Review of Inhalers Sophomore album, Cuts & Bruises
by Bailey Blake
There is a moment in time when a band shifts from harboring an innocence to a certain maturity in their music. You might not know what it is yet, but can certainly hear it and even feel it. That’s the case for young Irish band Inhaler, in their sophomore album Cuts & Bruises. The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Elijah Hewson, bassist Robert Keating, lead guitarist Josh Jenkinson and drummer Ryan McMahon. Though this music is just settling in for me now, I remain taken aback by the obvious growth in Inhaler's sound and lyrics. The band does anything but shy away from emotions. The lyrics are raw, honest, and relatable. There is a lot of talk about love and heartbreak and everything in between. It’s moody but alluring. This exciting, fresh and energetic band has done everything but disappoint.
The work opens up flawlessly with “Just To Keep You Satisfied.” The song is melodic and sets the mood of the entire album, opening up with a subtle drum beat and guitar before bringing in chill synths. Hewson’s voice initially took me by surprise. It’s raspy and deep – literally as if he had just rolled out of bed – perfect effect for the opening lines: “It was early in the morning / The first day of the week / I couldn't face the faces in my personality.” This song is such a great opener because of the way it builds up so much anticipation. The lyrics are fairly romantic with some edge to them, making it very clear that these words are coming straight from an honest heart, “Maybe I'll be stronger / maybe I'm a freak / maybe I'll be faithful even if I was a cheat,” and of course, the chorus being the dreamy “I said, La-la-la-la-la, la / Angels falling by your side / La-la-la-la-la-la / Just to keep you satisfied.”
The next song is their second single “Love Will Get You There,” an incredibly danceable radio hit, reminiscent of 80s pop. The song is one of the catchiest on the album, and the sweet lyrics and Hewson's strong voice are bound to make your heart swell: “You got to slow down, my friend / Love will get you there / Love will get you there / If you hold on, my friend / Love will get you there / Love will get you there.”
Track number three, “So Far So Good '' is more rock heavy and going for a more early 2000s or 2010s alternative sound, that would have certainly been heard alongside Paramore and Foster The People on the radio. This sound can be heard prominently in the chorus through the simple but distinct guitar with the psychedelic synths in the background, reminding me a bit of MGMT as well as The Strokes. Lyrically, the song has shied away from the initial romantic daydream we were given with the first two songs, now veering towards a more apprehensiveness regarding feelings towards another.
The next two tracks are the last two singles from the album. “These Are The Days” was conveniently released early in the summer of 2022. The song is the perfect coming of age anthem, speaking on loneliness and other youthful woes, while highlighting the fact that there is light at the end of the tunnel with Hewson’s chanting in the bridge “I think we’re gonna be okay!”
Then released a little over a month before the album was their final single “If You’re Gonna Break My Heart,” a very on-the-nose heartbreak anthem with twangy instrumental influences of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. Hewson pours his heart out, letting whoever he is singing to know that if you’re gonna hurt him, might as well do it well!
The album soon reaches a grittier feel, losing the sweetness that was first introduced and giving us something raw and moody. “Perfect Storm” makes you feel like you’re caught in a storm with the way the song rises and falls. The lyrics are at an all-time high in this song as Hewson is seemingly telling a story of a shift in a relationship and trying to patch things up with a partner who has seemed to have changed in some way. The lyrics are mature and certainly cut deep against the guitar heavy track.
The same is true for the fan favorite song “Dublin in Ecstasy,” which has been out for a while and many die-hard fans had been eagerly waiting for the studio release. The song immediately pulls you in with a dreamy darkness within the guitar and heavy bassline, hints of both Depeche Mode and The Cure. Hewson draws us even more, powerful yet dreamily singing, “What are you thinking, my love?” The line feels strangely tragic, and his voice is dripping with angst, even a bit of defeat. He sings about what might have been his “right person, wrong time,” or even reminiscing about someone who might have changed, similar to “Perfect Storm,” making the two songs being back to back a great sequencing decision.
“When I Have Her On My Mind” and “Valentine” not only have very similar premises, but also very simple, memorable lyrics making it easy for fans to sing along at their upcoming shows. Both are love songs, though “Valentine” has a more conversational quality to it as Hewson is singing directly to someone, making it very personal and intimate, pleading “Be my valentine / Come on, spell it out / Be my / Yeah, be my valentine.” Though Hewson’s vocals are peaking here, Keating’s bassline is what stands out the most with the fast tempo.
“The Things I Do” is the tenth track, and probably my personal favorite. The band goes in a very different direction with this one. The opening booms and is followed by beautiful eerie piano chords, prominent bass, and a certain wickedness coming from Hewson's lyrical delivery. Eventually, there is an addition of strings in the background, giving the song one final layer of gloom. There is a serious bite in the lyrics, “You say a lot of things / And act so wise / In spite of all the joy / You still terrorise / You still need me / But it’s just because of you…” The song reminds me of a less bitter version of the 80s band Culture Club's song “Cold Shoulder” (Unusual comparison, I know). The difference in Inhaler’s new track being that Hewson seems more interested in giving the person he is speaking to one more chance before things are completely doomed: “So can we fix this love of ours? It's getting late and I can't see straight.” While he sings this, he’s also uncertain why he is feeling so many different things and doing strange things because of this person. The production on this song is a huge standout, and makes me excited to hear what they might be doing next!
Finally, the last track, “Now You Got Me”, is truly a great album closer. Something about Hewson singing “now you got me where you want me!” just strikes as great final words, accepting his defeat in love, but not in a negative way. Though there are hints of apprehension in Hewson's words, there are also hints of not really knowing what he wants or what the other person wants, but he knows that he is open to anything at this point because his feelings are real and this person really has him in a bind. The song sounds very 90s, especially in the chorus. My mind continues to go to the incredible one hit wonder group New Radicals. Some of it due to Jenkinson’s heavy guitar, sounding much like a cry, and equally because of Hewson's strong and youthful vocals that hold a similar passion Gregg Alexander had in his 1998 powerhouse tracks.
The album is so beautiful, consistently and sonically, an impressive work of art with no skips. The tracks fit together seamlessly. The album has been leaving me with a strange feeling – but it is a good one. There will be a lot of memories associated with it, but already this band has a bright future. With the quality and success of this early work, Inhaler has given their fans a lot to look forward to in the coming years!
Listen to Cuts & Bruises out now!
