CRUZAID

"Cruzaid" is the latest release from ARTSRUNI. For those you unaware with this band, they began their career in 2000 and quickly gained a following both inside and outside of Armenia. After releasing a couple of demo CDs and playing many regional gigs, the band landed a contract with the French prog rock label Musea. "Cruzaid" features 8 tracks total. The term "Cruzaid", by the way, is a deliberate misspelling of the word "Crusade". To celebrate 1700 years of Christianity in Armenia, the band members decided on the positive-looking word as something that describes their history and heritage. But, for those of you who are not into religious-sounding CDs, there is nothing overtly religious in ARTRUNI's music. Instead, listeners will get treated to mostly instrumental music that combines the modern Italian-prog stylings of groups like FINISTERRE and STEREO KIMONO with influences from JETHRO TULL, modern jazz, and even Vic Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. ARTSRUNI features a flutist, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, and drums. The flutist is the most noticeable member in the band, followed by the electric guitarist and bassist. The first track of the CD might sound deceiving to most listeners. What starts off sounding like soothing prog with touches of modern-jazz influences gradually picks up steam. And by the intro of the second track the compositions simply get better as the album unfolds. The Gunesh-sounding track "Cruzaid (Part 2)" is the strongest composition on the album and shows what this bands is capable of in terms of complexity. Overall, "Cruzaid" will definitely go on many Top 10 lists this year.