Popular Irish rock band Inhaler has released a new song, “Your House,” on Tuesday, Oct. 29, ahead of their new album. Comprising frontman and guitarist Eli Hewson, guitarist Josh Jenkinson, bassist Robert Keating and drummer Ryan McMahon, their album “Open Wide” comes out on Feb. 7, this song serving as the lead single.
This energetic tune provides their audience with a sense of the group’s new musical direction in this project. It incorporates a catchy rhythm of electric guitar, synths and drums during the verses, amplifying the track with a gospel choir in the chorus.
Produced by Kid Harpoon, this track lyrically describes and follows a toxic relationship. Hewson reveals in an interview with the online magazine “Dork,” “[this song] is about belonging to someone or something that’s bad for you.” He notes the contrast between the “blasé” verses and the spiritual chorus, amplifying the theme of a complex relationship.
In the first verse, the narrator expresses how he was barefoot on a street, expecting to “float through” the subject’s door. Ending this section with “And I, I’ve been there before / but I haven’t, so …,” the group goes straight into the vigorous chorus.
Here, the singer declares how their partner could find them anywhere. With no escape, or a knife “sharp enough” to cut this person out of their life, Hewson ends the chorus bluntly publicizing how he is “going to [their] house tonight.” The gospel choir amplifies the positive aspect of this relationship, as his perspective contributes to the difficulties.
As the peppy track continues, the bridge slows down the piece. The narrator emphasizes having trouble with leaving this partner. As he is “leaving everything” to them and watches as they are “sliding into view,” adjacent lyrics show his desire for this person to “save [him] the trouble.” After giving the partner the power within the dynamic, the band circles back to the chorus, ending the song on an anthemic note.
Drummer Ryan McMahon explains to “Dork” how the band has never released a song that sounds similar to this one. He continues, “Both sonically and musically, it covers a lot of different territories that we were exploring on the album while we were writing and recording it.”
The four men in this band have picked an eye-catching single to release in anticipation of their next album. Their demographic and audience may expand as others discover them with a fresh, new sound they are comfortable with. “Your House” deserves a listen from anyone who enjoys rock-inspired music or is in search of new musicians to expand their palate.
5/5 stars
rross1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @inhalerdublin, Instagram
