Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
November 2024
- Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
- Lionville: Supernatural
- Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
- Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
- Lonerider: Down In The Dust
- Seventh Crystal: Entity
- Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
- Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
- Impellitteri: War Machine
- Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter
October 2024
- Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
- DGM: Endless
- Daytona: Garder la Flamme
- Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
- Frost*: Life In The Wires
- Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
- Fans Of The Dark: Video
- Radioactive: Reset
- House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
- Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire
September 2024
- Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
- Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
- Eclipse: Megalomanium II
- SteelCity: Reverence
- Hydra: ReHydrated
- Heartwind: III
- Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
- Find Me: Nightbound
- The Nail: The Nail
- Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
- Stryper: When We Were Kings
- Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
- Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
- Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly
August 2024
- Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
- Paralydium: Universe Calls
- Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
- Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
- All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
- Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
Asia: XXX
Asia: XXX
AOR/Melodic Rock
4.5/5.0
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Frontiers Records
by Craig Hartranft, 06.22.2012
It's hard to believe its been 30 years since that iconic first Asia album, and its monster hits. That's the meaning of XXX (as opposed to more lascivious notion), the fifth album from the original members Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton, and the third since their reunion.
Asia: older, wiser, and ...?
XXX seems more ambitious than its predecessor, Omega a rather mellow album of melodic rock. This album captures more the grandeur and energy of their earlier material, even the first album. Although I'm not sure there's anything as arena shattering as Heat of the Moment. But prog fans will dig tunes like Tomorrow the World and even Bury Me In Willow. Yet these are still, essentially, melodic rock songs. For that simple melodic rock brilliance Al Gatto Nero, the heavier Judas, and masterful No Religion are seminal Asia. That latter song could go in the arena or radio ready category. On that more mild side there's Faithful and Ghost of a Chance, a song with sound close to a mash up between Yes and Floyd.
Asia's XXX is simply classic Asia, doing intriguing melodic rock; maybe older and wiser, but still sharp and sounding good. I wish we could say the same for the latest version of Yes. Very recommended.
Tweet
In Short
Asia's XXX is simply classic Asia, doing intriguing melodic rock; maybe older and wiser, but still sharp and sounding good. Very recommended.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]