How Open Wide Redefines Inhaler's Sound

Entering a dreamscape where reflection and exhilaration entwine, Inhaler presents their much-awaited third studio album Open Wide. Where Inhaler’s earlier albums (It Won’t Always Be Like This and Cuts & Bruises) were heavily rooted in indie rock tradition; big choruses, driving guitars, and a polished but live-feeling production, Open Wide feels more layered, and unpredictable. It carries a sense of urgency as if the band is reaching for something beyond their grasp. 

Inhaler took a risk by enlisting Kid Harpoon as the producer for Open Wide, and it paid off, helping to create their most daring album to date. Harpoon, who is well-known for his collaborations with Florence + The Machine and Harry Styles, is known for fusing modern, sleek production with organic instrumentation, and this influence is clear throughout the album. 

Kicking off the album with something almost nostalgic to their old sound is “Eddie in the  Darkness”. The track is both haunting and inviting—it doesn’t explode onto the scene but instead pulls you in slowly, setting the tone for an album that thrives on exploration and emotional depth. 

“Your House” is one of the album’s more immediate moments—an indie rock anthem with flair; shimmering guitars, a backing choir and a driving beat, reminiscent of their earlier work but with a smoother, more refined edge. “A Question of You” takes a dreamier, more introspective approach, built around swirling synths and melancholic vocals. Whereas everything about “Billy Yeah Yeah Yeah” feels designed to get people moving. It's the type of song that seems unstoppable and doesn't let up until the very end, whether it's the addictive vocal delivery, the driving beat, or the punching guitar riffs. 

Despite its sonic evolution, this record still delivers those cathartic moments that Inhaler  fans love. The album's most emotionally impactful tracks, “Even Though and Again”, combine some of their most heartfelt lyrics with simple composition. It's a vulnerable moment that highlights the band's development; not every song has to have a huge chorus to make an impression. — “It's life,  it's heavy, tears at your sleeve sometimes. It's gold, it's glory, after the battle lines. And you'll love too soon, too soon it'll be removed. Let's go at this again. Again," (Lyrics from Again). 

Elijah Hewson’s performance on “Open Wide” is undoubtedly his most versatile and nuanced to date. He balances the confidence and energy of his earlier work with a newfound restraint and emotional depth. As the band broadens their sound and Hewson pushes his voice to new heights,  this vocal development reflects the album's musical development. 

In the context of the album, “All I Got Is You”, “Still Young” and “The Charms” sit at an interesting crossroads. They tend toward a more optimistic sound, which feels almost refreshing for the collective. Songs that seem effortlessly cool at first glance yet have a lasting impact. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the charm is in the subtlety.

Thanks to guitarist Josh Jenkinson — one of the biggest shifts in “Open Wide” is its greater emphasis on rhythm and feeling rather than perfected chords. Where their previous albums relied heavily on driving guitar lines, this album leans into deeper, more hypnotic rhythms. Bassist Robert Keating and drummer Ryan McMahon play a more central role in the album’s sound, often providing the foundation while the guitars and synths weave around them. 

“X-Ray” and “Concrete” prove to be the most daring and sonically adventurous tracks on Open Wide, marking a significant departure from Inhaler’s signature anthemic indie rock. “Concrete” is one of the most intense and heavy tracks in the album. The song evokes a feeling of distress and chaos with its frantic energy and elevated tempo. In contrast, “X-Ray” uses its atmosphere, groove, and hypnotic rhythm to pull the listeners into a much darker and more electronic space. 

Closing an album is just as important as opening it, and with “Little Things”, Inhaler deliberately chooses to leave listeners on a reflective yet quietly powerful note. While their previous records ended with roaring finales (It Won’t Always Be Like This’ “In My Sleep” and Cuts &  Bruises' “Now You Got Me”), “Little Things” feels like a soft exhale rather than a dramatic climax. It’s reflective and filled with a sense of a bittersweet closure, bringing Open Wide to an end not with a bang, but with a deep exhale. 

With Open Wide, Inhaler proves they’re not just repeating the past. Though they are moving forward, changing, and reinventing their sound, there is a hint of nostalgia throughout the record,  but not in a way that makes it feel stuck in the past. Open Wide wants to be felt just as much as it is heard. 

Listen to Open Wide here