Wishing Well
Chasing Rainbows
Inverse Records
2016
Wishing Well are a Finnish hard rock band, debuting with the album “Chasing Rainbows” this month. A leadoff single “Hippie Heart Gypsy Soul” came out last month, featuring Graham Bonnet on vocals.
While the band seems to be fairly competent and crafty when it comes to melodies with the guitars especially being on fire, the vocalist PJ Goodman sounds like a slightly better Blaze Bayley… which I’m not sure how some people might take.
“Chasing Rainbows” is a nice hard rocker with a 70s style that opens the album, but the style changes quite rapidly for the second cut “Science Fiction” that sounds like some bad “Virtual Eleven” demo that was left out of the album. Decidedly more metal that is.
The aforementioned “Hippie Heart Gypsy Soul” has a rather range challenged and obviously vocally corrected Graham Bonnet on leads, who fares somewhat better on the chorus, but sounds pretty mediocre on the verses. Not a bad track, but… “Sacrifice” ain’t bad too, but it takes the bands HR and makes it ten times heavier and doomier.
“Luck is Blind” is not too bad as it’s nifty and elevated tempo makes it more endearing, plus its nice chorus doesn’t hurt either.
“I’ll Never Let You Go” is a quirky ballad that has some folk inspired portions mingling with pianos etc., but could have been delivered with more passion I think.
“Sands of Time” almost mocks the intro of “Da Ya Think I ‘m Sexy” by Rod Steward (seriously?) before it goes heavy metal and is rather enjoyable, but not really the showstopper and that repeated RS inspired lead is rearing its head more than once.
“Holy Mountain” feels like someone stole bits of Ozzy’s “Perry Mason”, rhythmically and then tried to write something Manowar-like on top with a singer that doesn’t quite have the vocal prowess to pull it off.
Last but not least, “Fire in My Soul” is a heavier handed acoustic song that fits Goodman’s voice better an somewhat reminded me of a certain Steven Harley ballad from a few years back.
While it’s not bad song wise, the album is held slightly back by the vocal performances which aren’t bad per ce, but are not going to inspire mad responses either. Still quite worthwhile to check…
While the band seems to be fairly competent and crafty when it comes to melodies with the guitars especially being on fire, the vocalist PJ Goodman sounds like a slightly better Blaze Bayley… which I’m not sure how some people might take.
“Chasing Rainbows” is a nice hard rocker with a 70s style that opens the album, but the style changes quite rapidly for the second cut “Science Fiction” that sounds like some bad “Virtual Eleven” demo that was left out of the album. Decidedly more metal that is.
The aforementioned “Hippie Heart Gypsy Soul” has a rather range challenged and obviously vocally corrected Graham Bonnet on leads, who fares somewhat better on the chorus, but sounds pretty mediocre on the verses. Not a bad track, but… “Sacrifice” ain’t bad too, but it takes the bands HR and makes it ten times heavier and doomier.
“Luck is Blind” is not too bad as it’s nifty and elevated tempo makes it more endearing, plus its nice chorus doesn’t hurt either.
“I’ll Never Let You Go” is a quirky ballad that has some folk inspired portions mingling with pianos etc., but could have been delivered with more passion I think.
“Sands of Time” almost mocks the intro of “Da Ya Think I ‘m Sexy” by Rod Steward (seriously?) before it goes heavy metal and is rather enjoyable, but not really the showstopper and that repeated RS inspired lead is rearing its head more than once.
“Holy Mountain” feels like someone stole bits of Ozzy’s “Perry Mason”, rhythmically and then tried to write something Manowar-like on top with a singer that doesn’t quite have the vocal prowess to pull it off.
Last but not least, “Fire in My Soul” is a heavier handed acoustic song that fits Goodman’s voice better an somewhat reminded me of a certain Steven Harley ballad from a few years back.
While it’s not bad song wise, the album is held slightly back by the vocal performances which aren’t bad per ce, but are not going to inspire mad responses either. Still quite worthwhile to check…