Inhaler - Open Wide
Irish pop-rock band Inhaler claims 'third time’s the charm' with their latest studio album, Open Wide. If you're subscribed to Inhaler’s text notifications, you may have received an early hint about the project through a cryptic message last year. Now, with its release, Open Wide is solidifying the band as one of the most promising indie acts on the scene.
You might not have heard of Inhaler or the band’s lead singer Eli Hewson, but you’ve definitely heard of his father. Eli grew up around rock and roll royalty, his father being Bono from U2. With a mentor like that, Inhaler was bound for greatness. Hewson's musical pedigree set high expectations, and the band appears poised to meet them.
Open Wide cements Inhaler as a dominant indie rock band. Their last two records, It Won’t Always Be Like This and Cuts and Bruises both received positive reception from critics and fans.While their first two albums leaned into grunge and the influence of British and Irish rock bands like Arctic Monkeys, this new record embraces a more polished, pop-driven sound.
The first two singles, Your House and Open Wide show off the band’s evolving sound with a bang. Both songs include layering vocals from Eli, Robert Keating (bass), Josh Jenkinson (guitar), and an additional choir. These layered vocal tracks, along with the guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards, give the listener a sound that transcends typical pop-rock and indie-rock bands. It really provides something unique to the listener, keeping it fresh.
Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah) was singled out as many of the band members favorite track and record and perform, something that you can easily tell with how good the track is. You can hear the band having so much fun through your headphones, something that I think makes the song even better. If you want a good laugh, you can look up live performances of Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah).
Hewson’s vocals reach new heights on tracks like The Charms, where his falsetto adds a fresh dimension to the band's sound. It’s something new that we’ve rarely heard in past Inhaler songs. A highlight being when Hewson sings, “And he will fall into your arms, baby. It’s when I fall into your arms”. Along with his impressive vocal delivery, the emotion in his voice elevates the lyrics and meaning of the album.
The lyrics in the record emphasize feelings of love, vulnerability, and human interaction.
“Love is a terror. I got my arms out open wide”, talks about the willingness to embrace love, even if it might hurt. With an underlying sense of yearning, the album’s lyrics come across as extremely relatable, without being overly specific or sexual.
Despite the band’s sonic evolution, Open Wide still carries the signature Inhaler riffs and bass lines that first drew fans to their music. Tracks like X-ray and Again feature catchy bass lines and memorable guitar riffs, thanks to the contributions of Keating and Jenkinson. The riffs are sure to be stuck in your head for days.
Fan reception of Open Wide has been mixed. Some fans miss the more rock and roll feeling of Cuts and Bruises and songs like Dublin in Ecstasy, claiming that this new project blends together, feeling like “department store music”. Other fans are praising the band for doing what they want, with the band stating that this is their favorite project they’ve worked on so far.
Open Wide is a feel good, pop rock record that proves that Inhaler has what it takes to make hit after hit. The band is currently on tour through 2025. You can see all the remaining dates on their website.