Mayday Parade are keeping their 20th anniversary party going — but this next chapter is a little softer, slower, and ready to hit you right in the feels. The Tallahassee emo veterans have announced Sad, the second instalment in their self-released album trilogy, landing 3rd October 2025.
Kicking things off, they’ve dropped the brand-new single “Under My Sweater” — and yes, Derek Sanders knows you’re thinking about Weezer. “It’s difficult to sing about a sweater without invoking Weezer, but that’s part of what I love about this song,” he says. It’s warm, nostalgic, and still feels like Mayday pushing forward.
If last year’s Sweet was full of big, upbeat anthems, Sad turns the lights down and leans into atmosphere. There’s the heartache of “Promises,” the delicate falsetto of “One Day At A Time,” and the wistful throwback “I Miss The 90s.” The album closes with the epic, multi-part “I Must Obey The Inscrutable Exhortations Of My Soul” — possibly their boldest track yet.
This new era comes after a sold-out anniversary tour that pulled over 70,000 fans and a triumphant main stage slot at Vans Warped Tour’s 30th anniversary — a full-circle moment for a band who once sold their CDs in those same parking lots.
With over 1.43 billion streams, platinum and gold singles, and a reputation as one of emo’s most enduring names, Mayday Parade are showing zero signs of slowing down. You can catch them this autumn on tour with All Time Low, at When We Were Young Festival, and all over the globe in 2026.
For now, throw on “Under My Sweater,” grab an actual sweater, and prepare yourself — October’s going to be Sad in the best possible way.
