Asia roars back to life.

Byline: Paul Hooper

PUNK and New Wave sounded the death knell of the supergroup but some rock dinosaurs won't die.

Many thought ASIA were extinct but a new album 30 years after their first release proves they were just lying dormant waiting to spark back into life.

Fans of their eponymous, four-times platinum debut album will find lots to like on XXX, including new single Face On The Bridge.

XXX is full of that early 80s raw rock which can, at times, feels like a trip down Amnesia Lane.

But the songs are strong and full of great imagery. The original line-up is back and there's little doubt it is a more reflective Asia.

The other thing that can't be doubted is the pedigree of the four-piece - Geoff Downes (ex-YES and THE BUGGLES) on keyboards, guitarist Steve Howe, pictured, (Yes), drummer Carl Palmer (ELP) and bass player and vocalist John Wetton (URIAH HEEP and KING CRIMSON).

The band had a string of Top 10 singles in the early 80s including Only Time Will Tell and Heat Of The Moment, made frequent appearances on MTV and had a sell-out tour. But by 1983, on the back of a disappointing second album, Alpha, Wetton left the band and was replaced for a while by ELP's Greg Lake for the band's Asia In Asia tour.

On XXX, No Religion is full of verve, close your eyes and it is easy to imagine you are watching a re-run of early MTV. Ghost Of A Chance and I Know How You Feel could have easily come from their first album.

As Wetton said: "The album encapsulates lyrically and instrumentally, the essence of the band today.

It is the same people that gave you the original, iconic album 30 years ago. If you loved it then you will love it now."

RUMER quite rightly won acclaim for her debut album Seasons Of My Soul but has gone back to the 70s for inspiration for Boys Don't Cry. She has plundered long-forgotten songs from CLIFFORD T WARD and GILBERT O'SULLIVAN.

Many of the songs are melancholic but her voice is so good it can make even the bland sound fresh and new.