As they continue to celebrate two decades as a band, Mayday Parade—the quintet from Tallahassee, Florida—has announced Sad, the second part of a new, emotionally charged album trilogy. The new record, produced by longtime collaborators Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, is set to arrive on October 3. To give fans a preview, the band has released the first single, “Under My Sweater,” which is now available on all streaming platforms. While the first album, Sweet, delivered energetic anthems, this new instalment slows the tempo and leans into a more introspective atmosphere while retaining the soaring melodies and emotional honesty that have defined the band’s career.
Of the single, Sanders states,
It’s difficult to sing about a sweater without invoking Weezer, but that’s part of what I love about this song. ‘Under My Sweater’ wears its inspirations on its sleeve and feels both a part of old school nostalgic emo as well as something modern and a step forward for Mayday Parade.
Sad explores the softer edges of the band’s sound through tracks like the heartbreaking “Promises” and the nostalgic “I Miss The 90s.” The album culminates in the ambitious, multi-part suite “I Must Obey The Inscrutable Exhortations Of My Soul,” a dynamic track that ranks among their most creative work to date. Following a career-defining anniversary tour and a triumphant main-stage return at Vans Warped Tour, this new album marks the next chapter in Mayday Parade’s ongoing story of independence and creative renewal. With a catalogue that boasts over a billion streams and helped define a generation of emo fans, the band remains a vital and creatively energised force. Fans can catch them on tour this fall with All Time Low and at this year’s When We Were Young festival.
