Airbag are one of the most atmospheric and emotionally resonant bands of the modern progressive scene — a Norwegian group whose lush, cinematic sound owes an unashamed debt to the David Gilmour-era Pink Floyd. Formed in 1994 by a group of high-school friends inspired by seeing Pink Floyd on the Division Bell tour, and led by guitarist and main songwriter Bjørn Riis and singer Asle Tostrup, Airbag built a signature style of spacious, melancholic, guitar-drenched soundscapes, earning a devoted following across Europe. Here is every Airbag studio album, ranked from worst to best.

The short version

At the top sits their acclaimed breakthrough All Rights Removed (2011), with the heavier The Greatest Show on Earth and the recent return to form The Century of the Self close behind. At the other end, the subdued A Day at the Beach tends to divide even the faithful. The full ranking is below.

How we rank them

This is one fan’s honest take on Airbag’s six studio albums — we have set aside the early EPs, the live records and Bjørn Riis’s solo work to focus on the full-lengths. We weigh atmosphere, songwriting, emotion and that unmistakable Gilmour-esque guitar. The facts are accurate; the order is where the arguments begin.

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The lower reaches

6. A Day at the Beach (2020)

Their most subdued and gentle record, a quiet, drifting album of soft textures and slow-burning melancholy. Beautiful in places, but its uniformity of mood divided some fans, and it lacks the drama of their best. A pleasant if low-key entry.

5. Disconnected (2016)

A solid, cohesive album that maintains their trademark atmosphere while adding a touch more grit, home to the excellent long-form “Killer”. The last with the classic five-piece lineup, it is rewarding if a shade less essential. A strong, underrated entry.

The middle of the pack

4. Identity (2009)

The debut, and an assured first statement of their lush, Floyd-inspired sound, led by the radio hit “Colours”. A touch less refined than what followed, but atmospheric and hugely promising. A remarkable beginning.

The upper tier

3. The Century of the Self (2024)

Their most recent album, and a genuine return to form, reconnecting with the emotional depth and cinematic sweep of their best work. Confident, mature and deeply felt. A stunning late-career triumph.

2. The Greatest Show on Earth (2013)

The heavier, more guitar-driven third album, roughing up their pristine soundscapes with gritty riffs and darker themes, from the post-metal edge of “Surveillance” to the psychedelic “Redemption”. Home to the epic “Surveillance Part 2-3”, one of their finest moments. A superb, ambitious record.

The masterpieces

1. All Rights Removed (2011)

The masterpiece: the album where Airbag fully found their voice, embracing a bolder, more conceptual approach with longer, more dramatic pieces, crowned by the beloved “Homesick”. Widely acclaimed and a fixture of end-of-year lists, it is spacious, melancholic and utterly absorbing. The definitive Airbag album, and the place to begin.

Every Airbag album, ranked

The full ranking at a glance, best to worst.

Where to start

New to Airbag? Begin with All Rights Removed (2011), their acclaimed breakthrough, and the heavier, guitar-driven The Greatest Show on Earth (2013). From there, the recent return to form The Century of the Self and the debut Identity await. Few catalogues in modern atmospheric prog are this beautiful or this moving.

The verdict

For a band who wear their Pink Floyd influence so openly, Airbag have carved out a sound that is genuinely, movingly their own — spacious, melancholic and quietly devastating, built on Bjørn Riis’s soaring guitar and Asle Tostrup’s aching vocals. Across three decades and a handful of albums, they have refined that formula without ever running dry, and their recent work suggests they are far from finished. Whether you begin with the acclaimed All Rights Removed or the heavier The Greatest Show on Earth, there is a wealth of gorgeous, atmospheric prog to discover here.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: count down their finest tracks with the best Airbag songs, browse our pick of their best Airbag albums, or head back to the full directory of every prog band’s discography, ranked.

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