Angels & Airways - 'Euphoria'

Angels & Airwaves will not alienate their dedicated fans with electrifying return ‘Euphoria’.

The intense track, which details the allure of an edgy romance, is the band’s first single in over a year, and hints heavily at the beginning of an album cycle.

‘Euphoria’ marks the culmination of Project Dreamland, which used cassette players, tapes, and evidence files to tease its release.

It plays on the fame of Tom DeLonge – a former UFO Researcher of the Year – who brings the otherworldly to the official music video, which he directed. It switches between a strong performance recording and an intriguing tale of lust and mystery. 

Tom’s vocals are a standout part of the track. When he sings “it’s hard to live when you’re hurting, it’s hard to live when you’ve always been let down”, it cuts through to a universal feeling, when presumably his world is anything but a routine experience. 

With over 15 years of experience, Angels & Airwaves have delivered a sonic throwback, full of rousing guitars from David Kennedy, and the vitality of Ilan Rubin’s drums, playing over the top of space-like electronics.

‘Euphoria’ is an important escape from these modern times. It’s a powerful song for young people with curious minds, at times echoing Radiohead. However, the angst and authenticity mean fans of blink-182, or old-school Angels & Airwaves, will not feel alienated. (No pun intended.) 

As Angels & Airwaves roar back into life, and with shows across America lined up for the second half of 2021, it leaves hope that the hinted-at album campaign emerges to the same results.

Words by Samuel Draper

---