Airbourne are back: the new album is loud, fast and unmistakably Airbourne
The Australian hard-rockers did not discover silence on their sixth album — and that is exactly why Airbourne is so much fun
If hard rock had a morning alarm, Airbourne would set it to maximum volume, throw it out the window and then write a chorus about it. The Australian band from Warrnambool returned on 28 August 2026 with its sixth studio album, simply titled Airbourne. It was released by Spinefarm Records and contains twelve songs with a combined running time of about 47 minutes.
This is a record for anyone who believes a good rock song consists of a strong riff, drums, a scream, a chorus the neighbours can sing too and at least one idea that makes you wonder whether the studio was properly ventilated.
From Warrnambool to the big stages Airbourne formed in Warrnambool, Victoria. The core of the group is brothers Joel and Ryan O’Keeffe, who started building a sound with friends that left much less room for philosophy and much more room for guitar amplifiers. In 2003 they moved to Melbourne, and the wider world noticed them after the 2007 album Runnin’ Wild.
Their story is fairly classic: a small Australian town, hard work, concerts, travel and a gradual demonstration that a band with very recognisable influences can still develop its own identity. After the debut came No Guts. No Glory. (2010), Black Dog Barking (2013), Breakin’ Outta Hell (2016) and Boneshaker (2019). Along the way they played major festivals and built a reputation as a band that performs on stage as if electricity had personally insulted their ancestors.
Comparisons with AC/DC are of course unavoidable, but Airbourne do not hide from them. In fact, they accept them much more casually than many people who have heard three chords and then written a biography of a musical revolution.
What does the new album bring? There is no title track, which is very much in keeping with the band: the album is called Airbourne because apparently no further explanation was needed. The opening track GUTSY immediately sets the rules — the guitar steps on the accelerator, the drums hold the line and Joel O’Keeffe sings as if he has to overpower an aircraft engine.
Among the most noticeable titles are Alive After Death (Last Plane Out), Here She Comes, Kid In A Candy Store, Sky High and Last Man Standing. These are not songs that gently ask for your attention. They are more likely to grab you by the collar and drop you in front of a speaker.
The closing Send Me To Rock ’N’ Roll Heaven is a tribute to great names in rock, including Bon Scott and Lemmy. Here too the band remains true to its recipe: respect for history, plenty of energy and a chorus loud enough to sing with a raised can of beer.
Another recording detail is the use of an original console from Alberts Studios, where AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and The Angels once worked. That alone does not make an album good — an old piece of studio equipment is not a magic talisman — but it nicely communicates the sonic tradition the band wants to preserve.
No unnecessary complications The greatest strength of Airbourne is that it knows what it wants to be. It does not pretend to be a symphonic opera, a laboratory experiment or a sound map of Mars. It is direct hard rock with a strong pulse, a stage-ready character and the feeling that another ride without brakes could start somewhere in the background at any moment.
This also means that the album will not convince listeners looking for major stylistic leaps. Airbourne are not a band that suddenly puts down the guitars halfway through an album and turns to ambient music for meditation. For fans of classic, dirty and confident rock, that is actually good news.
Airbourne is an album for driving, the gym, getting ready for a concert or the moment when a computer speaker looks too innocent. It works best loud, but not so loud that the next day you have to tell the band's history with your lips and hand gestures.
Verdict On their sixth album, Airbourne have not changed direction; they have marked it once again with a neon sign. Airbourne brings riff after riff, chorus after chorus and enough energy to make an ordinary Tuesday behave like Friday night for a few minutes.
If you are looking for gentle background music, you may prefer something else. If you want a record that does not apologise for its volume and knows how to have fun with rock tradition, the new Airbourne is a very simple recommendation: press play and let the amplifier decide for you.
Sources: Airbourne, Official release, ABC Rage, Cover photo
Note: the album cover is copyrighted promotional material.
This content was created with the assistance of AI. English translation generated with AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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