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Mayday Parade are back with their first release after four long years. ‘Sweet’, the first instalment of a three-part project, marks Mayday Parade’s first album since 2021’s ‘What It Means To Fall Apart’ as well as the band’s first self-released collection.
Since releasing ‘What It Means to Fall Apart’, the band haven’t exactly been quiet, but they have been taking their time. They’ve played some one-off shows and festivals here and there, but mostly, they’ve been behind the scenes; writing, reflecting, and getting back to what made them fall in love with their craft in the first place. That time away from the spotlight gave them space to create something that feels fresh but still true to their roots. ‘Sweet’ is the first part of that – a new chapter in the form of a three-part, self-released project that’s as personal as anything they’ve ever done.
They’ve grown up, sure. But they haven’t lost what makes them Mayday Parade. If anything, this feels like them stepping back into the world with more intention and heart than ever.
This eight-track offering begins with ‘By The Way’, navigating the bittersweet nuances of a breakup. Derek Sanders’ unmistakable vocals shine here, and the opener is quintessentially Mayday Parade. ‘4,000 Days Plus The Ones I Don’t Remember’ follows, bringing back those same feelings of angst and fervour from a track like ‘Oh Well, Oh Well’.
This energy continues as it cuts through ‘Who’s Laughing Now.’ It’s followed by ‘This Personified’, a fleeting 20-second piano interlude that gives the listener a brief moment to reset. ‘Who We Are’ comes next, a mid-tempo ballad that leans into soaring melodies and heartfelt lyrics, with full-band instrumentation that keeps it grounded in that classic Mayday Parade sound. From there, it moves into ‘Natural’, a similarly reflective track, but with a slightly faster pace and a standout guitar melody that adds warmth and subtle intensity.
The introduction of strings in the latter half of ‘Towards You’ make a gorgeous addition to what is already a beautiful, dreamy track. ‘Sweet’’s closer, ‘Pretty Good To Feel Something’ snaps you out of the dreamlike undercurrent of the previous track, upping the ante with an anthemic chorus you can imagine being screamed out by crowds across festivals this summer.
‘Sweet’, though a cohesive and fluid collection of songs, doesn’t pack as much of a punch as their earlier records. That’s not a criticism. This is a band that is twenty years into their career; they’ve mellowed and matured as artists and people, and to expect them to be following the same pattern after all this time would be witless. Yes, this release feels, at least musically, a little ‘safe’, but this is not a band known for their genre-bending experimentalism. Mayday Parade are known for being able to make the listener feel something. That, ‘Sweet’ does.
To celebrate 20 years of doing what they do best, Mayday Parade are heading out on the ‘Three Cheers for 20 Years’ Tour. It kicks off on the 22nd of this month in St. Petersburg, Florida, and runs through until 6th June. They’ll be joined by Microwave, Grayscale, and Like Roses; it’s an emotionally-charged lineup that feels fitting for the kind of presence Mayday Parade have always cultivated. Later in the year, they’re also set to play the ‘When We Were Young’ festival in Las Vegas on 18th October, which feels like the perfect place to mark a milestone like this one.
KATHRYN EDWARDS
Since releasing ‘What It Means to Fall Apart’, the band haven’t exactly been quiet, but they have been taking their time. They’ve played some one-off shows and festivals here and there, but mostly, they’ve been behind the scenes; writing, reflecting, and getting back to what made them fall in love with their craft in the first place. That time away from the spotlight gave them space to create something that feels fresh but still true to their roots. ‘Sweet’ is the first part of that – a new chapter in the form of a three-part, self-released project that’s as personal as anything they’ve ever done.
They’ve grown up, sure. But they haven’t lost what makes them Mayday Parade. If anything, this feels like them stepping back into the world with more intention and heart than ever.
This eight-track offering begins with ‘By The Way’, navigating the bittersweet nuances of a breakup. Derek Sanders’ unmistakable vocals shine here, and the opener is quintessentially Mayday Parade. ‘4,000 Days Plus The Ones I Don’t Remember’ follows, bringing back those same feelings of angst and fervour from a track like ‘Oh Well, Oh Well’.
This energy continues as it cuts through ‘Who’s Laughing Now.’ It’s followed by ‘This Personified’, a fleeting 20-second piano interlude that gives the listener a brief moment to reset. ‘Who We Are’ comes next, a mid-tempo ballad that leans into soaring melodies and heartfelt lyrics, with full-band instrumentation that keeps it grounded in that classic Mayday Parade sound. From there, it moves into ‘Natural’, a similarly reflective track, but with a slightly faster pace and a standout guitar melody that adds warmth and subtle intensity.
The introduction of strings in the latter half of ‘Towards You’ make a gorgeous addition to what is already a beautiful, dreamy track. ‘Sweet’’s closer, ‘Pretty Good To Feel Something’ snaps you out of the dreamlike undercurrent of the previous track, upping the ante with an anthemic chorus you can imagine being screamed out by crowds across festivals this summer.
‘Sweet’, though a cohesive and fluid collection of songs, doesn’t pack as much of a punch as their earlier records. That’s not a criticism. This is a band that is twenty years into their career; they’ve mellowed and matured as artists and people, and to expect them to be following the same pattern after all this time would be witless. Yes, this release feels, at least musically, a little ‘safe’, but this is not a band known for their genre-bending experimentalism. Mayday Parade are known for being able to make the listener feel something. That, ‘Sweet’ does.
To celebrate 20 years of doing what they do best, Mayday Parade are heading out on the ‘Three Cheers for 20 Years’ Tour. It kicks off on the 22nd of this month in St. Petersburg, Florida, and runs through until 6th June. They’ll be joined by Microwave, Grayscale, and Like Roses; it’s an emotionally-charged lineup that feels fitting for the kind of presence Mayday Parade have always cultivated. Later in the year, they’re also set to play the ‘When We Were Young’ festival in Las Vegas on 18th October, which feels like the perfect place to mark a milestone like this one.
KATHRYN EDWARDS