This review will feel very stitched together, for the simple reason that Limit Of Sight feels like the product of many disparate elements brought together in the name of epic post-hardcore. I get the feeling that about a year or so ago Aim would have had people wetting themselves over Limit Of Sight, but now, it’s destined to be a side-note, albeit one with more than it’s fair share of inoffensive moments.
With ‘Skyscrapers and Cathedrals’ Aim tread the thin line between impressive ability and pretentious arrogance. Initially annoying due to its predictability and self-important lyrics, a more melodic guitar line wrests the finger away from the ‘skip’ button but only for a while – the fact is, that even though it’s a hugely anthemic track, it is dully repetitive and all the potential is pissed away through playing safe and reverting to the early motifs. Same with ‘Belvedere’, which handicaps itself through the repetition of the same riff before the supposedly unexpected chiaroscuro of the supposedly unexpected “quiet bit.†You may notice a hint of sarcasm here, but the whole quiet-loud thing is getting boring as hell now, and it takes real innovation and energy to pull it off. Aim seem to think that by lumping loud and quiet together, the effect will be that of catharsis – the only emotional effect I had was boredom.
I can’t be bothered with faux-intelligent lyrics that are meant to reach across boundaries and touch me; it feels like laziness on the part of the singer and a reliance on familiar stock images. The music of ‘Limit Of Sight’ is precisely that (as are the lyrics…), and when ‘My Inner War’ and ‘From You To Me’ tread exactly the same ground that emo bands have been treading for a good couple of years now, you think that this could all have been avoided by the application of one measly original idea. With the jangly melodic riffs and driving bass that is like an international language of dullness, ‘Limit Of Sight’ is screaming out for a good hook or memorable tempo change, but it’s so average it hurts.
‘Tutto Quel che Meritiamo’ is the one redeeming track, a genuinely emotive and touching ballad that seethes under the surface where Aim take a few risks with letting the vocals lead the ethereal melodies. But that’s it to be honest – the album isn’t bad as such, it’s just mediocre. If you like this sort of thing, go check out The Next Autumn Soundtrack – but if you don’t, just steer clear. This is the musical equivalent of paint by numbers: all familiar images and no creativity.
Ben
www.aim-band.com