Astra (1985)
1. Go
2. Voice of America
3. Hard On Me
4. Wishing
5. Rock and Roll Dream
6. Countdown to Zero
7. Love Now 'til Enternity
8. Too Late
9. Suspicious
10.After the War
The project known as Asia, once hailed as the definitive “supergroup” of early ’80s rock, entered its third album under the cloud of internal strife and dwindling public enthusiasm. Astra, released in 1985, was both a continuation and a departure—a record that bore the sonic hallmarks of the band’s earlier work, yet clearly revealed the splinters forming beneath the surface.
By the end of the Alpha era, tensions between bassist/vocalist John Wetton and guitarist Steve Howe had reached a tipping point. Wetton, seeking a more commercial path, clashed with Howe’s commitment to artistic integrity. Though their previous record hinted at these divergences, the fracture became irreparable when Asia took the stage for MTV’s first-ever televised concert, Asia in Asia—notably without Wetton, who was temporarily replaced by Greg Lake. By the time Astra began production, Wetton was reinstated, and Howe was gone. His replacement? The relatively obscure Mandy Meyer, formerly of Krokus—an unusual substitution that signaled a shift in both lineup and sound.
Musically, Astra still bore the Asia signature: dense, shimmering production and Wetton’s dramatic vocal delivery layered over synth-heavy arrangements. But the identity seemed blurred. Gone was the careful balance of progressive ambition and melodic precision. In its place was a more theatrical, almost camp approach—grand in sound, but increasingly hollow in substance. Tracks such as Rock and Roll Dream, Love Now ’Til Eternity, and Voice of America aspire to epic heights but land closer to overwrought high-school musical fare.
The album flirts with sociopolitical themes, particularly in After the War and Countdown to Zero, both anti-war efforts that fall flat in execution—earnest, but marred by clumsy lyrics and melodrama. These attempts at relevance ultimately weaken the album’s cohesion.
That said, Astra is not without its moments. The lead single Go, which opens the album, is a standout—a taut, driving anthem that ranks comfortably alongside the band’s stronger early material. It demonstrated that the Wetton/Downes songwriting partnership could still deliver when focused. Unfortunately, one excellent track cannot anchor an entire LP, and the remainder lacks the melodic punch or progressive sophistication to compensate.
Commercially, Astra barely registered. The modest success of Go, including a visually stylish music video, could not revive a project that had largely lost momentum. The album quickly disappeared from charts and airwaves alike, leaving many to conclude that Asia’s moment had passed.
In hindsight, Astra feels less like the third chapter of a band on the rise and more like a footnote—a coda to the brief phenomenon that was Asia’s classic lineup. It showcases the lingering embers of their early promise but is ultimately weighed down by internal fragmentation and artistic confusion. A missed opportunity, perhaps, but not an uncommon story in the annals of rock supergroups.
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