New Asia Album XXX Review

Thirty years ago, Asia streaked across the sonic horizon like brilliant meteor. The progressive-pop supergroup’s first album seemed full of portent, but Asia’s career fizzled when egos collided and the band’s follow-up LP, “Alpha,” failed to generate the same impact.

The original Asia reformed in 2007. Since that time they have reignited their career with an impressive trio of studio albums, which come close to recapturing the musical sparks and lightning that abounded on their debut. The group’s first comeback album, “Phoenix,” featured exceptionally well-crafted ballads, like “An Extraordinary Life,” which reflected a mellower, more reflective, but still highly melodic approach by the band. The group followed with “Omega,” which once again melded strong melodic hooks with a pensive outlook.

By any standard, “Phoenix” and “Omega” represent strong efforts by seasoned pros. But the new album, “XXX” is the one that does the most to rekindle the musical fury and scintillating energy of the first album. The album gets off to a rousing start with “Tomorrow the World,” a scorching rocker than manages to be both gritty and sublime at the same time. The instrumental introduction sounds like it belongs on a Yes album, which is not surprising given that guitarist Steve Howe and keyboardist Geoff Downes are involved. The interplay between Downes’ haunting piano and Howe’s wraithlike guitar creates an atmosphere as exotic and magical as the lush landscape depicted by Roger Dean’s cover art.

John Wetton is a singer who can grab the reigns of a song like few others. His husky baritone sounds better that it did thirty years ago, which is amazing. Carl Palmer’s kinetic chops are still second to none. The forward momentum and propulsive energy these four musicians create on the opening track is truly astounding. Crank up the volume and it is 1982 all over again. There is very little let up on the rest of the album. “Ghost of a Chance” seems to borrow melodic ideas from “The Last to Know” from Asia’s 1983 album, “Alpha,” but the new entry far outshines its predecessor. “Bury Me in Willow” is graceful pop, which features Wetton’s lyrics at their best; which is to say breezy, slightly philosophical, but disarmingly charming.

A song like “Faithful” could easily have come across as cloying, but somehow Wetton and the band manage to sound beguilingly sincere without coming across as saccharine. I especially like the acoustic version of “I Know How You Feel” (bonus version), where Howe’s acoustic guitar and Wetton’s vocals complement one another so well. Only “Reno” (bonus track), which sounds like it could become the theme song for the Nevada State Gaming Commission, and “Judas,” an up tempo song about betrayal, fall short. Otherwise, “XXX” represent an exceptional effort and a true return to form for a band that has the musical firepower to astound. Shooting stars like this don’t come around very often, but you don’t want to miss them when they do.