A Couple Earworming Pop Hooks Hold Up a Mellower Whole
Irish indie-pop-rock foursome Inhaler are back with their third full length album, 2025’s Open Wide on Polydor Records.
Over the last 5 years especially Inhaler have developed a worldwide following of millions of listeners. Their latest effort will not be met with overall disappointment led with the strength of the two lead tracks; twins blending effortless pop hooks with the emblematic guitar melodies fans of Inhaler have come to know.
“Eddie In The Darkness” and the standout of the album and final single “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)” are by far the strengths of Open Wide. While the third track “Your House” attempts to replicate the energy of the first two tracks, it suffers from a more predictable rhythm section and a bit of overproduction. Track #4 “A Question of You” may suffer from similar aspects, but is probably a better song.
Middle tracks “Even Though” and more particularly “Again” reflect a better mixture of quality production, effective hooks, and a more dynamic rhythm section. Title track “Open Wide” follows “Again” and acts as a dividing line from the solid but unremarkable back half of the album, and what the song itself echoes – a driving anthem and close sibling of Inhaler’s already seminal earlier hits from prior albums.
On the whole Open Wide may lack a bench of quality b-sides, but the grade of the album lies in the best parts of it.
The band will be touring starting this spring with dates listed on their official site.