We have a surprise for you: Thorbjørn and Emil are releasing a brand new album today!

Thorbjørn Risager and Emil Balsgaard dive into their roots on new duo album and embark on Scandinavian tour

Thorbjørn Risager and his musical partner of 30 years, pianist Emil Balsgaard, are ready with a new collaborative album.

The release is titled ‘Past Time Shadow’ and will be out on Friday, August 28, 2026. The album marks an intimate and brutally honest chapter in the duo’s long-running partnership, and the release will be followed by a tour in both Denmark and Sweden.

While they usually rock stages at home and abroad with the high-energy, 7-piece powerhouse Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado, they are unplugging for ‘Past Time Shadow’.

The album is stripped down to the absolute essence: a guitar, a piano, and one of Europe’s most powerful blues voices.

A journey through music history and their own back catalog

The title ‘Past Time Shadow’ refers to the echoes and shadows of the past that form the foundation of the duo’s musical DNA. The album offers a raw and intimate blend of roots, blues, boogie-woogie, and elements of gospel. The listener is invited into an intimate universe where the tracks are delivered with the nerve and energy that can only be built through three decades of close friendship and thousands of hours on the road.

“When we strip everything down to the bone and it’s just the two of us in the studio, a very special magic happens. The songs get room to breathe in a different way, and you can hear every single little nuance and breath,” says Thorbjørn Risager.

Intimate concert experiences ahead
Following the album release, the duo will pack up their instruments and hit the road to present the new material live. The tour will take them to a selection of venues across Denmark and Sweden, where audiences can look forward to unique and intense concert experiences up close with the musicians.

‘Past Time Shadow’ will be released on August 28, 2026, and will be available on all streaming platforms as well as on vinyl right here!

Listen on Spotify or Apple Music