Open Wide
Inhaler (2025) 78/100
By Ross Keegan Favourite Tracks- Still Young, Open Wide, A Question of You
The album cover to Inhaler’s third album ‘Open Wide’
Inhaler’s third album, Open Wide, is a solid follow-up to their previous albums, showcasing their signature sound—big, anthemic choruses, class instrumentals, and that classic indie-rock charm. There are some fantastic tracks here, ones that prove Inhaler’s ability to craft songs that hit hard both sonically and emotionally. But in between those moments, the album feels padded out with filler songs that don’t leave as much of an impact as the big songs. There’s a clear nod to the Irish indie movement, with the same raw energy that’s putting bands like Fontaines D.C. on the map. At the same time, Inhaler pull in elements from U2’s anthemic rock, Sam Fender’s driving guitar tones, and the hazy indie-pop textures of early The 1975, merging these influences into something unmistakably their own. The sound of the album is consistently great.
The opening track, Eddie in the Darkness, left me unsure at first. While it’s a strong standalone track, it doesn’t quite set the stage for what’s to come. An album opener, I believe, needs to welcome you into the world of the album. Just look at their second album with ‘Just To Keep You Satisfied’. A song like Open Wide—which immediately gave me '90s Manchester energy with its warm-up-style instrumentals and a beautifully layered mix of distortion, bass, and a Sam Fender style guitar—would have been a more fitting opener. Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah), the latest single, has a massively catchy hook, and is making me more of a fan with every listen. I can already tell it’s going to go off live.
Your House took me by surprise. Initially giving off a Kasabian-esque feel, it quickly flipped into something completely different, with layered choral vocals, driving percussion, and a deep, rich atmosphere that keeps pulling you back in. A Question of You was the track that felt the most like classic Inhaler, and there was comfort in knowing that, despite their willingness to experiment, they’re not abandoning what made fans fall in love with them in the first place. The gritty guitar riff and clean production balance each other out so well, and I loved the harmonizing guitar solo—a really underrated touch.
Even Though brings the familiar upbeat energy that would fit perfectly on their previous records, a nice nod to their earlier work while still pushing forward. Again strips things back and allows the vocals to take center stage, almost isolating them in the verses before pulling in backing harmonies and layered percussion for a really powerful shift. Lyrically, it’s one of the standouts.
All I Got Is You was an instant playlist add for me. The light, effortless riff and groovy bassline create such an easy-going vibe, with little details like chiming elevator-style notes in the background adding to the texture of the song. Still Young leans heavily into U2 territory, but in a way that feels fresh rather than recycled—a massive-sounding track with soaring vocals and heavy drums that will no doubt become a live favorite.
As the album winds down, The Charms and Concrete offer softer, more introspective moments. The latter especially shines with its beautifully layered harmonies and stripped-back acoustic guitar, allowing the vulnerability of the lyrics to take the spotlight. But then they bring it all back for Little Things, a high-energy, closing-track anthem that feels like an encore, leaving us with a final burst of everything that makes Inhaler so exciting—catchy, danceable, and packed with the kind of energy that makes you want to experience it live.
All in all, Inhaler have delivered a strong, confident album that expands their sound without losing their identity. While Cuts & Bruises still holds a special place for me, this album feels more ambitious, more layered, and more adventurous. Some tracks will take time to grow, but I can already tell that, once these songs hit the stage on their upcoming tour, they’re only going to keep building momentum.
I’m lucky enough to be seeing them in Milan this April, where they’ll be supported by Blossoms, and I can’t wait to experience this album in a live setting. Maybe by then, my opinions on a few tracks will shift—but for now, I already know this will be in contention for my top albums of 2025.