Aim High feat. Belmont & Safehold “Gender Neutral Happy Meal” Track Review

South Carolina pop punkers Aim High have released new single “Gender Neutral Happy Meal” from their upcoming debut album Local Band Forever. It features Chicago’s beloved Belmont as well as emo-pop singer Safehold, making for an eclectic tune that alternates between typical pop punk and directions far more unorthodox.

The song speaks about the introverted struggle to outwardly express oneself properly. It opens with twinkling keys that have a recurring presence throughout, setting an overall celestial theme. It seemingly represents the feeling of being in your own head and mentally shutting out the rest of the world, whether intentionally or not. This jumps into the main hook where the lyrics say “Oh shit, there I go again / I fucked around and missed all the signals,” stimulating the snap back to reality. From there, it exerts a fiery pop punk energy of biting guitars and battering drums until the bridge, where a metalcore-influenced breakdown and vicious screams ensue. The glimmering keys make a surprising return for the heaviest section of the song, providing a divergent counterpoint for the chugging guitar and low growls. Ironically, for a song about a scuffle with self-expression, it conveys its message very clearly and sincerely.

Listen to the track below, and check out Aim High’s other material and collaborations on Spotify and Apple Music!