The Irish rock band Inhaler came out with their new album, “Cuts and Bruises” on Feb. 17. With a full 11 songs of Alternative/Indie rock music it takes you on a rollercoaster of catchy songs, stuff that you can just vibe with. The band gives you songs that you’ll put on repeat for the next month. Their debut album went No. 1 in Ireland and the UK. They replicated what they did in their last album back in 2021, “It Won’t Always Be Like This,” but made it better. It really shows the growth the band has made since their last album.

The symbolism behind the songs in this album is easy to miss but gives a whole new meaning to the album. Although the band stuck with their certain style of music in this album instead of something new, their style still did wonders. You can tell everyone was in sync. The drummer, Ryan McMahon, always keeps the song steady and coordinates with the rest of the crew. The bassist, Robert Keating, is also really talented, especially in songs like, “When I Have Her On My Mind.” Of course, guitarist and vocalist Elijah Hewson led these songs. 

“Just To Keep You Satisfied” is the first song of the album and kicks it off with a bang. It’s something you can really vibe to. What’s great about the song is that it’s good to listen to normally as well as use it as background music. It gives you the urge to bob your head wherever you are. If you’re out in a public setting, it’s something that will drown out all the noise. It’s a great song to listen to and a great starter song for the album.

“If You’re Gonna Break My Heart” is another good song. This song is slow and steady, another song you can vibe to. It makes you feel almost a little emotional because it talks about the weight of relationships while keeping the surface layer of a slow, relaxing song. It also shows another essence of rock music at its finest.

“These Are The Days” changes the game compared to other songs in the album. Unlike the others, the chorus is very fast-paced and catchy. You can tell this song is just an instant classic, keeping you upbeat and happy. This is by far my favorite song out of the entire album. It has meaning behind it, saying to make the most out of the days you have now and to go crazy, in a good way. This song is, in my opinion, a piece of art.

All of these songs are just a few of the many good songs in the album “Cuts and Bruises.” Most of the songs in the album are songs that you can tune in and out of. They are fun to listen to and are something you can really vibe with. This album shows what the rock band Inhaler has on the horizon. This is only their second album, and if they’re this good early on and get on the top charts in multiple countries, they will soon dominate the music industry. This album is living proof of the future that beholds Inhaler.

Truthfully, I came into this album with low expectations. I had originally never listened to Inhaler before and when I heard it was a rock band from Dublin I was skeptical. But after listening to this album, it actually knocked my socks off. It exceeded my expectations and is great to listen to. There are only a couple of songs that are unremarkable, but other than that, the rest of the songs are bangers. If you’re into rock or just need something to listen or relax to, this is great for you.

“Cuts and Bruises:” ★★★★☆