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Mar 19, 2014 · Asia’s post-reunion music grew incrementally in terms of both confidence and stature, from their 2008 comeback Phoenix – the first to reconvene the dream team of bassist/vocalist John Wetton, Howe, drummer Carl Palmer and keyboard wizard Geoffrey Downes – and up to 2012’s sorely under-rated 30th anniversary set XXX, which offered one of their most exquisite compositions in Face On The ...
- Dave Ling
Jul 15, 2014 · Asia — John Wetton (vocals, bass), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Carl Palmer (drums) and Sam Coulson (guitar) — are preparing a fall U.S tour to showcase the new album and introduce their new guitarist. I recently spoke with Wetton and Coulson about Gravitas and more.
Gravitas is the thirteenth studio album by British rock group Asia, released in 2014. It is the group's final studio album with vocalist/bassist John Wetton before his death in 2017 and the only one to feature guitarist Sam Coulson . Gravitas was released on CD, deluxe edition CD/DVD-Video (featuring bonus tracks, the "Valkyrie" music video ...
Absolutely. This is the sound Asia became renowned for over the years and with Gravitas, it is clear they haven’t fallen too far from the tree. This becomes apparent with album opener and first single Valkyrie. Chugging guitar riffs, a powerful drum pattern and the constant ringing of rock organs all get thrown in to the mix to brew up that ...
Wetton is familiar with divorce: he and his wife Jill split up after about 10 years of marriage. The album was slated to be called Valkyrie, after another track on the album, but Carl Palmer objected, since he thought that title was too feminine.
Dec 2014 01. ASIA – Gravitas 0. Posted In ReViews. ASIA. Category: Progressive / Rock. Album: Gravitas. Stars: 3.5. Blurb: Presenting fine musicianship, catchy songwriting, and a relaxed atmosphere in equal measure, the latest album from ASIA falls just short of brilliance, but still offers no small amount of satisfaction.
So with a new guitarist in tow, ASIA is back once again, in a time that is quite hospitable to reunions and nostalgia. “Valkyrie” opens the album with all the wistful nostalgia you could ask for, with layered choirs, a prominent cello line, and a slow groove that is befitting a band of their era.
