Inhaler – Cuts and Bruises

Dublin band Inhaler’s star has been on the rise over the past few years, from placing fifth on the BBC’s Sound of 2020 list to releasing their well-received number one album, It Won’t Always Be Like This, the following summer. The group returns with an eagerly anticipated second collection, Cuts and Bruises, which builds on the sound of their debut and shows they are no one-trick pony. 

Having toured with Harry Styles and Arctic Monkeys, it’s clear Inhaler have been honing their craft – obvious in the singles These Are the Days and Love Will Get You There, which preceded this latest release. Both were strong tracks that offered plenty of promise and indications that the group would tackle the difficult second album hurdle. 

Opener Just to Keep You Satisfied is a great start, beginning in a restrained fashion before building into an energetic punk-like second half. With singer Elijah Hewson being the son of U2’s Bono, comparisons are inevitable and So Far So Good comes closest to recalling the work of his father’s band, built around Robert Keating’s basslines and allowing Josh Jenkinson to exhibit his guitar prowess. 

If You’re Gonna Break My Heart is one of the record’s highlights, with an infectious groove. The slight shift in sound from some of the other tracks shows Inhaler’s musical range and spotlights the fact they are comfortable on both ballads and anthems. Perfect Storm continues this trend, again slightly more subdued in style, emphasising the band’s depth and reluctance to simply retread what worked on their debut. 

While the singles are already part of Inhaler’s live sets, Dublin in Ecstasy is likely to follow suit. Full of energy and allowing the whole ensemble to demonstrate their strengths and collective evolution, there are several shifts in tempo that shy away from what fans might expect, offering another opportunity for Jenkinson to come into his own as he bounces off Hewson’s vocals. When I Have Her on My Mind brings further signs of the group’s range of influences, with an electronic timbre on display alongside their more indie sensibilities. 

Cuts and Bruises is a fine followup record from one of Ireland’s most promising indie and alternative acts in recent years. An excellent companion piece to their debut, it takes on the challenge of the troublesome second album, showcasing impressive versatility and musicality alongside evidence of the various members coming into their own. The soaring choruses of their earlier work remain in tact, but are joined by an impressive array of other sounds. It’s a cohesive set of eleven tracks that offer a blend of indie, pop and the occasional electronic inflatus, proving that Inhaler will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for a long time.

Christopher Connor

Cuts and Bruises is released on 17^th February 2023. For further information or to order the album visit Inhaler’s website here.

Watch the video for the single here: