ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO: Ménage À Quatre

Release year: 2019
Label: Out Of Line

I have long been a fan of neofolk, and the artist that got me into the genre originally was Swedish Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, whose split with Italian Spiritual Front – another personal favourite of mine – was the album that finally made me understand and love this odd genre of music. It must be said, though, that today as well as back then, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio (from here on ORE) do not fit into the neofolk niché very snugly. They defy simple genre descriptors, which is surely exactly how they want it.

Ménage À Quatre is but an appetizer, a tidbit to whet the tongue before the Swedes release their next full album, Let’s Play, later this year. Consisting of four tracks (of course, considering the name) out of which three are previously unheard, it certainly leaves one wanting for more.

The Swedes have always dared to break into new ground on every album, whilst skillfully still retaining that abstract something which makes ORE what it is. In consideration of that, this EP plays it pretty safe. The first track Ménage À Trois – Is There Nothing To Regret? sounds quite similar to a song like I M B E C I L E, My Idiot Lover from the 2010 album Songs 4 Hate & Devotion, whilst Believe In Me (We Are One) and Kiss Me Now (And I’ll Be Silent Just 4 You) could almost have been lifted from the second disc of 2016’s [Vision: Libertine] – The Hangman’s Triad. The fourth track, 4 All Of Our Scissor Sisters, is already familiar from the Ashes Of Angels -compilation album from 2017. Sensual, dark, erotic, cruel, romantic and nihilistic – this is ORE performing their unique style of apocalyptic neofolk-pop as only they can.

The label describes the forthcoming full-length as “the final version of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio” (hopefully not the finale of the band though!), so perhaps this time around it’s not to much about breaking new ground, but instead of collecting all the disparate threads existing within ORE’s discography and tying them into a solid knot. Certainly, this EP would suggest it – and also promise another solid addition to ORE’s discography.

After this appetizer, I am hungrier than before for the main course.

4/5

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