Following the release of their third studio album Open Wide, Irish rock band Inhaler have released their new single, ‘Hole In The Ground’. The single was released a few days before their remarkable performance at the Royal Albert Hall, marking the end of their UK tour. Whilst they steered direction from their original sound with Open Wide, Inhaler have recreated the sound that made their fans fall in love with them.

Initially, ‘Hole In The Ground’ is reminiscent of Inhaler’s signature sound: guitar-driven and indie inspired. It has a beautiful melody that runs effortlessly throughout the song, which is ironic since the lyric, ‘This song is too long, it needs a melody’, is incorporated playfully. This sound resonates perfectly with front-man Elijah Hewson’s raw and warm vocals as his execution perfectly captures the sound of yearning. I think this is one of their best songs to date as they strongly display the individual components that make the band a whole.

Lyrically, Inhaler captures the desolation one suffers with through an internal struggle. With all four members of the band taking part in the lyrics, the message of male yearning is powerful for the listener. Particularly, the lyric ‘The hole said, “Stay, won’t you come and crawl around”’ emphasises the depressive state this song seems to exhibit. As the track continues, it becomes clear that the speaker is stuck within a hole in the ground and cannot seem to escape as they are enticed by their surroundings – possibly serving as a metaphor for depression or heartbreak.

What makes this song so mellow and brings the lyrics alive is the use of the acoustic guitar, particularly dominant during the chorus. For me, this brings the whole song together and captivates the listener to not want the song to end. The echo of the drums, played by Ryan McMahon, completes the eerie mood of it as the rhythm is steady yet notable. Compared to Open Wide, ‘Hole In The Ground’ is much more melancholic, perfect for the autumnal season, but strikes a conversation for Inhaler’s next direction in their music.

This is a refreshing single for the band, reflecting on their journey through different sounds of music that they have explored already. ‘Hole In The Ground’ serves its purpose as the perfect conclusion for the band’s Open Wide era.

9.5/10

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