Asia
High Voltage Live

A unique live document it is said in the press release of this live album and DVD from Frontiers. Thing is though that it is hard to see what it really offers compared with other things, classic songs performed by the original line up but this band has done live stuff before and it doesn’t feel like offers up something we haven’t seen or heard before. But as you can read about it on the band’s official website I guess it is sanctioned by the band but then again Asia has already released one album this year and this recording was done way back in 2010 so I guess they must have been working long and hard to perfect the sound and everything before they released the show recorded at the inaugural High Voltage festival.

If they have been working long and hard to perfect this recording it must have been the worst recording ever because this really sounds terrible. Awful would be my word. Asia is otherwise a strong band with several brilliant song of which you can hear many on this recording. Strange thing though is that you will be hard pressed to recognise these songs even as a fan of the band, such is the state of this recording. The sound is hollow as it was recorded by someone in the audience and the production is nowhere really, it sounds cheap and poor not like the band who released 1982s best selling album and who might be considered the founders of the genre that is called arena rock today.

No, I am not impressed at all. I think that we can describe this as greed packed in a jewel case or however it is packed. Another one of those live albums like the ones we have seen from Def Leppard, Yes, Whitesnake or a few other of those bands that did a name for themselves back in the day and now are releasing live album after live album for Frontiers. What is the point? I believe it is money and I really hope that the band isn’t really standing behind this crappy attempt of exploiting the Asia fans and collectors. It is really a dreadfully bad album which I would have burned and then flushed the ashes down the toilet to rid myself of its influence had I been given a physical copy of it. I can at least purge my computer from this crap now, thank heavens for that.

So, is there a point for anyone to get this album? The answer is no, this a genuinely bad album no matter who you are and whatever musical preference you have - it is just bad. It is a shame that someone can be allowed to assassinate such great music in such a shameless way, it would have been a gruesome mass murder had these songs been people. Then again, it is their legacy and if Asia wants to be perceived as greedy bastards without any shred of decency in their beings it is their choice. I think the best thing we all can do is to boycott this crap, it is just too bad that I didn’t have time to create this review sooner to spare those who have already bought this album and subsequently lost their will to live. I am sorry for that, I hope at least some of you rethink your choices to end your lives. What the fuck were you thinking when you agreed to release this piece of shit Asia?

HHHHHHH