Since their formation in 2012, the Dublin-based band Inhaler has now released three studio albums. Their most recent album, “Open Wide,” was released on Feb. 7 after many teasers on social media. One difference is evident in their sound this time around, though. Inhaler has clearly transitioned from their older indie-rock sound into a poppier, upbeat one.
This change in genre is likely credited to the main collaborator of the album, producer Kid Harpoon. Music lovers are familiar with Harpoon — his work with Harry Styles, Florence and the Machine and Calvin Harris has distinguished him as a successful producer of pop and alternative music. As a Styles fan myself, I can hear similarities between “Harry’s House” and “Open Wide,” so I am enjoying the genre-switch Inhaler is currently undergoing. Fans of Inhalers might not be as excited about their new album. Although multiple songs retain their rock sound, other tracks may be viewed as pop fillers.
The compelling opener, “Eddie In The Darkness,” kicks off “Open Wide” with intensity. The ringing guitars paired with lead singer Eli Hewson’s reverberated vocals create a brooding, slow-building anthem. I already sensed that the album is composed of tracks that are stadium-ready, but the song flies under the radar, keeping the album grounded and mysterious.
The selected singles for early release are some of the album’s highlights. “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)” is perhaps the best radio of them all, with its catchy chorus staying stuck in my head the most after listening to the album from start to finish. The tracks released during the fall, “Your House” and “A Question Of You,” are also strong pop-rock tunes. Inhaler’s experimentalism is first showcased here—with danceable synths and gospel choirs filling the background, the tracks feel like a steep departure from their old sound. I was lucky enough to hear these live during Inhaler’s Minneapolis show at the Fillmore on Oct. 27, 2024. They were a good first impression of the album and did not disappoint live.
My favorite tracks aren’t the singles, though. Blanketed under the pop-rock are songs that sound like The Smiths if they went electro-pop in the 80s. In “Even Though,” Hewson sings about a doomed relationship while jingly electric guitar riffs reverberate throughout the track. Fans of UK-based Sam Fender will surely enjoy this one, along with the similar-sounding tracks in “All I Got Is You,” “Concrete” and “The Charms.”
The experimentation builds into the back half of the album. “X-Ray” begins with almost a Western bassline, while “Again” touches on the vulnerable side of the band. A pounding piano riff plays along with poignant lyrics — “It’s life, it’s heavy, tears at your sleeves sometimes.” The lyrical introspection was one of my favorite characteristics of the album, as I hear growth and maturity in not only their sound but in their songwriting.
The album closes with a more rock-leaning track in “Little Things.” The strong closer sticks close to Inhaler’s roots, reminding listeners that although they’re evolving as a band, they’ll never stray too far from where they came from. I thoroughly enjoyed the album from start to finish and was equally pleased with the singles released in late 2024 to the album as a whole package. I wouldn’t be surprised if Inhaler finally breaks into the mainstream after “Open Wide,” as its catchiest tunes will be irresistible to new listeners.
“Open Wide:” ★★★★★
