Airbag Debuts Track From Upcoming Album "The Greatest Show on Earth”

The Greatest Show on Earth” the title track from the new album from Prog Rockers AIRBAG has been previewed today by Karisma Records. Set for release on the 4^th of November, “The Greatest Show on Earth” will be available as a standard jewel case CD and a limited edition vinyl replica style CD, as well as a double vinyl gatefold in both black and limited edition white version. The album will also be available digitally.  The track can be heard below.

A band known for its musical craftsmanship, AIRBAG’s third full-length album has taken 18 months of painstaking work to ensure that the quality of the work surpasses what went before.  Whilst “The Greatest Show on Earth” shows an edgier side to the band with the inclusion of some heavier passages, the trademark AIRBAG sound is still very much intact.  With “The Greatest Show On Earth” 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), create a sonic experience that ranges from massive walls of sound, to ambient textures and soulful soundscapes in order to explore the growing sense of alienation and distrust that the individual feels when confronted by society and authority, whilst at the same time being manipulated and misled into believing that each person is in control of their self-absorbed lives.

Full track listing for “The Greatest Show On Earth”, which comes in at around 50 minutes and was engineered and co-produced by Vegard Sleipnes, is as follows and can be pre-ordered here.

1. Surveillance (part 1)

2. Redemption

3. Silence Grows

4. Call Me Back

5. The Greatest Show on Earth

6. Surveillance (part 2-3)

AIRBAG’s next live appearance will be at the release show for “The Greatest Show On Earth” at the John Dee in Oslo, Norway on the 30^th November. More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website.

AIRBAG: Track Listing And Artwork Revealed For Upcoming Album “The Greatest Show on Earth”

Karisma Records have revealed more details of the upcoming album from Norwegian Prog Rockers AIRBAG.  Titled “The Greatest Show on Earth”, the six-track album comes in at just over 50 minutes and will be available as a standard jewel case CD and a limited edition vinyl replica style CD, as well as a double vinyl gatefold in both black and limited edition white version. The album will also be available digitally.  Full track listing for “The Greatest Show on Earth” which will be released on the 4^th of November, as follows:

1. Surveillance (part 1)

2. Redemption

3. Silence Grows

4. Call Me Back

5. The Greatest Show on Eart

6. Surveillance (part 2-3)

“The Greatest Show on Earth” sees AIRBAG continue to pull the listener into their world and bring out in them a range of emotions by creating cinematic pictures with their use of atmospheric sounds.  AIRBAG’s lyrics explore the growing sense of alienation and distrust that the individual feels when confronted by society and authority, whilst at the same time being manipulated and misled into believing that everyone is in control of their self-absorbed lives.  This is an exploration that is accompanied by a sonic experience that ranges from massive walls of sound, to ambient textures and soulful soundscapes.

A follow up to 2009’s ‘Identity’ and 2011’s ‘All Rights Removed’, both also released on Karisma Records,  it  has taken 18 months of painstaking work on the part 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), together with engineer and co-producer Vegard Sleipnes, to perfect the sound on the band’s third full-length album.  There is a rougher edge to “The Greatest Show on Earth” and some heavier parts than their previous releases would suggest, but the classic AIRBAG sound is still present, and the quality and musical craftsmanship that marks the band’s work are very much in evidence, bringing this new release to a whole new level.

A video teaser for “The Greatest Show on Earth” can be seen via the band’s YouTube channel.

More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website.and Karisma Records Webshop.

PROG ROCKERS AIRBAG OFFER SNEAK PREVIEW OF TRACK FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Having recently signed a new deal with Karisma Records for two more albums, Norwegian Prog Rockers AIRBAG have released a sneak preview from their upcoming album.  Although this is an early mix and not the finished product and will therefore only be streaming temporarily, the track, ‘Redemption’, is a clear indication that AIRBAG is moving in a slightly edgier direction, with harder hitting compositions and thought-provoking lyrics. ‘Redemption’ can be heard at soundcloud.karisma.records until the end of August.

‘Redemption’ will be the opening track from the band’s new album, “The Greatest Show on Earth”, which is set for release on the 25^th of October this year.   Since the release of 2009’s debut album “Identity”, AIRBAG has gained itself a substantial world-wide following. The band’s last album, “All Rights Removed”, which appeared in 2011, was hailed by critics and fans alike and was awarded no less than six "Album of the Year" titles.  AIRBAG has also developed into a solid live act appearing at several major festivals and venues, including supporting MARILLION on their Scandinavian mini-tour and playing at the ‘Night of the Prog’ festival in Loreley, Germany.

AIRBAG’s lineup  includes Asle Tostrup on lead vocals, Bjørn Riis on guitars and vocals, Jørgen Hagen on keyboards, Henrik Fossum on drums and Anders Hovdan on bass.  More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website.

KARISMA RECORDS SIGNS PROG ROCKERS AIRBAG FOR A FURTHER TWO ALBUM DEAL

Having previously released AIRBAG’s first two full-length albums as well as a digital single, Karisma Records have inked a new deal with the Norwegian Prog rockers for a further two albums and are set to release the band’s third full-length album in the autumn of this year.  AIRBAG are currently putting the finishing touches to the new album, and studio updates and photos can be found on the band’s Facebook page whilst a short video teaser can be seen below.

With a line up that includes front man Asle Tostrup on vocals and live guitar, Bjørn Riis on guitars and backing vocals, Jørgen Hagen on keyboards, Henrik Fossum on drums and Anders Hovdan on bass, AIRBAG was formed in Oslo, Norway, in 2005.  Taking elements from classical and progressive rock, chill and jazz, AIRBAG have created their own unique sound.  AIRBAG’s first full-length album “Identity” appeared in 2009 and was hailed as one of the best progressive releases of that year, with the band’s sound being described by Classical Rock Magazine as “Prog at its most chilled, honeyed and soothing”. The 2011 release “All Rights Removed” went on to win even more plaudits, showing a slightly edgier side to the band’s music whilst still keeping their trademark moods and soundscapes.

More information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website.

PROG ROCKERS AIRBAG RELEASE DIGITAL SINGLE AHEAD OF UPCOMING SOPHOMORE ALBUM

Karisma Records are set to release a digital single from Prog Rockers AIRBAG on the 5^th of September in advance of the scheduled October 17 release of the band’s sophomore album “All Rights Removed”.    The single, “Homesick (Part I)”, is a special edit of the closing track from “All Rights Removed”, and will be available from all the usual digital distributors. 

Formed in Oslo, Norway, in 2005, AIRBAG, whose line up includes front man Asle Tostrup, Bjørn Riis on guitars and vocals, Jørgen Hagen on keyboards, Henrik Fossum on drums and Anders Hovdan on bass, has created its own unique sound by taking elements from classic and progressive rock, chill and jazz, and melded them into what Classical Rock Magazine described as “prog at its most chilled, honeyed and soothing”.  Since AIRBAG’s inception, the band has continued to expand its stage performances, with strong visuals and the extensive use of backdrop film to underline the music.

AIRBAG’s first album “Identity” was released on Karisma Records in 2009, and was hailed as one of the best progressive releases of that year.  The upcoming second album, “All Rights Removed”, sees AIRBAG take a more conceptual direction, with long, epic pieces and dramatic instrumentation.  It is very much the product of a strong collaboration within the band that focuses on both the lyrics and the music, and has taken almost two years to write, record and produce, and the result is a massive sound and stronger than ever musical performances. 

The band will launch “All Rights Reserved” at a release concert at the John Dee in Oslo on the 23rd September, and more information about AIRBAG can be found on the band’s website. 

Below you can see the official video of AIRBAG playing “Homesick (Part I)” live at a recent concert in Oslo.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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Airbag management: Jørn Terje Larsen,  jt@airbagsound.com