Scott's spotlight #36-- Airbag
Originally posted to Facebook on June 19, 2025
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Welcome to Scott’s Spotlight (#scottsspotlight) issue #36. For more information about this series, please click here:
As I resume Scott’s Spotlight after a brief hiatus, It is time once again to head north to Norway! (There must be something in the water up there in the Scandanavian countries that enables great Prog Rock.) This week’s band is Airbag.
While the roots of Airbag go back as far as 1994, The band, as they are known today, officially formed a decade later in 2004. At that time the line-up consisted of guitarist/vocalist Asle Tostrup, guitarist Bjørn Riis , keyboardist Jørgen Hagen, drummer Joachim Slikker, and bass player Anders Hovdan. That same year they released their first EP, titled “Come On In” with 4 songs on it. The following year, the same line-up released a second EP, titled “Sounds That I Hear”, this time containing 7 tracks, two of which are parts one and two of the title track totaling nearly 10 minutes between them. A third EP was released two years later in 2007 called “Safetree”. This one had four tracks , three of which are in the 7-9 minute range. When Airbag offered free downloads of the three EPs on their website, they had given away nearly 250,000 downloads in just a few months. This got the attention of Norewegian-based prog label Karisma Records, who signed the band.
Their first full-length album was released in 2009, was titled “Identity” The album was made up of remixed versions of songs found on the 3 previously released EPs, and the song “Colours”. Although “Colours” is just over 8 minutes long, it was a successful single in Europe, even reaching #3 on Polish National Radio. This album really helped Airbag to appear on many prog fans’ radar. The song features a brilliant David Gilmour influenced guitar solo from Bjørn Riis.
By the time their second album was released in 2011, there had been a line-up change, as Henrik Fossum took over the drum throne. The album, called “All Rights Removed” featured 2 songs that clocked in at close to 9 minutes (the title track and “Never Coming Home”), and had a 17-minute-plus closing epic called “Homesick.” Following this album’s release, Airbag could be found opening for major prog acts such as Saga, Anathema, The Pineapple Theif, Riverside, and even 2 bands that are part of prog royalty–Marillion and Yes. This certainly made even more prog aficionados aware of Airbag. Additionally, this period saw them in the “Cruise to the Edge” roster for the first time.
The third Airbag album dropped in 2013, with the bold title “The Greatest Show on Earth”. The music on it is certainly great! In addition to the wonderful title track, and the brilliantly atmospheric 11 minute track “Call Me Back” (which is in my headphones right now as I type this), the album is bookended by parts of the track “Surveillance”. Part one opens the album with a fairly short 2:23 segment, while the album closes with the combined parts 2 & 3 which constitute an epic length 16:45 (I just heard this one earlier, and it is incredible!).
At some point before the release of their 4th album, 2016’s “Disconnected” keyboardist Jørgen Hagen exited the band, and they continued as a 4 piece, with Asle Tostrup and Bjørn Riis now also creditied as keyboardists in addition to their previous roles, as well as a couple of guest musicians being brought in. The results are impressive once again. The album features the album opener “Killer” at over 9 minutes, the 7-minute “Sleepwalker” and the 13-minute title track. I am listening to this one as I type out this segment, and realizing what a great “headphone” band Airbag are. Their arrangements are expansive and warm.
According to their website, the band’s fifth album “A Day at the Beach” (2020), was: “inspired by the resurgence of 1980s electronica, new wave and movie scores.” Opening with the nearly 11 minute “Of Machines and Men” followed by the divided title track (tracks 2 and 5), and three more longer tracks “Into the Unknown”, “Sunsets” and album closer “Megalomaniac”, the band, now officially a 3-piece after the departure of bassist Anders Hovdan. A guest musician named Kristian Karl Hultgren is credited with the bass on the album. But regardless of the lineup changes, the band continued to develop and refine their signature sound.
The sixth and currently most recent releas was 2024’s “The Century of Self”. Once again, Airbag remained a trio, officially. This time Riis, shared bass duties with guest musician Kristian Hultgren, and interestingly, a second guitarist Ole Michael Bjørndal appears on 3 of the 5 tracks. As it is the most recent release, I have not heard as many of the tracks. However, I am thoroughly enjoying the opener “Dysphoria” as I type this. The album ends with a closing epic titled “Tear it Down” clocking-in at precisely 15 minutes. I have not yet heard this track, but look forward to it. I just looked at the release date, and we have just passed it’s one year anniversary on June 14.
To summarize their sound, I would say that Airbag is a mixture of Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree influences, along with just a dash of “H” era Marillion. Bjørn Riis is a fantastic guitar soloist, and has also had a thriving solo career with 5 solo albums under his belt since 2014’s amazing “Lullabies in a Car Crash”. Additionally, Asle Tostrup’s voice is wonderfully engaging. Anyone who enjoys atmospheric, slow-burn prog should check out Airbag–you won’t be disappointed. As always, check out the “Links For Listening” below.
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Prog on!
Scott
Links for Listening:
From “Identity”:
“Colours”
“Sounds that I Hear”
From “All Rights Removed”
“All Rights Removed”
“Homesick”
From: “The Greatest Show on Earth”
“Call Me Back”
“Surveillance Pts 2-3”
From “Disconnected”
“Killer”:
”Sleepwalker”
From “A Day at the Beach”
“Machines and Men”
“Sunsets”
From “The Century of the Self”
“Dysphoria”
“Awakening” (Official Video)
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