Two decades in, Mayday Parade aren’t slowing down. They just announced Sad, the second installment in their self-released 20th anniversary album trilogy. The record arrives Oct. 3 and follows this spring’s Sweet, shifting the mood from high-energy anthems to slower, more atmospheric storytelling.
Produced once again by longtime collaborators Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, Sad leans into introspection without losing the soaring melodies, sharp hooks, and raw honesty fans have loved since the beginning. Where Sweet felt expansive and electric, Sad takes a breath, exploring the softer side of the band’s sound.
Listeners can expect a range of emotions. From the heartbreak-laden “Promises” to the falsetto-laced ballad “One Day At A Time” and the wistful nostalgia trip of “I Miss The 90s,” you’ll feel it all. The album wraps with “I Must Obey The Inscrutable Exhortations Of My Soul,” a genre-bending, multi-part closer that stands among their most ambitious work yet.
As a preview, Mayday Parade have shared the first single, “Under My Sweater,” out now with an official music video. “It’s difficult to sing about a sweater without invoking Weezer, but that’s part of what I love about this song,” Sanders jokes. “‘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.”
