ASIA

(UNITED KINGDOM)

ARENA

(1996)
LABEL:

SPV STEAMHAMMER

GENRE:

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

TAGS:
"This "Arena" is riding the crest of the Asia wave, and will only be dethroned many years later by "Omega" when the band re-forms in its original line-up."
PETE_T (12.04.2010)  
4/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s)
For some time now, Asia's productions have been repeating a recipe that is certainly pleasant, but a little too classic. "Arena" brings in some new blood, with the arrival of a formidable pair of talents in Aziz Ibrahim (Simply Red) and Eliott Randall to replace Al Pitrelli, but above all with tracks that, this time, stand out.

'Into The Arena', a percussion-driven instrumental, finds guest guitarist Hotei Tomayasu at work on a refreshingly timeless track. As usual, the compositions are direct and well-balanced, the perfect production highlighting the background work carried out by Payne and Downes. However, "Arena" is packed with particularly interesting tracks, including the most progressive song in their history, "The Day Before The War", a ballad lasting over nine minutes and offering a kind of permanent, continuous progression - surely one of the most important and unavoidable tracks of the Payne period.

The other stand-out tracks, 'Arena', '2 Sides Of The Moon' with its magnificent Hammond organs, and 'U Bring Me Down', allow this version of Asia to shine alongside rather insipid compositions such as the ballad 'Tell Me Why' or the unsurprising 'Words'. The album closes in the best possible way with a new instrumental, 'Bello Nova', just as interesting as the opening track, but in a more modern version. 

This "Arena" surfs the top of the Asia wave, and will only be dethroned many years later by "Omega" when the band re-forms in its original line-up. A must-have album in the combo's discography.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Into The Arena - 03:02
02. Arena - 05:14
03. Heaven - 05:18
04. Two Sides Of The Moon - 05:24
05. The Day Before The War - 09:09
06. Never - 05:34
07. Falling - 05:00
08. Words - 05:17
09. U Bring Me Down - 07:06
10. Tell Me Why - 05:15
11. Tuen It Around - 04:29
12. Bella Nova - 03:11
13. That Season (bonus) - 04:51

LINEUP:
Aziz Ibrahim: Guitares
Elliot Randall: Guitares
Geoff Downes: Chant / Claviers
Heiti Tomoyasu (1): Guitares
John Payne: Chant / Basse
Luis Jardim: Percussions
Michael Sturgis: Batterie
   
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