Airbourne – Airbourne (Gold Nugget Vinyl)

Airbourne's Airbourne arrives as the Australian band's sixth studio album and their first in seven years, presented as a self-titled statement of intent rather than a reset. Recorded at Music Farm Studio outside Byron Bay, it also taps into a deeper strain of Australian hard-rock history through the original Neve console from Alberts Studios, the same desk associated with early albums by AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and The Angels.

The album reunites Airbourne with producer Brian Howes, who worked on Black Dog Barking, and engineer Mike Fraser, whose past credits with the band include No Guts. No Glory. and Breakin' Outta Hell. Zakk Cervini handled the mix, and the result is pitched as a concentrated version of what Airbourne do best: fast, riff-heavy, pub-sized hard rock with drums that hit like artillery and guitars that keep everything on the edge of overdrive.

What gives the record a little more shape than pure volume is the way its songs divide between tribute, road wear and refusal to back down. "Alive After Death (Last Plane Out)" and "Send Me To Rock 'N' Roll Heaven" salute fallen heroes including Lemmy, Bon Scott, John Bonham, Doc Neeson and Little Richard, while "Bogotá" draws on life on the road and tracks like "Gutsy," "Last Man Standing" and "Hell's Got No Vacancy" lean hard into defiance. For longtime Airbourne listeners, this one looks built to sum up the whole mission in a single LP.

Features

• Gold Vinyl, Limited Edition
• Gatefold sleeve