Asia Turn Omega Men On New Record

Prog supergroup Asia have announced details of their brand new studio album.

Omega is released on 23 April and is the follow-up to 2008’s Phoenix reunion album. It is a full album of original studio material that was started last November with producer Mike Paxman – the first time that the band have brought in an outside producer since their debut.

"We were looking to create something different with Omega,” says keyboardist Geoff Downes. "Of course, the sound of the 4 band members of Asia will always have a certain hallmark when we play together. That's a given. But we approached the song writing with a mind to getting a degree of variety into these compositions. Hence, you will hear areas of textures where arguably we have never gone before.”

Adds lead vocalist/bassist/guitarist John Wetton: "Asia is an English prog-rock band with a pop edge, always has been, and hopefully always will be. Accessible, melodic, anthemic songs with great playing, luxuriating in a bed of lush orchestration, with lyrics that strike a sympathetic chord in even the most cynical heart. There you have it, Omega is a themed album in Asia's fine tradition, without the millstone of a concept.”

The band see Omega as a distant companion piece to their 1983 album, Alpha, in terms of music and concept.

The band hit the road in May for a tour of Europe before heading over to Japan and then back to the UK for a slot at the High Voltage Festival in July.