Dukes Of The Orient - Dukes Of The Orient (2018)

The debut album from this US - UK supergroup.

Dukes Of The Orient is a quintet with a lineup of keyboards, bass, guitars, drums and vocals.

The band is a cooperation with the ex Asia vocalist John Payne and the artist Erik Norlander. They have got help from three other musicians with background from (the band) Asia and the AOR scene.

Fans of Asia has been lapping up this album in the last weeks. There is no denying that the band sounds like Asia.

But this album is still standing well and truly on it's own feet.

The vocals are very good and the keyboards is also good. Ditto for the guitars and the rhythm section.

The AOR is pure and simple. There is not any nonsense here. Just melodies with some good choruses and verses. This is not really my cup of tea.

When that is said, there is no denying that this is a good album. The band is ticking all the boxes and the melodies tends to linger even after this fifty minutes long album has finished.

If you want one AOR album this year, this is the album you should go for.

3 points