''Omega'' is the eleventh studio album by British rock band

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

, released on 21 April 2010 in Japan by Melodious Frontier and on 23 April 2010 in Europe by

Frontiers Records Frontiers Music – formerly Frontiers Records – is an Italian record label, predominantly producing hard rock. It was founded in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples. History In 1996, Serafino Perugino started working in the m ...

. It was the fourth studio recording with the original line-up and second after the reunion in 2006.

Production

''Omega'' was recorded from October 2009 to February 2010 at Steve Rispin's Liscombe Park Studios, Buckinghamshire, where Asia had already worked on their previous album, ''

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

'' (2008). For the first time since the debut album, released in 1982, the group employed an outside producer,

Mike Paxman Mike Paxman (born 19 December 1953) is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known for his work with Judie Tzuke, Nick Kamen, Uriah Heep and Status Quo and Asia. Paxman grew up in Wiltshire, England and went to Bishop W ...

. The cover artwork was designed by Roger Dean, who had collaborated with Asia since their inception and with Yes, of which guitarist

Steve Howe Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to le ...

and keyboard player

Geoff Downes Geoffrey Downes (born 25 August 1952) is an English keyboardist who gained fame as a member of the new wave group The Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia. Born in Stockport, Downes moved to London ...

had previously been members. The white tiger on the front cover indicates that 2010 is the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar. "Finger on the Trigger" was previously recorded by vocalist/bassist

John Wetton John Kenneth Wetton (12 June 1949 – 31 January 2017) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Known for his dexterous bass playing and booming baritone voice, Wetton first gained fame in the early 1970s. Wetton was the singer and p ...

and Downes for their collaboration studio album ''Icon II: Rubicon'' (2006).

Reception

Bret Adams gave ''Omega'' a rating of three-and-a-half stars out of five on

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

. "Finger on the Trigger", "Holy War", "Light the Way" and "I Believe" were selected as four "Track Picks". He compared the album with the previous one and summarized that "''Phoenix'' has better songs overall than ''Omega'' — probably due to the initial excitement and creative surge spawned by the reunion — but ''Omega'' satisfies, and longtime fans will enjoy it". The album did not sell well, failing to chart in both United Kingdom and United States, but reached number 29 in Japan, where Asia were always a popular foreign act.

Track listing

Personnel

Asia

– vocals, bass guitar *

– electric, acoustic and steel guitars *

– keyboards *

Carl Palmer Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer (born 20 March 1950) is an English drummer best known as founding member and the last surviving member of the progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer. He was also a founding member of progressive rock s ...

– drums, percussion

Technical personnel

– producer * Steve Rispin – engineer * Mark "Tufty" Evans – mixing engineer (at Wispington Studios,

Cookham Cookham is a historic River Thames, Thames-side village and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the north-eastern edge of Berkshire, England, north-north-east of Maidenhead and opposite the village of Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, Bourne ...

, Berkshire) * Secondwave − mastering * Roger Dean – cover, logotype, inside painting * Martyn Dean – computer work, cover design * Michael Inns – photography * Karen Gladwell – artwork

Charts

References

{{Authority control Asia (band) albums 2010 albums Frontiers Records albums Albums produced by Mike Paxman Albums with cover art by Roger Dean (artist)