Too Many Cooks in Amrita's Broth

Undoubtedly to the excitement of many fans, ex-members from bands such as The Academy Is…, WHITE|CLAUDIA, Blacktop Mourning, and others have come together to produce what nearly typifies the genre of a “concept album,” Amrita’s Innertides. The collaboration, however, seems to fall prey to the curse of overreaching, as many themed musical excursions tend to produce. Innertides presents itself as an exemplary demonstration of contemporary rock, with experimental influences competing for attention in the margins. Inevitably, complications arise.

Based on an overarching storyline, similar to Coheed and Cambria, Amrita’s lyrics read as a conversation between characters, as in “Come My Way,” with the call and response “Oh, what have I done?/Nothin! Boy, you’ve done nothing out of the ordinary.” The context is mysterious, which sidles well along the enigmatic, seemingly incohesive movements of songs on Innertides. The album’s title track opens with a stabbing tempo, frenzied cymbals, and indistinct vocals echoing in the background, against Patrick Riley’s principal vocal melodies. Building in and out using a throbbing rhythm section, and interludes of instrumentation from funky, tribal drums to grating electric guitar, “Innertides” creates atmosphere and movements that, although cluttered, prove worth delving into. In the ballad-style “Shallow Soul,” melodic synth pours over echoing vocals, while a driving guitar solo attempts to take center stage, noticeably out of place. And playing with genres from traditional rock, funk, and prog make an epic effort out of “In Death, A Tribute,” though, in the end, the melding of choral vocals, strings, and cock rock guitars seems akin to compiling various incompatible tracks on a seven-minute mixtape.

It’s clear that Amrita lacks little in talent and ambition. With strong guitar solos drawing back on the flair of seventies rock, a keen sense of atmosphere, Innertides attempts to break apart the hard lines separating genres, and arguably succeeds in doing so. In being a jack of all trades, however, Amrita’s concept album obscures listeners from its multiple bright moments. Rather than letting the ambiance of instrumentation resonate, each track crams together an overabundance of sonic layers, each competing for attention. As a result, the bulk of Innertides seems to have confused conceptual with just plain complicated.

Enough Noise. Check out Amrita on Myspace.