BLENDING THE ORDINARY WITH THE EXTRAORDINARY | INHALER ARE BACK WITH ‘OPEN WIDE’

ALBUM REVIEW | ‘OPEN WIDE’ – INHALER By Keira Knox

Inhaler’s third album, ‘Open Wide,’ marks the band’s transition into 2025 as a whole new entity. The range is as expansive as the title implies, identifying a certain point in time where the Dublin band has the entire world at their feet. Perhaps their greatest asset is their dependability, which has already seen them establish themselves as a mainstay act. Inhaler create tracks of such simplicity, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary. ‘Open Wide’ arrives at a crucial point in Inhaler’s discography, an album that is poised to change the trajectory of their careers.

It is an unabashed melodic redirection, the ideal remedy to “cure these February blues,” and a work of seventies summer enchantment produced by a band at the height of their abilities. It was evident that the band had taken a different turn when they released the album’s first track, ‘Your House.’ The song, which was produced by Grammy Award-winning Kid Harpoon, combines the lively melodies of Harry Styles with the more edgy sound of T.Rex, the latter of which reverberates throughout the album.

The majority of ‘Open Wide’ possesses a similar tone; reinventing Inhaler’s sound and creating a collection of their best work. ‘Eddie In The Darkness,’ the opening track, is the most loyal to Inhaler’s usual sound, however the backdrop of guitars that play out behind the chorus elevates the track to a whole new level. It puts Inhaler’s strongest qualities at the forefront; Elijah Hewson’s vocals take centre stage while Robert Keating’s bass lines reverberate alongside. Follow-up ‘Billy (Yeah yeah yeah)’ might be the most catchy tune they’ve ever created, a standout on the album. Kickstarting the 70s feel for the album, Josh Jenkinson channels his inner Jimmy Page with simplistic guitar playing that leaves you begging for more.

The album’s tunes are fast-paced, with undiscovered gems interspersed with previously published singles. With an instrumentation that trembles through the production before a resolute riff thunders into the chorus, ‘X-Ray’ serves as a reminder that the Dublin lads are primarily a guitar band at their core, indie guitar rhythms still have a strong hold over their sound. ‘Still Young’ demonstrates that Hewson’s melodic intonation is as contagious as ever, leading to a crescendo that oozes a true sense of joy. The backbone of this album is the pulsating drum rhythms courtesy of Ryan McMahon, holding the beat for each track and creating a platform for guitar solos to soar.

Their drive to ‘Open Wide’ is something we haven’t seen before, and they are self-assured, secure in their abilities, and are wholly confident in what they have produced. The industry talks about intriguing bands like Fontaines D.C. or soloists like Sam Fender becoming arena and stadium stars, Inhaler will be a part of that star-studded lineup in no time. The youthful exuberance of Inhaler carries this fresh sense of direction, the band feeling as excited as ever for what lies ahead.

‘Open Wide’ World Tour – UK dates – February 2025