Lexie Boardman
Irish four-piece Inhaler have found their formula and fine-tuned their sound with their sophomore album, Cuts & Bruises, released on February 17. Following on from the successes of their debut album, It Won’t Always Be Like This, was going to be a mighty challenge, but one that was no difficult feat for the boys from Dublin.
Formed in 2012, Inhaler is made up of Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Josh Jenkinson and Ryan McMahon. The band came together during their time at St Andrew’s College, in Blackrock, Dublin. But the group had to wait until 2019 to take residency on the airwaves. They released a trio of singles and later finished fifth on BBC’s ‘Sound of 2020’ following the success of these singles. After finding success with their debut album in July 2021, Inhaler made a quick turnaround to release Cuts & Bruises just 18 months later. But does it live up to expectations?
Inhaler Fan favourites
Enchanting melodies come easily to the band, and that is clear throughout the album. Its opening track ‘Just To Keep You Satisfied’ goes beyond what the title promises. Meanwhile, fan-favourite track ‘Dublin In Ecstasy’ has been given a new lease of life. These new hits are expected to join the Inhaler hall of fame.
“We were young and amused, but now we’re dancing to a tune / We can’t be who we used to be, Dublin in ecstasy” – Dublin In Ecstasy
Inhaler are known for their connection to U2 as front-man Elijah Hewson is the son of U2’s Bono. Even if there are distinct similarities between their voices, Hewson and Inhaler are carving a path of their own. Even better, they’re doing it with passion, heart and soul.
Similarities to debut album
Shimmering guitars accompanied by the signature Inhaler vibe are present throughout every song on the album. Tracks such as ‘Love Will Get You There‘ and ‘When I Have Her On My Mind‘ are so similar to their debut tracks. Yet they still showcase the band’s newly established musical maturity. Where some bands may be repetitive in following such a rigid formula to their musical composition, Inhaler manage to make it work. Their powerful lyric work and their seemingly unbreakable chemistry have provided them undeniable success.
Towards the end of the album, listeners are provided with a much slower, smoother moment of bliss. The raw romance of ‘Valentine’ followed by the introspective melodies of ‘The Things I Do’ lead the album to a comfortable close.
‘Now You Got Me’ is the closing track the album needed. It’s a return to a slightly faster pace fueled by angst. Emotionally provoking lyrics wrapped around a crunchy bass provide a perfect summary to ‘Cuts & Bruises’.
“Now you got me where you want me / Which is nowhere, I’ll be nowhere.” — Now You Got Me
Their longed-for return has done more than keep us satisfied, honouring their debut album but keeping it fresh and addictive. These tracks will feel entirely natural at their outdoor performances. These are are scheduled over the summer, supporting the likes of Harry Styles and Sam Fender.
Whether you’re a pre-existing fan of Inhaler or only just dipping your toes into their compelling waters, Cuts & Bruises is the perfect cocktail of their best musical talents. It’s a short but sweet staple for your playlists.
Image Courtesy of user ‘Selbymay‘ via Wikimedia Commons. The image licence can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
Lexie Boardman
I am a 21-year-old journalism graduate studying MSc Media Psychology, passionate about music, sports (especially motorsport), sustainability and wellbeing.