Inhaler – Open Wide

Dublin’s feel-good indie rockers Inhaler are back with their third album Open Wide. Elijah Hewson and Co’s new release is produced by Thomas Edward Percy Hull, AKA Kid Harpoon, known for working with powerhouse musicians such as Harry Styles, Florence and the Machine, and Shawn Mendez.
The group have unapologetically embraced pop on Open Wide, which works in their favour. From the opening piano of the first track, Eddie’s in the Darkness, it’s an easy record to get into and the production is noticeably slick. While adopting the dreamy guitar slides of War on Drugs and the upbeat country rock notes of the likes of Band of Horses, the group hasn’t strayed too drastically from their previous releases but they’ve managed to elevate things.
Hewson’s voice is breathy and soulful, and now and again, when he hits the higher, more powerful notes, you can’t help but hear a bit of his dad in there as well, especially on the Springsteen-esque Still Young – and that’s, of course, nothing to be sniffed at. The second song, Billy, is a softly sung indie pop anthem with an infectious chorus, perfectly contrasting with the opening bassline of Your House, reminiscent of 70s glam rockers T Rex.
Despite the noted references to glam rock and country rock, Open Wide is not a particularly edgy record, and it isn’t in any way attempting to be so. While drawing on outsider influences, the band always bring things back to their own brand of indie soft rock. But, even the hardest rock enthusiast would have a job listening to the album and not bop their head along to the dancy and melodic All I Got Is You or the stadium-ready chorus of X-ray.
The album concludes with the gritty guitar-heavy Little Things, which sees Hewson’s voice go even more Bono than ever and is probably one of the strongest tracks on the record.
Inhaler have already captured the hearts of many, but they could be about to cast an even wider net with the aptly named Open Wide. The young four-piece has already been a no-brainer for fans equally enraptured by bands such as The 1975 and artist Sam Fender, but there’s every chance this new record will bring them an even broader pop-magnetic appeal.
Hannah Broughton
Image: Lewis Evans
Open Wide is released on 7th February 2025. For further information or to order the album visit Inhaler’s website here.
Watch the video for the single A Question of You here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
RSS