Evolution can be a tricky dance for young bands. Inhaler‘s third album, Open Wide, finds them caught between the raw energy of their indie-rock roots and a glossier pop future, creating a record that occasionally sparkles but often leaves listeners wondering about the road not taken.
Kid Harpoon, fresh from crafting massive hits with Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus, brings his polished touch to the Dublin quartet’s sound. The result feels like watching your favourite local pub undergo renovation – familiar elements remain, but something of its essential character has shifted. The production gleams under studio lights, though sometimes at the cost of the band’s natural vigour.
The album opens promisingly with “Eddie in the Darkness,” where Eli Hewson’s distinctive vocals soar over atmospheric instrumentation. Here, the band maintains their knack for crafting expansive soundscapes while embracing more sophisticated production values. The following track, “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah),” ventures into new territory with its dance-inflected rhythm and art-rock quirks – think Talking Heads meets modern indie pop.
Yet as Open Wide unfolds, a pattern emerges. Songs that begin with intriguing premises often settle into safer territory, like a story that forgets its own plot halfway through. The title track teases with moody synths before retreating into familiar chorus structures that feel somewhat beneath the band’s capabilities.
Josh Jenkinson’s guitar work provides consistent bright spots throughout the record. On “A Question of You,” his Thin Lizzy-influenced leads weave expertly around Hewson’s increasingly confident vocals. But even these moments of instrumental prowess sometimes feel constrained by the album’s pop-focused production choices.
The lyrical landscape of Open Wide explores well-worn themes of love and youth, though without the sharp observational details that marked their earlier work. “Still Young” reaches for profound statements about aging and identity but never quite grasps them. It’s like watching someone try to recreate a vivid dream in daylight – the essence remains just out of reach.
There are moments when everything clicks. “X-Ray” lets the band off the leash, its snarling riffs and urgent energy providing a welcome reminder of what Inhaler can achieve when they trust their instincts. “Your House” successfully marries their rock foundations with new sonic adventures, proving that evolution doesn’t necessarily mean abandonment of core strengths.
Kid Harpoon’s production simultaneously helps and hinders. His expertise in crafting radio-ready sounds is evident throughout, but sometimes it feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole. The edges that gave Inhaler their charm have been sanded down, leaving something smoother but less distinct.
Perhaps the album’s greatest strength lies in its ambition. Even when experiments don’t quite land, there’s something admirable about a young band refusing to simply recreate their early successes. Songs like “Concrete” and “The Charms” show a group willing to explore quieter, more introspective territories, even if they haven’t fully mapped them yet.
Open Wide isn’t likely to halt Inhaler’s momentum – they remain too talented for that. Instead, it feels like a transitional record, documenting a band in flux. The question isn’t whether Inhaler can evolve, but rather how to do so while maintaining their essential spark. Sometimes the bravest thing isn’t making a dramatic leap, but learning to walk the line between growth and authenticity.
For now, Open Wide stands as a document of that challenging balance – competent, occasionally brilliant, but not quite the statement it might have been. Like youth itself, it’s marked by both boundless potential and uncertain execution, leaving listeners curious about where Inhaler’s next steps might lead.
Inhaler play MTelus on March 2 with Been Stellar as support.
Photo – Lewis-Evans
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