When most bands go dictionary poking for a name, they usually limit their search to the words themselves, and not their phonetic spellings. Not, ā'trĭsis a Boston quartet devoted to the kind of stadium-sized alt-rock pioneered by Muse and Coldplay. Unfortunately their name selection thus far represents their most creative facet. Mason Tyler's voice is eerily reminiscent of Matthew Bellamy, especially if that Muse frontman refused to take risks on the vocal front. Musically their most interesting efforts, like "Selling Oxygen", build upon latter day Radiohead (think "Jigsaw Falling Into Place"), but with the dread, urgency, or charisma replaced by anticlimactic choruses.
This isn't necessarily bad music, if you enjoy any of the aforementioned bands, are from the Northeast, and would like to support a local band that shows lots of potential, you can do much worse than go to an ā'trĭs show. But if they hope to get the gold on their fourth release, they are going to need to get their hands dirty and find the guts to go with their production skills, because so far this is alt-rock mad libs.
Track Listing
1. Paradise is a Boxcar
2. Selling Oxygen
3. Automatic Doors
4. Symbols in the Legend
5. This Mortal Engine
6. Tilting at the Ministry
7. Bite the Bullet
8. Light and Shadows
9. Dark Lotus
10. Outside the Factory
11. [Update Status]