Band Members:
Geoffrey Downes: keyboards
Steve Howe: electric, acoustic and steel guitars
Carl Palmer: drums, percussion
John Wetton: vocals, bass guitar

Produced by Mike Paxman
Engineered by Steve Rispin
Recorded at Liscombe Park Studios, UK, Jan-Mar 2012
Mixed by Mark 'Tufty' Evans at Wispington Studios
Mastered by Secondwave
Bonus DVD produced & directed by Devin DeHaven, Fortress Television

Project management: Daniel Earnshaw
Management: Martin Darvill
Assisted by Patzi Cacchio, Val Pianezzi, Maria Lundy, Nathan Parsons, Adam Sargent
Marketing & PR: Bruce Pilato at Pilato Entertainment
Official Asia website: Michael Milbourn

Photography: Michael Inns
Layout: Karen Gladwell
Illustration & logo: Roger Dean
Computer work: Kate Haynes

Tracks:
1. "Tomorrow the World" [Wetton/Downes] (6:47)
2. "Bury Me in Willow" [Wetton/Downes] (6:01)
3. "No Religion" [Howe/Wetton/Downes] (6:36)
4. "Faithful" [Wetton/Downes] (5:37)
5. "I Know How You Feel" [Wetton/Downes] (4:53)
6. "Face on the Bridge" [Wetton/Downes] (5:59)
7. "Al Gatto Nero" [Wetton/Downes] (4:36)
8. "Judas" [Howe/Wetton/Downes] (4:43)
9. "Reno (Silver and Gold)" [Howe/Wetton] (5:15), bonus track on special edition only
10. "Ghost of a Chance" [Wetton/Downes] (4:21)
11. "I Know How You Feel (Midnight Mix)" [Wetton/Downes] (5:23), bonus track on special edition only

Bonus DVD:
1. The Making of XXX (Featurette) (20:33)
2. Face on the Bride (Music Video) (4:33)
3. Faithful (Music Video) (4:34)

Notes: The name and cover art reference 2012 being the thirtieth anniversary of the band's debut album. The album was largely written in late 2011 by Wetton (who did most of the lyrics) and Downes. Wetton, Downes and producer Mike Paxman started work on the new album on 9 Jan 2012, although this appears to be prior to recording sessions. By 18 Feb 2012, Wetton said, "Drums all done now, vocals, keys and banjos next week." Downes tweeted on 1 Mar, "Finishing off my keys parts on new Asia CD this week." The team was largely the same as for Omega.

In a Sep 2012 interview, Howe said, "we had a concise agenda. We knew the label was crying out for an album that was a bit summery and up-tempo. They wanted us to not go into the ballad area [...] I do really feel this is a stronger album than both Phoenix and Omega, although there are things on both of those albums that I really like. I also think it is ahead of Alpha." He was also asked about the songwriting:

The producer weighs in his opinion [...] He is the outside guy with the outside ideas who can oversee it. [...] He avoids us colliding and makes us very efficient about the way we use our time and the way the songs are prepared.

"The way we team up on the arrangements is different on different tracks. Quite often Geoff and I have looked at them and messed with them and then Mike looks at them and messes with them, but I must say the writing comes in, in very good shape.

In another interview that month, he described the songwriting in these terms:

Shortly after we decided to go with the project, we started making plans to collaborate. Usually, Geoff will come over to my place and he'll show me some of the songs he and John had been working on. Then I'll play him some of my stuff and we'll work to get the material in a way that will be accessible for John. We'll then leave John with the song for a while to let him get the feel of it. He's just got a style for it.

The album came out in various formats: a regular 9-track CD, limited edition vinyl and a special edition 11-track CD, which also comes with a DVD. A radio edit of "Face on the Bridge" was released as a digital single and free download before the album, which came in late Jun/early Jul 2012 in various markets. 

Sales for Omega had been somewhat disappointing, but XXX sold better. It made #69 in the UK, the band's best performance since Astra (1985), and #134 in the US. (HP, 4 Nov 12)