Album Review: SKARLETT RIOT - Regenerate

01. Break

02. Closer
03. Stand Alone
04. What Lies Beneath
05. Calling
06. Affliction
07. Outcast
08. Paralyzed
09. The Storm
10. Warrior

Back in 2012, I organised the last ever Godless Festival in Stoke-on-Trent, which was an all-day Rock and Metal festival featuring loads of up and coming bands across two stages. A promoter e-mailed me and said that he had a Rock band booked at a venue up the road, and was worried about the clash. He suggested that he should cancel his show if I could squeeze them onto mine instead, so that they'd get a better turnout. I agreed and put them on. I had never heard of them before, but I remember not only how good they were, but how friendly, polite and professional they were too. That band was Skarlett Riot, and I've followed them ever since.

After several years of hard work, and some seriously great music, Skarlett Riot signed a deal with Despotz Records, and have recently released their second album, Regenerate.

Since their debut album, they seem to have moved away from their Classic Rock sound towards something a bit more Metal, with occasional bursts of Thrash, over the last two EPs, and this new album is a continuation of that progression. Lead singer Skarlett's voice lends itself well to a melodic, almost Pop style, and I think that she's been wise to keep doing her thing vocally, instead of trying to go down the path of shouts and growls. Her melodic vocal style still works very well with the heavier music, and gives it a 'Hayley from Paramore fronting Stone Sour' kind of vibe.

Regenerate is a very strong album, and what I really like about it is that it's less than 40 mins long and you can listen to it in it's entirety without skipping songs or getting bored. Every song is catchy, well crafted, and the production is excellent. It's hard to pick favourites, but at the moment I'd go for Stand Alone, Calling and Paralyzed, but as with all great albums, that's subject to change.

All in all, Regenerate is a remarkable achievement and Skarlett Riot can stand alongside peers from major labels with confidence. Their music is very marketable right now, and I can see them getting a lot bigger over the coming months, and success couldn't come to a nicer, harder working bunch of musicians.