OMEGA

After, arguably, Asia's most progressive outing, they start to go back to their debut for song ideas. The songs aren't nearly as complex as before, some are simple as can be, but it remains consistent all the time and is sometimes catchy. The album is littered with hard rock riffs, pop catchiness, and prog...nothing. Though it may lack, it's still a welcome return to form for these dinosaur rockers.

1.Finger on the Trigger - Easily the best track on the album, as it almost boarders on heavy metal with it's classic riff. The track is nothing short of musical excellence, as the drums and bass pound as hard as they can. Vocal melody is as strong as ever, performed well by John Wetton, is very catchy and always accesible. Terrible "love-lost" lyrics, but the music truely makes up with it's ultimatly fresh feel. (9.5/10)

2.Through my Veins - A much more mellow track, with a steady and modern beat. Like the first track, it's always fresh and sounds good with the times. Slow organ, played by no one other than Geoof Downes, is played in the background to add nice texture. The best way to describe this track is layered, with its thumping drums and bass, and heavy guitar playing and solos thanks to Steve Howe. (8.5/10)

3.Holy War - The most dramatic of the tracks, is not really that great. The track has some great piano by Downes, great and complex drumming from Carl Palmer, and some happy guitar playing via Howes, and thats about it. There is no real energy and sounds extremely fake are stale. This track is easily skipped. (6/10)

4.Ever Yours - A ballad type of track, another song that fails heavily. The song is so standard and unlistenable, that I have a hard time writing a decent review for it. The vocal melody is fine, as are the vocals, but it sounds like the band is rehashing ideas. (5.5/10)

5.Listen Children - Another more outdorsey type of track, with acoustic piano on full, taking the track to a different level of sophistocation. The track is very professional, with its key elements of fast paced bass playing and drumming and great vocal melody. The lyrics are terrible, admitedly, but the music very good. (8/10)

6.End of the World - A more futuristic type of track, and one of the better songs on the album. The slightly delayed sythensizer takes the track to unknown worlds. The lyrics are very good, talking about the future of the world if we do not change. A great almost prog related track, but not enough to call it a true progressive number. (8/10)

7.Light the Way - An almost techno type of track, when it comes to they bass heavy synth sounds and fresh guitar playing, is a heavy rock electronica experiment that works out very well. The speedy rhythm is enough to makes this track a ond of a kind, and the lyrics make it turely stand out as one of the worst. This track is an interesting one as it takes on new horizons; something Asia is DEFINATLY not known for. (7.5/10)

8.Emily - Something that could remind one of a Todd Rundgren track, but something not as well crafted. Though the musician ship is excellent, as usual, the lyrics are even worse than before, and the lack of energy the inhabits this track is unusually high. Your standard pop affair, nothing too interesting. (5/10)

9.I'm Still the Same - Though the song has some interesting chords from the keyboard in the intro, it does not suggest the rest of the track. It is more of the same, average pop type of track. It sounds almost indie rock, with a bit of alternative chording. The musicianship is lazily low, and cannot redeem the track from something so radio oriented. (5/10)

10.There was a Time - Another really boring track that goes nowhere. It is a ballad track, which automatically makes the song open for investigation of the quality. The track has nothing speical at all, and has some really bad lyrics, as with most of this album. Great guitar playing and piano that makes the song sound good, is ruined by some hazy vocals and slow paced rhythm. (4.5/10)

11.I Believe - A much better track that was indicated, is a sophistocated pop song with slight prog rock leanings, though goes more toward alternative rock with it's chords and overall playing. The track is well exectued and is played with the most enthusiasm that I have heard on the album. (8/10)

12.I Don't Want to Loose you Now - Another fine track, a much more mellow type of feel is found on here. The track has some wierd lyrics, but the song has some nice acoustic guitar playing that sounds very indie for this type of band. The song has some great guitar playing from Howe, as his fills makes the song as best as it can be. A great closer to this mellow album. (8/10)

An album that many fans may find average and mellow, shows nothing more than that. Not very many progressive types of tracks on this album, which may be a good thing as the new mellow feel of the songs is fine, but it may be a little uninteresting from time to time. A 3 stars for a solid, albiet a bit inconsistent, album. Definatly should get if you like a lot of acoustic guitar and piano with vocal harmonies, but you really don't need it to complete your collection.