It has been 25 years since the four original members of Asia put together a record, and with the release of “Phoenix”, Messrs Howe, Wetton, Downes and Palmer have put forward a solid yet safe album that makes the 25 years almost worth waiting for.

This is an album that will satisfy the Asia faithful and may well gain a number of new fans.

Still maintaining the trademark signature AOR sound, the band have put out an album that could easily have been released 20 years ago, yet somehow due to the excellent and polished production it does not sound dated at all.

Kicking off with the Keyboard driven rocker anthem “Never Again” you feel nostalgic and uplifted.

Wetton’s vocals are soaring and showing no dip in quality since the previous offering.

As well as the rocking anthems Asia also focus heavily on what they know best with powerful balladesque tracks such as “Heroine”, “I will remember you” and album closer “An Extraordinary Life” which is inspired by Wetton’s  recovery after triple bypass surgery last year.

The latter destined to become an Asia classic as well as encapsulating the whole feel of the album.

Howe’s guitar work is outstanding throughout, firmly showing why he is indeed a legend and many of the nu-metal guitar wannabe’s could do a lot worse than take some time to listen to his style.

But it is the vocals that stand the test of time, with huge choruses and haunting melodies in abundance.

This is indeed intelligent music that can melt through your soul and anyone with even the slightest inkling towards melodic rock should own a copy.

In “Phoenix” Asia have indeed risen from the ashes and produced a cracking album.

Mark Wrigley