MAYDAY PARADE - SAD
Mayday Parade have plenty to be excited about right now. The Tallahassee crew just wrapped up a massive 20th anniversary tour that pulled in over 70,000 fans and packed out venues. They also hit the main stage at the 30th anniversary of Vans Warped Tour, a full-circle moment for a band that once hustled their own CDs in those same parking lots nearly two decades ago. On top of that, their debut A Lesson In Romantics just turned 18, with classics like the platinum-certified ‘Jamie All Over’ and gold-certified ‘Miserable At Best’ still holding strong. And let’s not forget Sweet, the first of their self-released trilogy, which proves the band isn’t slowing down anytime soon, if anything, they’re more fired up and creative than ever.
Mayday Parade may have been at it for two decades now, but Sad doesn’t feel like a band stuck in the past, it feels like they’ve nailed the art of turning nostalgia into something that really hits. Instead of just leaning on old memories and rather than simply rehashing old vibes, they’ve turned memories into something that feels alive and heavy. This album is the second piece of their anniversary trilogy, and truthfully, it might be the most heartfelt and emotionally on-point music they’ve delivered in a while. Even after two decades, they’re proving they still know how to strike a nerve.
The album kicks off with ‘It’s Not All Bad’, and right away, you get that signature Mayday Parade guitars that feels like home. It’s the perfect opener, blasting in with energy and rolling straight into an emotional rush. From there, ‘Under My Sweater’ takes over and it’s no surprise it’s already a fan favourite. This debut single is easily one of the standout songs on the record. It captures everything that makes emo so timeless: raw feelings, hooks that stick in your head, and a vibe that leans hard into those early 2000s pop punk roots without ever feeling forced.
‘Promises’ shakes things up in the best way, pulling in a bit of a folk-inspired vibe while still hanging onto that pop-punk drive Mayday Parade are known for. It’s got this huge, soaring chorus that feels instantly memorable, the kind of hook that’ll be stuck in your head for days whether you want it there or not.
This record sees the order of songs placed perfectly as we bounce around emotions from song to song. Some truly beautiful tracks on the album include: ‘Breakup Song’, which flips expectations on their head. The title might sound gloomy, but the track is anything but. Instead of drowning in sadness, it bursts with energy and bounce, the kind that’ll have you nodding along and grinning, rather than feeling sorry for yourself. Another track, ‘In Every Way, Shape Or Form’, brings a brighter vibe, lifting the energy with huge instrumentals and a chorus that’s impossible not to sing along to. It’s upbeat, fun, and one of those songs that just sticks with you.
The real standout track on the album is one that really steals the spotlight ‘One Day At A Time’. It’s the most vulnerable moment on the record, slowing things down to let the emotion breathe. The lyrics are raw, the delivery feels genuine, and when the chorus lands, it’s devastating in the best possible way. It’s Mayday Parade doing what they’ve always done best, cutting straight to the heart.
This is definitely a record that does a bit more than you’d expect and by the time you get to the final song ‘I Must Obey The Inscrutable Exhortations Of My Soul’ everything has been tied together with a powerful finale. It’s huge, cinematic, and leaves you with that perfect kind of feeling. The only downside is that you’ll want more and there is no more, or at least not yet.
Sad is the kind of album you may throw on in the car or the one you turn up loud in your headphones during a late-night walk. The instrumentals are sharp and polished, while the lyrics hit with that classic Mayday mix of honesty and heartbreak and every track feels like it’s meant to be listened to, start to finish. The writing of this record has led to one of their most affecting releases in years. Even twenty years in, Mayday Parade still know how to write songs that sting and soothe in the same breath.
The band keep leaning into the emotional depth that’s always made their best records stand out, mixing raw sentiment with that unmistakable melodic punch they’ve mastered. With longtime producers Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount back at the helm, Sad slows things down compared to Sweet, trading speed for moodier grooves, more reflection, and a stronger focus on atmosphere.
Cat Wiltshire
★★★★☆
