After a fierce debut album in 2021 and an ambitious second album that defied the fatal “sophomore slump” cliche in 2023, Irish four-piece band, Inhaler, released their highly anticipated third album, “Open Wide,” earlier this year. The album brings forth a side of the band we have yet to see with an evolved pop-rock style and a surprising gospel choir. Influenced by a wide range of genres, Inhaler uses “Open Wide” to push away the idea of categorizing their music.
The opening track, “Eddie in the Darkness,” immediately intrigues and pulls you into the raging punk-rock world this song lives in, reminiscent of The Killer’s. The soft vocals in the first verse are instantly contradicted by the powerful and pushy instrumentals that grab hold of the rest of the song, building up an atmosphere full of adrenaline. Everything is taken down when the bridge comes around, with a lyrical focus and climbing background, the two work hand in hand to build roaring anticipation for the last chorus.
The second track, “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah),” almost opposes the style of “Eddie in the Darkness.” With bouncy guitar riffs and romantic lyrics like, “I long to know your mother and sister and brother,” accompanied by Hewson’s begging cadence that effortlessly glides through the song, “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)” brings electro-pop to a new place. The production feels fresh with lush melody and rippling percussion. Track two is the definition of the quintessential addictive Inhaler hit.
The next three tracks are even more upbeat and undeniably danceable, making them a heavenly trio. “Your House” throws the album a curveball with a gospel choir backing Hewson’s vocals. “A Question of You” is driven by the drums and “Even Though” has a groove that feels like the glue that holds the album together. Everything seems to open up with the album’s title track, “Open Wide,” where Inhaler embraces the stadium rock style they’ve normally strayed away from.
Using the album’s midpoint to introduce even more new styles, “All I Got Is You” and “The Charms” bring a retro, folk-rock influence that envelops the two. Being a heavily guitar-driven track, “All I Got Is You” takes you right back to the essence of their early work, while “The Charms” dances around a feeling of desperation with a focus on vocals. Containing lyrics like “And you pierce through my skin but all I got is you” and “I want you always,” the two make quite the sentimental pair.
The second-to-last track, “Concrete,” brings nostalgia to the forefront of the mind. With soft instrumentals that float through the track, lyrics that invoke self-reflection and vocals that drag you along, “Concrete” is the perfect song to listen to when you find yourself overthinking.
“Little Things” finally marks the end of Inhaler’s most sonically explorative album. Bringing everything full circle, the song is filled with gritty guitar, while the softer verses contrast with the heavy choruses, mimicking the structure of the album’s first track, “Eddie in the Darkness.” The high-energy send-off leaves you craving more.
“Open Wide” is a perfect example of evolution without sacrificing originality.