(Album Review) Wildfire - Loreen
- Narukoopa
- Jul 3
- 11 min read
Well, it’s been a long wait. Full of uncertainties and doubts that we would ever be graced with a new album, but it’s finally here. Some of us have waited longer than others for this time to come. I’ve been lucky, as I only really became a big Loreen fan around 2023.
For those who have been a fan for a lot longer, some of you might have been waiting for nine years, as that was when Loreen’s last album Ride was released. I thought my wait was unpleasant, but that just sounds like torture.
Alas, the waiting has finished. Released on the 27th of March 2026, Wildfire is the third album Loreen has released, and it contains already released songs such as Tattoo and Is It Love, but packaged together with a plethora of new music. We’re used to getting one or two songs a year from Loreen, so having this much in one go is crazy.
It’s definitely her most intense album thus far, which is to be expected with a name like Wildfire. Nevertheless, you have techno club beats, fast-paced synth driven action, some heartfelt ballads and a few powerful anthems. Dare I say one or two of these songs are some of the best pieces of music she has released.
Instead of waffling on further I’m going to go into each song individually. I’ll be talking about my overall thoughts on them, showcasing details that I liked and parts that I was less impressed with. At the end I’ll list my overall ranking of the songs, with my final thoughts on the album as a whole. Without further ado, let’s begin.
Where Do We Go From Here
The opening track of the album serves as a rather fitting introduction to Wildfire. It’s also a song that’s better appreciated when listening to the whole album. On its own, Where Do We Go From Here is a song that builds and builds, but then seems to stop at the end. However, if you were to continue to the next song, you would see where that buildup leads to.
Similar to Lose That Light, the tempo is slow without too much evolution in the track. The only exception to that is the conclusion, where all the elements of the song crash into each other. It’s a dramatic ending. Details like this are what make it stand out.
Feels Like Heaven
Easily the most exciting song in the album. One of the main writers behind Feels Like Heaven was Sia. This track was originally meant for her, and you can honestly tell. It’s loud, bombastic and emotionally-charged in the best possible way.
The intensity never stops. As soon as the first chorus plays, it’s a constant charge. Funnily enough, Feels Like Heaven also doesn’t have a bridge before the end, but I don’t think it needs it. The whole song feels like a rallying cry. It has a repetitive sense that’s fully purposeful to drive the message home.
It’s easily one of the most standout songs in the list, and I can see it being one of Loreen’s most successful recent releases. It’s highly accessible and incredibly memorable. The enunciation of the lyrics is a little poor, but the delivery of them is impactful enough to move past it.
Weapons
If there was an award for the coolest song in the album, I would give it to Weapons and it wouldn’t even be a competition. I love everything about this song. It has the same level of intensity as Feels Like Heaven, but a much sharper edge and tone.
Those synths are not to be trifled with and they are unlike anything I have ever heard from Loreen. It feels like you are being punched repeatedly, especially during the bridge where every line feels like another hit.
I’m not making this sound pleasant, but it really is, trust me. I was blown away the first time I heard it because I never would have expected it. It’s the most surprising song in the album, and it’s the best kind of surprise. More stuff like this please Loreen, thank you.
Is It Love
Well this might be controversial. I’ve put Is It Love as my tenth place for one painful reason. It’s too short! It’s so annoying because I really like everything in this song. I love how the music video and the instrumentation are a tribute to her Moroccan roots. In regards to that music video, it is excellent, please watch it.
Her vocal in this track has such a wide range, showing off her high notes while also providing an earthy tone to the verses. The instrumental is fantastic throughout the whole thing with so much variety in the track.
It gets better and better, and then it just ends after the second chorus. Everytime I listen to it I’m expecting a big finish, but it just stops and I can never figure out why. If it had a better finish, it would be much higher in the list. Regardless, Is It Love is a great song, and it still ended up being successful despite my grievances.
Can’t Pull Me Down
Can’t Pull Me Down is another one of Loreen’s songs that follows the two minute format she seems to have adopted in recent years. There’s the opening verse, then the chorus, then the second verse, and then the song closes with the second chorus.
It’s a format I’m not massively keen on because it gives a false sense of buildup without a satisfactory payoff. Can’t Pull Me Down is a victim of this, and it’s a shame because it’s not a bad song. In fact, it leaves quite a strong impact. I love the way the synths mix with her voice in the louder parts of the song. It is a seamless blend that feels empowering to listen to.
But it’s my least favourite song here because it doesn’t really evolve at all. What’s there is great, but when compared to the other songs in the album, it plays things safe. While I also appreciate the message behind it, the edge that the song has isn’t what I come to Loreen’s music for either. Regardless, it's a solid effort.
Melt
Similar to Can’t Pull Me Down, Melt is another song that I like, but again, is not the kind of thing I go to Loreen for when I want to listen to her music. This is the only song that is marked as ‘explicit’ in the album, and while I think it only barely justifies that tag, I can see why it’s there, and eh, it’s alright.
One thing I really like about Melt is the buildup to the chorus. There is a lot of tension in the track, and Loreen’s vocal tone during it is immaculate. It’s very intimate, which reflects the meaning of the song, and the backing instrumentation gives it an extremely effective buildup.
The chorus itself, however, is fine. It does noticeably evolve in the second chorus, but it feels a bit flat. While I did just say I like the tone of the song, that tone stays the same throughout, and, as horrible as this might sound, the beat during the chorus sounds reminiscent of music you would hear at the gym. I do like it, but I don’t listen to it often.
Wildfire
This one is definitely a grower, and it’s unlikely to notably impress you on first listen. It’s very unique from anything else in the album, and it’s also the longest track. Wildfire is reminiscent of some of Loreen’s earlier work from 2017, while also containing other, more modern, elements.
There’s a bit of a hip-hop beat mixed with atmospheric synths and a sultry vocal. In all honesty it’s hard to describe what the song is to someone who hasn’t listened to it, without just calling it a “vibey” track, but that’s really what it is. It’s the kind of song you play when driving at night, or in a relaxed setting.
It’s not for everyone, but I love it. One of my favourite aspects of the song is the introduction of the ethereal-sounding backing vocal in the second half of the song. It’s a subtle harmony that adds so much to the ambience. Everything in Wildfire is built around atmosphere. Go in with that expectation and you will be pleased.
Coming Close
I’m going to say this right now, Coming Close is my favourite song in Wildfire by a long-shot. I heard this live a year before it was officially released, and I have been dying for it to come out ever since I first heard it. It is one of my favourite songs she has ever released.
I love everything about it. The vocal tone is delicate, the buildup is sublime, and I love the way she harmonises with the instrumentation throughout the chorus. That last part especially is such an incredible detail and I think it’s what makes this song as special as it is.
I also think it has the best lyrics in the album. I really love the message behind it, especially in the final portion of the song which is full of emotion. It’s also one of Loreen’s favourites, so that tells you something. If you were to only listen to one song in the album, please make it be Coming Close.
Set Me Free
Out of all of Loreen’s two minute-ish songs she has made in the past, Set Me Free is by far my favourite, and it’s actually one of the songs I listen to the most in this album. It’s an uplifting track that feels incredibly anthemic, and it’s something I play in the background if I need to get in the mood for something or if I’ve had a crap day at work.
It’s one of the louder tracks in the album with a lot of momentum constantly pushing it forward. It kicks into high gear almost immediately thanks to the impeccable synths. I can’t get enough of the instrumentation. It’s an earworm, and it’s a good one.
I really do wish the song had a final moment, but regardless it still evolves itself as it goes on. The second chorus, while similar to the first, adds extra details with enough variation to satisfy. I really hope an extended version of this song is released though because I can’t get enough of it.
Tattoo
The one that started it all. It’s crazy how it has been three years since Tattoo was released, and it’s taken this long for it to appear in an album. It was always going to be the most iconic song in Wildfire. It did win Eurovision after all.
There isn’t much else I can say about Tattoo that hasn’t already been said. It’s her most successful song for a reason. A strong build-up with an even stronger conclusion. That final chorus still remains as one of the best choruses I have ever heard.
It’s far from my favourite song she has made, but it’s an incredibly strong track, and it is beautifully tailored to her voice. Plus it served as an entry point to Loreen’s music for many people, so it’s impossible for me to not appreciate it.
Lose That Light
This one stands out in the album because it is the only song that features another artist, that being 6LACK. It’s also unique in genre, in that it’s by far the most gentle track in this list. A duet, piano ballad which you don’t often hear from Loreen.
It’s a heartfelt track that works beautifully for both of their voices, which intertwine perfectly with each other. I especially like the part near the end when the track takes on this ethereal atmosphere. I also think Lose That Light features some of the strongest lyrics in this album.
Instrumentally it doesn’t change much. The piano is the main star of the show here, which is very much the point. It’s not one I listen to on a regular basis, but every time it comes on I greatly appreciate it, and I’m glad Loreen tried something different with this one.
Kiss The Sky
This might be an uncommon opinion, but Kiss The Sky is one of my personal favourites of the album. More specifically, it’s second in my ranking. I’m not sure I could fully explain why that is either. There’s just something about it I really love.
It’s a very techno song that’s driven further by its atmosphere. I know I like to use that word a lot in this article, but a big part of Loreen’s music is the atmosphere and the way it not only varies but also enhances everything in the song.
In some ways, Kiss The Sky feels old school, and maybe that’s what stands out to me. The way the song uses brief dubstep segments to separate the verses from the chorus is really unique, and the final stretch of the track is truly magnificent.
True Love
An outstanding conclusion to Wildfire that’s not only a love letter to Tattoo, but also to her journey from Eurovision up to this point. True Love is one of Loreen’s most powerful ballads and, given that she hasn’t really made a ballad in a while, makes this song a big deal.
Going back to that point about Tattoo, though, there’s a few similarities between the two songs. Firstly, the chord progression is nearly identical in the verses, and some of the instrumentation from Tattoo is reutilised here. There’s also lyrical references spread throughout the song.
The whole track feels like a tribute. To herself, her discography and to her fan community. It’s been created from the heart and is filled with genuine authenticity. It was a long wait for Wildfire, but songs like True Love make that wait feel more than worth it.
Ranking
13th. Can’t Pull Me Down
12th. Melt
11th. Lose That Light
10th. Is It Love
9th. Where Do We Go From Here
8th. Set Me Free
7th. Wildfire
6th. Feels Like Heaven
5th. Tattoo
4th. True Love
3rd. Weapons
2nd. Kiss The Sky
1st. Coming Close
Conclusion
And there we have it. Was it all worth the wait? I realise the potential bias I have when it comes to talking about Loreen because she is my favourite artist. Given that I am also not a music expert by any means whatsoever, perhaps take everything I say with a grain of salt.
Another thing worth mentioning is that there are many who are not as receptive to Loreen’s recent shift in her music approach. Tattoo is her most successful song, and while I do think it’s an outstanding song, it is in some ways, a safe pop song. As a result, a lot of her recent music is produced in a similar vein.
If you were to compare Wildfire to either of her previous albums, the difference is astonishing. On the contrary, people had their reservations when Ride was released, with very similar complaints about the music being too different from what Loreen has produced in the past.
In my opinion, what we have here is an artist who is willing to evolve and experiment. Her three albums represent three different stages of her career, and the fact that she is willing to challenge herself and risk being divisive is what makes her remarkable.
I wouldn’t even call anything in Wildfire safe, either. They do feel like modern songs with a mainstream feel, but there is a wide variety in the methods of their production. They showcase the best of her vocal talent while retaining the compelling atmosphere that her music is known for.
Songs like Coming Close and True Love are absolute standouts not just in the album, but in her career. Weapons, Feels Like Heaven and Set Me Free bring the intensity and are very likely the most memorable tracks in the selection.
Wildfire, Kiss the Sky and Where Do We Go From Here feel a bit more experimental and bring their own unique aesthetics. While I do think there are missed opportunities with some of the shorter songs, they’re all enjoyable to listen to.
If I was to compare it with her previous albums, I would say Wildfire is the weakest of the bunch, but that’s mainly due to my personal taste in music. My main complaints with the album are some of the songs being too short and lacking an impactful conclusion, and the odd track feeling a bit too disconnected to what I usually listen to from Loreen, such as Can’t Pull Me Down and Melt.
Taken as a whole package, Wildfire was absolutely worth the wait, and I am looking forward to whatever direction Loreen decides to take her music career into next.
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