CD Review: Airbag “All Rights Removed” – Destination Floyd Nebula

Airbag - All Rights Removed

“Then one day…you realize…you’re just like them…with your cheap smile…and your suit and tie…. you’ve been lying to yourself…but don’t you see this is just an endless ride…and here they come…to take away your soul and pride…all rights removed.”

And here they come to bring you to a new understanding of amazing, this band whose music is equal to Porcupine Tree, this album, All Rights Removed, whose message should be our mantra for the future,  this band who may one day stand alongside the master of them all- Pink Floyd.  This band whose name reminds us of something in our car- Airbag.

And isn’t that appropriate for their message is about caution with a warning about our future.  And isn’t it appropriate that   All Rights Removed is a deeply moving,  musically stunning  display of  symphonic, avante- garde, electronica, fusion, post rock, and classic progressive rock.

All Rights Removed blends multiple genres together with perfection  And they have to in order to for us to truly feel the depth of the story Airbag is telling.  When music extends the theme of the story, we feel a shared experience with the artist. It is when the tears form at the corners of our eyes, when we become witnesses to our own vulnerabilities and see the world in a new light,  that we know we have been touched by something greater than ourselves.

All Rights Removed takes us on a journey through the harsh realities of this world by flying us through a musical universe so wonderfully familiar and yet so completely fresh and new.  Welcome to the Floyd Nebula, my friends.  You couldn’t have chosen a better pilot than Airbag to take you there.

Airbag has that rare ability to bring us to moments of pure enlightenment.     They accomplish this with music that is hypnotic and entrancing. The progressions get inside your soul and your head shakes back and forth in silent acceptance. Then the lead guitar rips your soul like a sharp knife, cutting the meaning of the lyrics to your core.

I am mesmerized.   I am shaken.   I didn’t expect this. This is just like the first time I heard Porcupine Tree, the first time I heard Pink Floyd and YES and ELP and Shadow Gallery and most recently Anibus Gate.

I promise you I will never tire of All Rights Removed. Never.

Airbag begins with the title track, All Things Removed. Then they move on with  White Walls, The Bridge, Never Coming Home, and Light Them All Up. The album closes with the 17 minute, 22 second classic, Homesick. There is so much going in this album that I refuse to break down each track.

Airbag comes before us bearing gifts and dire warnings.  All Rights Removed  is one of the greatest progressive rock albums I have ever heard.    All Rights Removed is glorious, dangerous, dark, brilliant, foreboding, fantastic, phenomenal , and infallible.  Airbag has a date with destiny.  All Aboard! All Aboard!

Airbag is Asle Tostrup – lead vocals, Bjørn Riis – guitars & vocals, Jørgen Hagen – keyboards, Henrik Fossum – drums and Anders Hovdan – bass.

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