With their fourth full-length album, “Disconnected”, set for release on the 10th June on Karisma Records, Prog Rockers AIRBAG have released a video teaser to give everyone a taste of what to expect from an album that takes the listener on a sonic journey filled with lush soundscapes underlined by soaring guitars and soulful vocals starting with the opening track, ‘Killer’, and ranging right through to the thirteen-minute long title track, “Disconnected”. The teaser can be seen below and on Karisma Records’ YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/gG8vNaWnm1g
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Without a doubt AIRBAG have mastered the art of creating a strong narrative listening experience by closely tying together lyrical themes and music, and “Disconnected” ventures even deeper into blending musical styles and sounds, which create the unique listening experience that is AIRBAG. The album itself is a reflection on the theme of alienation between the individual and society, what society expects from us as individuals, and our resultant failure to live up to those expectations. Each of the six compositions depicts the state of feeling on ‘the outside’ and out of touch with oneself and those around us. Guitarist Bjørn Riis gives us some insight into the thought processes and musical ideas that went into the making of “Disconnected”:
“The early demos for “Disconnected” were written during a couple of months in late 2014. The idea and inspiration for most of the lyrics, and the title track in particular, came from me realising that I had to make some changes in my life. I was tired of the daily routine, working 9 to 5 in an office doing basically nothing and never having enough time for my family and music. I took a year off and started writing for the album.
“We discussed the theme for the songs and gave them a single title, reflecting different persons or ways of being disconnected to society and what’s expected of us and how we fail to live up to those expectations.
“As for the music, we have done three albums prior to this and those songs will always be a part of what we do, but you also want to look forward and explore new sounds and musical ground. We talked a lot about wanting to use more electronic elements and giving more room for the drums, allowing them to be more percussive and basically avoid the usual rock formula on all songs. We also wanted to do a more stripped down production and create a more spacious and dynamic sound”.
“Formed in 2004 AIRBAG’s lineup consists of Bjørn Riis (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals, bass, co-producer), Asle Tostrup (vocals, keyboards, programming, producer, graphic design), Henrik Fossum (drums), Jørgen Hagen (programming, keyboards) and Anders Hovdan (bass). The band’s music is best described as scenic, epic rock, and with three hugely successful album releases, “Identity” (2009), “All Right Removed” (2011) and “The Greatest Show on Earth” (2013), AIRBAG has gained a solid following and reputation among both fans and the press.
For the production of “Disconnected”, Airbag has once again teamed up with long-time collaborator and engineer Vegard Sleipnes. The album is produced by Asle Tostrup and Bjørn Riis, and, as always, the artwork is designed by vocalist Tostrup.
TRACKLIST
1. Killer
2. Broken
3. Slave
4. Sleepwalker
5. Disconnected
6. Returned
AIRBAG will be performing a release show at the John Dee in Oslo, Norway, on the 10th June. Tickets available from http://www.ticketmaster.no/event/airbag-oak-billetter/495325
More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website at http://www.airbagsound.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound
Three tracks from AIRBAG including “The Greatest Show On Earth” can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/karisma-records/sets/airbag-on-karisma-records
A video of AIRBAG playing “All Rights Removed” live in Oslo when the band supported Marillion on the Scandinavian leg of their world tour can be seen below and at http://youtu.be/iwK_hpJAPPA
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Website: www.airbagsound.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound
MySpace: www.myspace.com/airbagsound
YouTube: www.youtube.com/airbagsound
Airbag Management: Jørn Terje Larsen, jt@airbagsound.com
Promo and other information: post@karismarecords.no
Karisma Records: http://www.karismarecords.no/
Karisma Records Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karismarecords
Karisma Records on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KarismarecordsNor
Karisma on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records
Karisma Records Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Karisma Records US Webshop: http://karismarecords.aisamerch.com/
Karisma Records BandCamp: http://karismarecords.bandcamp.com/music
Karisma Records KlickTrack Store: http://shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords