The Limit is a trio from New Haven consisting of Mark Daniel on vocals & guitar, Bob Chmiel on drums, and Todd Grosberg on bass. "Reinventing the Sun" was released in 2007 and is a refreshing blast of honest rock that fuses elements of prog and pop effortlessly. The record also benefits from being mastered by a man of their stripe, none other than Ty Tabor of King's X.
For just three guys, you'll be surprised at how big and bold the record sounds, best played with the volume at maximum. Musically, these guys have excellent chops and they would make their classic rock influences proud. They are also one of the busiest bands I've covered, performing hundreds of shows over the past couple of years on multiple continents with some of the biggest names in modern rock (Buckcherry, Pearl Jam, Fuel, and Alter Bridge to name a few). I also appreciate that they keep things interesting by bringing mandolin and piano into their sonic arsenal.
To my ears, I hear the prog rock influences like Rush and Yes, but also some more modern influences like Candlebox and Pearl Jam. Daniel's vocals have a Danny Vaughn (Tyketto) quality to them, with a pinch of Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche). He is a capable vocalist, but sometimes sounds a tad atonal or too thin against the huge wall of sound. Some overdubs and harmonies could help give the vocals more of a sonic push.
The record begins with a rousing roar to introduce one of the strongest cuts, "House of Sand". "Closer" is another dose of caffeine in the form of a blistering and catchy rocker. "Everything" is another highlight, a midtempo treat with one of the best hooks on the record. The acoustic driven "Time Can't Keep Me" is well-positioned and a smart way to break up the flow on "Reinventing the Sun". It has a great melody, but this is one of the tunes where the vocal performance rubs me the wrong way. "Best Thing" is also worth checking out for the superb guitar work. Any of these tracks from "Reinventing the Sun" could set fire to modern rock charts.
There is a lot of passion and potential here and, with a band that tours so much, they are only going to get better and better. I am very eager to hear what these guys do next...I think the sky is the limit.
iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8
The Limit on MySpace. Official site. YouTube.
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