Inhaler Open Wide
Released Feb 7, 2025 Polydor Records
Consensus forming 4 professional reviews Updated Oct 15, 2026
Broadly positive consensus
Consensus is still forming across 4 professional reviews. Inhaler's Open Wide turns arena-scale ambition into bright, danceable pop-rock, earning a 77.5/100 consensus score across four professional reviews.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
A Question Of You
2 critic mentions
“tracks such as ‘Still Young’ and ‘A Question Of You’ are made for boozy chant-alongs with your arms around a loved one.” — New Musical Express (NME)
Your House
2 critic mentions
“The marching “Your House” focuses on strong singing, which gets support from gorgeous backing vocals” — Glide Magazine
Little Things
2 critic mentions
“closer “Little Things” begins with feedback and odd sounds before slamming guitars and low end pumps up the jam with urgency.” — Glide Magazine
Full critic consensus
Inhaler's Open Wide turns arena-scale ambition into bright, danceable pop-rock, earning a 77.5/100 consensus score across four professional reviews. Critics hear a confident step forward: the band draw on new wave, classic rock and electro-dance while keeping the songs direct, melodic and built for communal singalongs. Kid Harpoon's polished, producer-driven touch helps give the record its expansive feel, though the reviews frame that sheen as part of its deliberate, celebratory appeal rather than a retreat from the band's identity.
The strongest tracks show off that range. The title song, praised by multiple reviewers as a major highlight, pairs a gospel choir and fuzzed-up guitar with turbo-charged pop-rock; “Eddie In The Darkness” brings a smooth, Killers-like dance-rock pulse. Critics also singled out synth-bright “Your House,” the tender vocal showcase of “A Question Of You,” and the urgent, jam-powered “Little Things.” Together, they make a persuasive case for the best songs on Open Wide: energetic, varied and ready for a festival crowd. One review especially celebrates the album's joyful, cathartic lift, while another emphasizes how Inhaler reshape their arena-sized influences into a sound of their own. The critical consensus suggests a lively, highly accessible record whose ambition lands best when its hooks meet its communal, dance-rock momentum.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Eddie In The Darkness
Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Your House
A Question Of You
Even Though
Again
Open Wide
All I Got Is You
Still Young
The Charms
X-Ray
Concrete
Little Things
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Inhaler come into their own on Open Wide, a joyful collection of pop-rock bangers that’s a sleek, evolved version of what’s come before. The best songs on Open Wide include the twinkling, turbo-charged title track, which might be the best song the band have ever written, and the heartfelt tenderness of “Again” and “All I Got Is You”. “Your House” switches grubby guitar riffs for lush synths, while “Even Though” is an ’80s-inspired party-starter made for dancing. Comforting, cathartic and heaps of fun, these best tracks make for a record that will really come to life as the sun sets on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage.
Key Points
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The title track is the best song, a twinkling, turbo-charged tune of hope through tough times that might be Inhaler’s best yet.
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The album’s core strengths are its playful genre shifts, heartfelt vulnerability, and communal, cathartic energy.
Themes
Ho
Critic's Take
Inhaler's Open Wide is unabashedly pop, leaning into new-wave and ’70s melodic rock in a way that feels calculated and celebratory. Will Russell singles out opener “Eddie In The Darkness” as a smooth slice of Killers-style dance-rock and flags “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)” for Passion Pit-flavored territory, making them among the best tracks on Open Wide. The title track “Open Wide” is described with a gospel choir and fuzz-rock lick, staking its claim as another standout for festival summer sets. Russell's tone is admiring without hyperbole, noting Kid Harpoon's production fingerprints as a decisive factor in why these songs land so cleanly in big venues.
Key Points
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The best song is led by arena-ready production and memorable riffs that align with new-wave and ’70s melodic rock.
Themes
Critic's Take
Inhaler seems to have taken successful aspects of their arena-sized influences and filtered them into their pop-rock sound on Open Wide, crafting their strongest record yet. The best songs on Open Wide show off the different strengths of the group: “Your House” focuses on strong singing, while closer “Little Things” pumps up the jam with urgency. Perhaps the most interesting tune is “A Question Of You,” which takes dance rock, piano, banging drums, and sweet singing to deliver an album highlight.
Key Points
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“A Question Of You” is the most interesting tune, combining dance rock, piano, banging drums, and sweet singing into an album highlight.
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The album's core strengths are its catchy, arena-ready pop-rock sound and the range of approaches across its best efforts.