BJØRN RIIS – Lifandi

RELEASE YEAR: 2026
BAND URL: https://bjornriis.bandcamp.com/album/lifandi

While many prog fans might associate the talented guitarist Bjørn Riis with the amazing outfit Airbag, the fact of the matter is that Riis has been quite prolific outside his main band these past few years and carved out an equally interesting solo career. The man has never denied where much of his inspiration derives from (that would be Pink Floyd and David Gilmour to name but two) yet the Scandinavian sense of melancholy and introspection that runs through much of his own material possesses an atmosphere and a melodic air that can rightfully be called his own.

This four-track live EP culled from shows in 2025 is a wonderful addition to his impressive discography and captures an organic feel and an alluring aura that studio recordings can rarely match. His widescreen soundscapes are brought to vivid life here, the riffs are slightly more bombastic than their studio counterparts, the vocals are upfront and quite pronounced, and the stellar cast of musicians ensures that each epic piece is imbued with just the right amount of drama and urgency while also striking a great balance between tension and release. “Gone,” “Getaway,” “Where Are You Now,” and the magnificent “Fimbulvinter” are climactic, crisp-sounding affairs that form a familiar yet different journey of immersion. In short, this is prog at its absolute best.