--- product_id: 11755077 title: "Omega" brand: "asia" price: "€ 27.37" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 7 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/11755077-omega store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # Omega **Brand:** asia **Price:** € 27.37 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Omega by asia - **How much does it cost?** € 27.37 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/11755077-omega) ## Best For - asia enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted asia brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description 2010 album from the Prog Rock supergroup featuring all four original members: John Wetton (King Crimson/UK), Steve Howe (Yes), Carl Palmer (ELP) and Geoffrey Downes (The Buggles). While the band was an enormous success when they debuted in 1982, the original quartet fractured and Howe left in 1984. It wasn't until 2006 that the original foursome reconvened for a tour and then a new studio album in 2008. Two years on from that album, Omega finds all four members at a new creative peak. First pressing limited edition digipak including 1 bonus track! Frontiers. ## Images ![Omega - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ba8gTkN6L.jpg) ![Omega - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ka6OYKLTL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Surprisingly exciting, joyful, and fantastically performed triumph! *by E***G on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 27, 2010* OK, first off: let me tell you where I'm coming from. I am a serious prog rock fan, but enjoy lots of stuff, and always appreciate a well-written and performed song, as I am a songwriter myself. I am NOT an Asia nut or partisan in any way. I had the 1982 debut record like everyone else, and loved it (I was 12, so take it for what it's worth), but I would more likely throw on King Crimson, Yes, or ELP than anything else the band has done (and I've never even listened to the John Payne version--Asia is Wetton's band, to me, and his distinctive vocals and personality in singing is a big reason I even thought about looking into this new record). It never occurred to me to look into 2006's Phoenix, and I assumed that the band would be a pale imitation of its former success. I am not a huge fan of AOR rock (e.g., I don't listen to Journey, REO Speedwagon, et al), and have little tolerance for dumb lyrics and lighter-raising stadium rock moves. But. . . .I love Omega. I read the strong review in Classic Rock magazine and was surprised they had such good things to say about how revitalized the band was. So, I listened to the 30 second samples here and was surprised how good they sounded. Still, I didn't buy it; I've been burned before on samples that turn out not to represent the song as a whole. But a funny thing happened. I couldn't get the melodies from those 30-second samples out of my head. That is very unusual, and a sure sign that there is some strong songwriting on Omega. So, I finally downloaded it via Amazon, and seriously, guys, it is GOOD. Firstly, the record sounds fantastic--the excitement and power of the debut record but with no early-80s, dated production sheen. Clear strong sound, lots of air, not overly compressed and loud. Second, from the playing it is immediately clear that these old guys are not going through the motions (as I gather many thought they were on Pheonix, which I've not listened to yet). They are pumped up. The playing is really strong, tight, not flashy, no long solos (sorry proggers. . . I wouldn't have minded a few myself), but lots of very thoughtful licks that serve the song. The excitement and FUN is immediately apparent and very winning. I can't really believe how great Wetton's voice still sounds. I'm tempted to say better than ever--he used to have just a little bit of pitch trouble in the old days but his voice is now a very appealing, powerful and strong instrument in itself. Third, and most important--the SONGS. Really good writing, nearly every song has multiple strong melodies in the verses and choruses, that stay with you after one listen. This is an art that is sadly lost today, even by those like Asia who once had a firm grasp on it--well, no more for this group. Like most records today, it should be 45 min. instead of 60 (I'd get rid of "There Was a Time" and "I Believe", two of the weaker tracks), but oh, those 45 minutes--great tunes played with excitement, joy, and power by excellent musicians. To those who blast this release for being pop: oh, jeez, get over yourself. Asia was always a pop band and a great one. They prove it here. For those who lament, for example, that "Carl Palmer is given so little to do here": firstly, don't be misled. I'm a drummer, and to play with strength, control, and to really swing in the beat while driving the song forward---that is not simple. Sometimes banging all over the kit to something like "Tarkus" is actually easier than what Palmer does here, for example. Also: did it ever occur to you that no one is "giving" any of these guys "little to do"? Did it occur to you that, like me, and (hopefully) like you, these musicians like many types of music and choose, in the context of Asia (Howe has played much more proggy material recently with Yes, you know), to write and play great, sophisticated pop songs that sound great on the radio? Maybe "Emily" sounds like the Beatles because. . . hold on to your seats. . . .the guys in Asia LIKE THE BEATLES. Who doesn't? The relevant question is not: is it prog, or is it Asia? The relevant question is: is it good? And the answer is yes. I was not at all prepared to love this record, but I do. The guys have really pulled it off, and I hope that they get recognized for it. Are the lyrics sometimes banal? Sure, just like they were on the debut record, and frankly, in much of what Wetton does. But this is not the Shins, or Belle and Sebastian, or Grizzly Bear, OK? This is classic, big, catchy, prog-pop that would sound awesome blasting out of a radio this summer (not that it will probably get much airplay these days). Enjoy it for what it is, check your cynicism for a minute and dig it. With "Finger on the Trigger" blasting away, I can tell you, I at least feel like I did in 1982, when I heard "Heat of the Moment" and raced to the stereo to hit record on my cassette tape filled with airshots of top 40 hits on WKTI, Milwaukee, 94.5 FM. At $7.99 to download the album, you can't go wrong. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ One for the Ladies *by J***Y on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 18, 2010* Falsetto vocals. The story of a tragic romance with a lesbian. Children dancing barefoot in the moonlight. Assurances that God is love and that love is the key to happiness. Fast pop tempos and spacey, high-octave synthesizer riffs. Promises of "semper fidelis" to one's beloved. Sexual innuendo, but more cutesy than Kiss-like. This is Asia?My brother and I were fans from early on, but mostly lost interest after John Wetton left (although John Payne's Asia did put out a handful of interesting tunes). So we were quite pleased to hear some years ago that the original Asia had reformed and was recording again. We both enjoyed  Phoenix , although it was apparent that things had changed from the glory days. With OMEGA, things have changed even more. We were listening to Omega the other day, first time for my brother, when he said "I'm not sure what their marketing plan is for this". Just who is the target audience?After a while, it struck me. This one is meant to interest women of any age above the Taylor Swift crowd. Quite interesting - an aging supergroup whose former audience demographic, i.e. young men, have long abandoned Asia's bombastic, high-intensity prog/rock musical style. You can't go home again. But your lead singer still has an angelic voice, your keyboard man has a techno-pop heritage, and the guitar and drum guys have enough talent to adapt to anything. So you try some different directions and write songs about love, devotion, loss, sensuality, spirituality and feelings. You make sure the words will thank the someone-special in a man's life, or savor her memory. Yes, I believe that's the marketing plan.OK, Omega wasn't produced exclusively for guys who turned to Asia in 1982 when Yes and ELP had seemingly lost their creative muse. But it still offers us enough to make Omega worth a listen. Actually, many of the songs are quite good; but they are not in the style that we will remember Asia for. I could only imagine two songs that could have appeared on  Asia  or  Alpha . Those would be Through My Veins and There Was a Time. Finger on the Trigger is a standard rocking album-opener, and Ever Yours is a rehash of elements from Heroine and I Will Remember You from Phoenix (but I personally liked those songs, so I don't really mind).Holy War brings back the old anti-war message and socially-involved lyrics, but the music behind it is not the usual brooding, ELP-like dirge; it's more happy and snappy, making for an odd mix. Listen Children and Light The Way continue the up-tempo pop trend. End of the World seems to bring back the pompous contemplation of a world gone wrong (e.g. Rock and Roll Dream and Countdown to Zero from ASTRA), but then turns to love as the answer. I Believe is part 2 to this theme. I'm Still the Same could be used in one of those old "follow the bouncing ball" sing-along shows of long ago. The mood behind the opening lines of Don't Wanna Lose You Now reminds me of Starbuck's Moonlight Feels Right, but Asia still hasn't used a xylophone (although Moonlight's synthesizer refrains are similar to some of Geoff's work on Omega).And then there's Emily, the story of the girlfriend who ultimately "bats for the other side". Many reviewers don't like this tune, calling it "Beatles-esque"; probably from the bouncy piano intro. And yet, Steve Howe later adds a nice guitar break, and the last 40 seconds or so sound like the fade-out from Open Your Eyes. Thus, the music is just as confused and bittersweet as the relationship.So this one is different from the old Asia groove, more "sensitive", more Barry Mantilow. Phoenix was heading in that direction, but Omega seems to have crossed the line. And yet, many of the elements that made us prog guys love Asia in the first place are still there. You still hear an occasional echo of the past, close your eyes and say . . . Yes. Omega, like Phoenix, is a John Wetton album. But Geoff Downes comes in a close second; his keyboard work leads along new paths (new for Asia, anyway). Steve Howe is third in overall influence, but the quality of his guitar work keeps this album from fermenting into cheese. And Carl Palmer is there, drumming skillfully and vigorously but with few opportunities to show off his power, as in the old days.I hope the new marketing strategy works, as it is good to have the original Asia team out there. Omega is still worth a listen, even if you are a (sole) survivor of the old marketing strategy. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Got me by the balls!!! *by S***Y on Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 25, 2010* Wow, what a great album. So good is the quality of songwriting and musicianship on 'Omega', and so addictive are the melodies, hooks and choruses on offer, listening to this record is like spending an hour gorging on two tons of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.Opener 'Finger On The Trigger' was a free download single and is a snorting rocker, very similar to 'Never Again' from Asia's previous album 'Phoenix', with some raw, jagged guitarwork from Steve Howe.'Through My Veins' is a stark rock track with another great performance from Howe.'Holy War, is classic Asia and works as a 'Wildest Dreams' for 2010. Nobody does war songs quite like Wetton and co. and the energy in this track alone blows raspberries in the face of the collective age of these musicians.'Listen Children' and 'I Believe' are delightfully cheesy and 'There Was a Time' is one of the best bitter sweet ballads I've heard in a long old time.Asia also show a bit of humour with the catchy 'Emily'.'Omega' is packed with variety, there's everything here from big, stadium rockers, prog, pop and folk. It's a vibrant, lively album of music played by a completely re-energised group, full of confidence.Steve Howe's guitarwork is outstanding throughout and John Wetton's vocal displays are stunning.Roger Dean's artwork, just puts a cherry on the whole package.Asia deserve some real success this year, and I hope they play a good chunk of this music on the tour because it's every bit as good as anything they've recorded.And that's saying something. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/11755077-omega](https://www.desertcart.at/products/11755077-omega) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-05-01*