Airbourne has released its sixth studio album, and apparently the Australian rockers still haven’t located the volume knob that turns to the left.
The band’s self-titled Airbourne is out now, delivering another round of unapologetic hard rock from brothers Joel and Ryan O’Keeffe, bassist Justin Street and guitarist Brett Tyrrell. The album also includes songwriting collaborations with Mutt Lange and Bryan Adams, because apparently simply making a loud rock record wasn’t ambitious enough.
Produced by Brian Howes, Airbourne reunites the band with several familiar names while adding some serious studio firepower. Mike Fraser engineered the album, Zakk Cervini handled the mix and Ted Jensen mastered the finished record.
Much of the recording took place at Music Farm Studio near Byron Bay, Australia, where the band worked with some genuine pieces of Australian rock history. The studio houses the original Neve console from Sydney’s Albert Studios, the desk associated with early recordings by AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and The Angels, as well as an eight-track Neve that belonged to late AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young.
Airbourne also recorded to tape, apparently deciding modern technology had made the process entirely too dependable.
Vintage equipment wasn’t the only challenge. The sessions reportedly included severe storms, snakes and at least one enormous spider nicknamed “Big Boy.” A tree even fell near the bus where Street was sleeping during one storm, an experience that helped inspire “Here She Comes.”
That song joins previously released tracks “Gutsy,” “Christmas Bonus,” “Alive After Death (Last Plane Out)” and “Kid In A Candy Store,” the latter of which now has an official video combining the album’s recording story with some of Australia’s less welcoming wildlife.
Joel O’Keeffe says the band’s goal was to make something “iconic” and “gargantuan.” Ryan describes the record as containing everything the group loves about rock ‘n’ roll.
Nobody appears to have suggested a ballad.
Airbourne will take the new material to some appropriately large stages later this year, joining Guns N’ Roses as special guests for Australian and New Zealand dates in November and December.
After six albums, Airbourne isn’t attempting to reinvent hard rock. They’re plugging into its history, turning everything up and seeing what survives.
Based on the recording sessions, that apparently includes the band, the studio and most of the local wildlife.
Airbourne is available now.
Information provided by Airbourne’s publicity team.