Mayday Parade; Monsters In The Closet

Anvie Kay
Star Rating: ★★★★

Mayday Parade are back with their latest release, Monsters In The Closet. A collection of childhood stories that have haunted them through the years that seem to morph into multiple fears in life, this new album comes with jam-packed tunes that leave you spooked from head to toe – in a good way!

Starting the album with a choir-like array of vocal dynamics, Ghosts opens the album as a preface to the chilling theme that runs throughout it. Talking about the comforting ghosts we welcome every now and then as friends rather than a foes, this song gets you head-banging by the time the pre-chorus hits.

Girls continues the head-banging energy as it begs women to reconsider the chivalrous nature of men. The guitar riffs, along with the heavy rhythm of the drums, drizzled with the magnitude of the vocals produces a glorified arrangement of a well-oiled track. It’s so epic you can’t but head-bang as though you’re agreeing with every word they say.

Pulling their collars up, Last Night For A Table Of Two, drops the magnitude just enough to turn the dial to the maximum level of attitude. It’s definitely a song that dictates your actions in the mosh-pit. This song makes you want to throw your fists into the air and jump like there’s no tomorrow.

Turning the volume down a little, 12 Through 15 slows the pace in order to bring it back to that haunting feel that Ghosts opened with. Talking about the inner battles with personal fear, it’s a lullaby for the dreams that steal your sleep away. It’s delicate, yet powerful in every aspect of the accompaniment and the vocals.

Bringing in the cavalry choir once more, The Torment of Existence Weighed Against The… turns the volume back up just a smidge to talk about weighing up the reasons for and against existence. It’s smooth, but like 12 Through 15, there’s still a powerful dynamic between all the elements of the song.

Even Robots Need Blankets strips back just a little to highlight a great piano melody along with the vocals. Talking about the failures and loses in life, this song beautifully portrays the fragility that penetrates after failing or losing a loved one; along with that, it also depicts the heart hardening as it struggles to fight against the pain.

The magnitude kicks back in with Repent and Repeat as the song talks about falling from grace and attempting to look for atonement. The lyrics are well crafted in this song, while the accompaniment paints a perfect picture of the persona running from his sin and his inner battle as to whether he should seek forgiveness or not.

Demons turns the dial back up on the attitude, but this time, it leaves room for the same energetic vibe that the album opened with. Talking about the demons in life, this song is about fighting them away and letting the toxins they left behind fade out into the distance.

Sorry, Not Sorry slows the tempo just a little to talk about overdoing things for people who don’t even notice your hard work. Lyrically and musically, I have to say this is my favourite song. I like the story painted and the arrangement allows you to sing along.

Nothing You Can Live Without, Nothing You Can Do About opens once more with the choir, but only long enough until the accompaniment boots them out and brings the tempo back up. Another witty song that I must say that’s another favourite mine since you belt out the chorus and fist-pump the air just to make the statement loud and clear.

As the album draws to a close, Hold Onto Me softens and slows down once more as it depicts a girl who’s living a life of regret. As another favourite, I love that this song portrays the relationship of the fallen and the saviour both lyrically and musically. It’s beautiful; definitely soundtrack worthy.

Angels closes the album softly, yet with a bang. Talking about that heartache of a breakup and looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s beautiful and powerful all at once.

Overall, it’s an album that gets you on your feet and begs that you jump, raise your fists up high and belt out every word like you don’t have a choice. It’s lots of fun with moments of brilliance showered on every track.