ASIA To Release New Studio Album With Original Lineup

April 23, 2012

Thirty years after its eponymous debut album, ASIA ascended to the top of the Billboard Top 100 chart (where it remained No. 1 for nine consecutive weeks),the legendary British classic rock band returns with a brand new studio album, a 30th-anniversary edition of their debut album, 2 DVDs, and a world tour that includes Europe, Japan and America.

ASIA will release its new studio album, "XXX" (pronounced Triple X) via Frontiers Records on June 29 in Europe and July 3 in North America. The new record, produced by Mike Paxman, which is being hailed as ASIA's best album since its classic early '80s releases, will be made available as a CD, collector's-edition CD/DVD (featuring new music videos and behind-the-scenes footage),and on vinyl (limited edition Europe only). Original artwork for "XXX" was created by Roger Dean.

The first single taken from the highly anticipated new album is entitled "Face On The Bridge", released worldwide on May 14. The official video for the song can be seen below.

"We're very pleased with, and confident about 'XXX'," says John Wetton. "It encapsulates, lyrically and instrumentally, the essence of ASIA today. However, it is the very same four people that gave you the original, iconic album 30 years ago. If you loved it then, you will love it now."

"We wanted to recapture the energy of the first album," adds ASIA's guitarist Steve Howe. "ASIA has always been about great songs, and fantastic musicianship. I'm sure fans of the first album will fall in love with 'XXX'."

"XXX" CD edition track listing:

01. Tomorrow The World (Wetton/Downes) (6:47)
02. Bury Me In Willow (Wetton/Downes) (6:01)
03. No Religion (Howe/Wetton/Downes) (6:36)
04. Faithful (Wetton/Downes) (5:37)
05. I Know How You Feel (Wetton/Downes) (4:53)
06. Face On The Bridge (Wetton/Downes) (5:59)
07. Al Gatto Nero (Wetton/Downes) (4:36)
08. Judas (Howe/Wetton/Downes) (4:43)
09. Ghost Of A Chance (Wetton/Downes) (4:21)

Total Time 49:41

"XXX" Special Edition 11-TRACK CD (+ Bonus DVD) - track listing:

Total Time: 60:20

Bonus DVD

01. Face On The Bridge (Music Video) (4:33)
02. Faithful (Music Video) (4:34)
03. The Making of XXX (Featurette) (20:33)

Total Time: 29:40

In addition, ASIA has also completed work on "Resonance", a DVD concert film of the group's 2010/2011 Omega World Tour, captured live in Switzerland. The effort will be released in the fall.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, ASIA will release a collector's edition box set based on its legendary 1982 eponymous debut album, supported by a myriad of ASIA releases in 2012. The 30th-anniversary edition of the first LP will feature two audio CDs (a remastered edition of the debut album, plus a CD of live rare tracks),an expansive historical booklet, a limited edition ASIA T-shirt, goodies from ASIA's 1982 tour, plus a DVD of the new band documentary: "ASIA - 30 Years On". A newly commissioned painting by Roger Dean updates the symbolic dragon and pearl from 1982 to 2012, the Year of The Water Dragon (in the Chinese calendar).

ASIA is:

Geoff Downes - keyboards
Steve Howe - guitar
Carl Palmer - drums
John Wetton - bass and vocals

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