Ars De Er - Deux (2012)

The debut album from this band from Belorussia. The band has been active since 2003 with various gigs in their local area before they now has unleashed their music on the rest of us.

The music is RIO (Rock In Opposition) with obvious referenses to Aranis and Univers Zero. The music is performed as a chamber orchestra with mainly acoustic instruments. The music is mostly dark and sinister. It reminds me a lot about Present at times. The piano and bass drags the music into a very dark, nightmare like territory. There are also a lot of lighter moments in the music, performed with woodwinds and harp.

The quality is very good throughout. It can be argued the music may be too similar to the big RIO masters and that Ars De Er is struggling to find their own identity. In a narrow music genre, it is not easy to stake out new ground. Ars De Er makes me want to listen to the Aranis and the Univers Zero albums again. That and the other RIO albums I have got, hidden away in a corner of my office. Deux is a very good intro to the RIO genre and this band. I hope we will hear a lot more from them in the future.

3.5 points