ARENA

I must admit that I have always had a little spot in my heart for ASIA over the years and will never forget their debut album. ASIA have always toyed with the mix of prog and pop rock with "Arena" being no real exception. "Arena" features original member Geoffrey Downes and John Payne who deliver their pattented ASIA sounds with pompous keyboard runs and excellent vocals. "Arena" is a concept album with some lovely progressive moments and features some great song writing. When the boys get going like on "The Day Before The War" they unleash some of ASIA's most progressive sounds yet. Lead guitarist Elliott Randall adds some lovely lead guitar solos throughout this album and is supported on the drum kit by Michael Sturgis. Every now and then ASIA get it right and everything works for me on "Arena" to perfection. This is one of those albums which will really surprise you in its completeness and degree of energy.