Their most introspective album to date. That is how Llanelli’s Scarlet Rebels have described their fourth record, Flawed By Design. Beneath the upbeat hard rock that the band has crafted over three previous releases sit poignant, personal and emotional reflections on life.
Scarlet Rebels – Flawed By Design
Release Date: 13 November 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
Where the Colours Meet, their third album, showed real progression in songwriting. Now locked in tight, Flawed By Design demonstrates a further step forward for Wayne and Gary Doyle, Carl Oag and Chris Jones.
Opener God’s Honest Truth raises questions that Wayne asks in the deep lyrics. “At the time of writing, I was going through the loss of a friend and contemplating what the point of it all was. If we are the product of a higher power or higher being, then I considered how can anyone ‘almighty’ allow that sort of thing to happen.
“Which led me to think that – in order for any higher power to allow that, then surely, they themselves are flawed… Does Humanity, as the ‘creation’, also inherit the same quality? If so, with the birth of AI becoming a thing that Humanity has created, we would also pass that trait into what create…”
As an album opener, it works fantastically well and immediately takes that deeper dive.
Anthems follow thick and fast. Such is the Rebels’ style that you can easily sing along to all their songs. This Is Happening Now and Don’t Look Down are both fast-paced, full of hooks and melody in classic Rebels style.
Underneath, though, do not forget that the social political views of a band whose hometown, a Welsh market town with a history in industry (the tinplate industry powerhouse in the 19th century), reflects many of the challenges faced by similar places across the UK today.
Frustration, reflection and despair all feature. Looking at a world where the plan is clearly designed by those who want to keep the working man in the inevitable loop, the Rebels bring their lens to focus on the way the world is changing and directed.
“We then watch how the highest powers of society have designed a way of life where the ordinary man gets stuck in the everyday cycle, living to work, putting our trust in these people to act in our best interests, whilst that trust gets taken advantage of.
“Whilst they all play by their own rules, using and hiding behind the apparent ‘gospel’ that was written centuries ago, to justify their actions.”
Chains is the fourth track and followed the opening trio as part of the teasers for the album. It is worth checking out the video shot at their triumphant Chepstow Castle show in August. Another emotive anthem, it is a song that epitomises all that is good about this band. Some hot guitar work from Jones works a treat.
As well as the upbeat power that they can bring, Rebels can add a melancholic vibe to songs. Stuck is one such number here. A darker song sees Wayne bring one of his most heartfelt performances whilst Jones’s fretwork is once more impressive, sharp and crisp.
Although they have a distinctive sound and follow a formula, each Scarlet Rebels song has a slightly different approach and style. Hanging On A Rope is similar to those before it in many ways, yet there is enough here to make it stand apart. Such is the way the band delivers.
And Happy Ever After, for me one of the standout tracks on the album, switches in subtle ways. It has a glorious hook, beautiful melodies and my favourite solo. Measured, bluesy and delicate, it is a song that sums up the band in under four minutes.
And if you want a final anthem, a word I appear to have used many times in this review, then the lighter aloft moment comes on final track, Fool Your Heart. Surely a radio-friendly track for the future, Rebels close out with one more heart-melting track which has some Magnum tones to my ear.
One of the best bands to come from Wales in recent times, Flawed By Design shows a natural progression. Good production, crisp playing and well-composed songs.
In a world of average hard rock, this is an album that stands high above many. A third assault on the UK charts is surely inevitable.
Record store tour tickets | Live tickets | Pre-order Flawed By Design | Scarlet Rebels official website
Flawed By Design UK In-Store Tour 2026
The band will mark the album’s release with seven record store dates between 13 and 18 November, mixing stripped-back performances with full-band shows. The run begins at Derrick’s Music in Swansea and includes Huddersfield, Leeds, Kingston, Cardiff, Wrexham and Oxford.
Wayne says: “Being able to get in front of and meet everyone that’s stood tall for us for so long is really important to us. Being able to strip the songs back to their barest nature as well as having a few full band shows gives us and our Rebel Club the opportunity to celebrate the release of Flawed By Design in style.”
- 13 November – Derrick’s Music, Swansea
- 14 November – Vinyl Tap, Huddersfield
- 14 November – Crash Records, Leeds
- 15 November – Banquet Records, Kingston
- 16 November – The Globe (presented by Jacaranda Records), Cardiff
- 17 November – The Parish (presented by Jacaranda Records), Wrexham
- 18 November – Truck Records, Oxford
Scarlet Rebels 2026 Live Dates
- 25 November – The Tivoli, Buckley (supporting Tyketto)
- 26 November – The Polar Bear, Hull
- 27 November – Independent, Sunderland
- 28 November – Winterstorm Festival, Troon
- 29 November – Picturedrome, Holmfirth (supporting Tyketto)
- 1 December – The Black Box, Hastings (supporting Tyketto)
- 2 December – The Waterloo, Blackpool (supporting Tyketto)
- 3 December – Queens Hall, Nuneaton (supporting Tyketto)
- 19 December – RPM Christmas Special, Morecambe (with The Virginmarys, These Wicked Rivers, Kit Trigg, LN and more)
Scarlet Rebels 2027 UK Tour
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