs become a genuine gift to the ears.

Reaching the album's midpoint, the sequence flows naturally from one song to the next. The relentless, heavy momentum of 'Hanging on a Rope' and 'Run' keeps the energy tightly locked in, powerfully carrying the record forward without missing a beat.

It isn't until 'Happy Ever After' that the pace eases up, ever so slightly... with the guitars still packing a serious wallop. Bring 'Never Be Enough' into the fold, and the band completely masters that delicate push-and-pull between raw power and tender emotion.

Onto the home straight with 'Let It Out' and 'Fool Your Heart'—the latter being the text book ballad of the album. By the time it fades out, you're immediately thinking it's time for another spin.

The production hits with a sharp, crisp, punchy excellence that is expertly balanced, allowing every instrument to breathe through effortlessly while retaining all of its substance. It’s a powerhouse release that will put Scarlet Rebels right at the front of the Modern British Rock era.

Packed with amazing songwriting, the heartfelt emotion of loss, self-doubt, defiance, and a whole lot more that one can relate to, pair that with some stunning musicianship, I have no doubt this absolute cracker of an album will firmly cement the Scarlet Rebels' rise to a whole new level.