A day before playing the iconic Royal Albert Hall, Inhaler released their new single ‘Hole in the Ground’, a cathartic yet restrained epilogue to their Open Wide era. Produced by Kid Harpoon, who had worked with the band on their third album, the song certainly continues to showcase the full potential of the band with the polish of a well-established producer.
Their work with Kid Harpoon had been met with criticism from fans for trading their initial indie-rock roots for a more pop-oriented sound. Many put this down to Harpoon’s influence, but ‘Hole in the Ground’ sees a return to Inhaler’s early sound. The melodramatic layering of 80s-style guitars, with hauntingly captivating vocals, echoes their 2018 singles – such as ‘Is She My Girl?’ and ‘There’s No Other Place’, tracks with atmospheric intensity, but this time with a new confidence and assertiveness.
Lyrically, ‘Hole in the Ground’ explores a kind of all-consuming yearning, but with a striking undertone of a calm acceptance, as lead singer Elijah Hewson surrenders to his devotion. Lyrics such as “I’m in too deep in a hole in the ground” paint an almost murky image, a completely antithetical approach to love that was seen in their third album, one that positively painted an acceptance and excitement of falling head first into a relationship. This interesting shift and return to their early U2-adjacent sound expertly crafts a conclusion to their Open Wide era and their navigation of not only an engrossing love but also where they are headed as artists.
Words by Hollie Panrucker
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