Open Wide! Inhaler take on Kendrick Lamar for Number 1 album

Irish heroes Inhaler start the week storming ahead for their second Number 1 album in the UK. 

Open Wide, the third studio collection from Elijah Hewson, Rob Keating, John Jenkinson and Ryan McMahon, follows their debut Number 1 LP, 2021’s It Won’t Always Be Like This, and 2023’s Cuts & Bruises, which peaked at Number 2. 

Expect a big surge this week for Kendrick Lamar. His latest chart-topper GNX is back up to Number 2 midweek, bolstered by the album’s release on physical formats and his Super Bowl LIX halftime show. With guest appearances from the likes of SZA, Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams, UK fans catching up on the event throughout the week may help K.dot challenge Inhaler further down the line. 

Eyeing a Number 4 debut, new mod rockers Block 33 are looking forward to their first Official Albums Chart entry with The Promised Land.  

US prog-rockers Dream Theater could be celebrating their first-ever UK Top 10 LP with Parasomnia, too (7). The group have previously logged seven albums in the Top 40.  

Olly Alexander’s debut album as a solo artist, Polari, is expected to debut at Number 8. As a member of Years & Years, Olly previously claimed two UK Number 1 albums; Communion (2015) and Night Call (2022) and a further Top 3 with 2018’s Palo Santo (3). 

Further down, rising alt-pop star Oklou's debut album choke enough is expected to land at Number 17, looking to give the French musician her first ever entry into the Official Albums Chart.  

New Jersey singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten’s seventh album Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory could become her fourth Top 40 LP and her highest-charting yet (24), while You Me At Six’s 2010 record Hold Me Down could re-enter the chart following a 15th anniversary vinyl reissue (26). Hold Me Down peaked at Number 5 on its original release. 

English post-punk band Squid near a third Top 40 LP with Cowards (31) and, finally, Scottish musician and former The View vocalist Kyle Falconer could also secure his third with latest solo record The One I Love The Most (36). 

See the midweek Official Albums Update Top 100.