A DAY AT THE BEACH

For the first time in my life I write one review twice, but at different times. Perhaps this review of the latest release to date by one of the greatest rock bands of our time will serve to write a number of articles devoted to their previous albums, well, at least I would like to.

It will be about the last year's album of the Norwegians Airbag "A Day at the Beach", which caused me a mixed reaction at that time (Summer 2020). Now, having treated with understanding some of the new nuances of the group and having listened to this album several times, my attitude towards it is changing for the better, albeit not radically, but slowly and confidently. I'm not going to describe the general, rather gloomy style and concept of the band now; I hope that this will be revealed in subsequent articles dedicated to the group, their brighter albums.

Into The Unknown is perhaps the most important part of the record. As the deepest, most diverse and multifaceted palette of moves, it also most vividly reflects the band's signature sound, which was shaped 10 years ago. The composition really seems to float into the unknown, then emerging from the pool with beautiful landscapes, then diving into desperate abysses. Here the talents of the lead guitarist Björn Riis, a kind of new David Gilmour, are most widely manifested, as well as the extraordinary beauty of the voice of the vocalist and guitarist Asle Tostrup, whose lyrics can touch even the most "impenetrable" listener. Music is like a distant landscape that sweeps in front of you at different speeds, now moving away, now approaching.

Sunsets is the second "coolest" thing on the album, darker and more straightforward than the one described above. The atmosphere of sunset, desolation, pursuit and loneliness. Like something dark, rising from the swamps behind your back, from which you run. It is not the healthiest state, but what to do - such is the complex and gloomy, but beautifully attractive world of Airbag. And this composition is another confirmation of this.

Beautiful keyboards suddenly became one of the fundamental parts of the band's sound, which was not evident on earlier records. This creates a somewhat ambiguous effect at first. But this time they made the sound much richer than on the earlier albums, however, having lost a particle of sharpness. In general, if you are a radical fan of this great band, you should be more careful when listening to this opus, if not - the earlier albums will do you more good and should stay on them. Everything is already stated in theses releases. But we will speak more about these albums in the future!

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