Release Date March 13th, 2026
Format CD, Digital
Genre Traditional Heavy Metal
Origin Finland
Wishing Well has been grinding away in the Finnish scene for a decade now, ever since they crawled out of the gate with "Chasing Rainbows" back in 2016. Led by Anssi Korkiakoski, these Helsinki rockers have managed to pump out five albums in ten years, which is more than most of these lazy modern acts can say. They’ve built a reputation for blending that old-school Hammond organ flair with traditional heavy metal riffs, never straying too far from the classic sounds of the seventies and eighties. This fifth outing, "Playing With Fire", comes three years after their last record and finds them messing around with more keys and synthesizers than usual at Magnusborg Studios.
"Playing With Fire" is a decent enough slab of rock, but it isn't going to set your speakers on fire. The production is professional, which you’d expect from a band five albums deep, and the mix lets the Hammond organ sit right where it belongs. The tracks fluctuate between heavy hitters like "Valley Of Darkness" and some much softer, melodic moments like "Let Me See The Light". It’s a safe record. It provides the expected blend of power metal energy and classic rock choruses, staying true to the blueprint they’ve been using since the start.
The guitar work on songs like "Train Of Thoughts" shows that the chops are there, and the solos are melodic and well-placed. There’s a certain charm to the way they use the piano and synthesizers this time around, giving a few tracks a bit of a different flavor compared to their older material. The songwriting is focused on those big, accessible hooks that make you want to nod along. It’s clear these guys have spent a lot of time listening to the legends, and they know how to put a professional song together without making it too complicated.
However, the "something for everyone" approach makes the album a bit of a mixed bag. When they go for the softer side on "Rise And Shine", it loses some of the energy that a metal fan expects from a band with a name like Wishing Well. Some of the lyrics feel a bit standard for the genre, and while the performance is competent, it doesn't always hit with the intensity I want when I’m looking for a new metal fix. It’s a comfortable listen, maybe a little too comfortable for its own good at times.
If you’ve been following the band since the beginning, you’re going to find exactly what you like here. It’s an honest representation of where Wishing Well is at in 2026. The closing vibe of "When The Money Starts Rollin' In" wraps things up with a bit of that Finnish melancholy they do well. It’s a fine addition to their discography, even if it doesn't leave me breathless. It’s a professional, mid-tempo journey through the world of hard rock and metal that serves its purpose for a Sunday afternoon listen.
Score: 6.5
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