Mayday Parade
Black Lines
Reviewed by: Fareeha Naim
Mayday Parade seems to be following a pattern of releasing an album every two years, their newest addition being their fifth LP Black Lines. With a veteran Warped Tour band like this, you just expect them to get better and better, and they consistently deliver strong tracks. Ask anyone in their fan base—each song has a different story, a different reaction, and a completely different feel from the last. They stick to one genre, sure; but within that genre, they play around with outside influences. Shifting between leans towards punk or rock or pop on their past albums, each still carries those heart-tugging ballads and lyrics you just want to scream at concerts. Which, if you’ve ever been to a Mayday Parade concert (highly recommended, they’re INCREDIBLE live performers), you know the whole crowd will be moshing and belting with all their power.
Black Lines is definitely an exploration of grittier, rawer edged music. The first punch comes from “One of Them Will Kill the Other” featuring Real Friends’ Dan Lambton, which, until the chorus kicks in, isn’t even recognizable as Mayday Parade. Don’t let that fool you, however—their experimentation with a heavier, powerful sound just works. Despite this new edge, they’re still churning out the tracks that their fans live for; “Letting Go” starts with acoustic guitar and builds into a heart-wrenching ballad, “Keep in Mind, Transmogrification is New Technology” is one the moshers will love, “Until You’re Big Enough” reminisces A Lesson in Romantics. And yet, their more experimental tracks—the biting “Let’s Be Honest” and the haunting “Hollow”—bring Mayday up to a whole new level. It’s like they’re incorporating their past sound, but looking towards their future, which hopefully holds these fearless, piercing songs that are anything but predictable.
One thing is for sure: Black Lines is a new beginning. Mayday has always been one that cruises with the trends, but the sheer force and bursts of emotion that are attached to this album hit harder than ever before. Filled with grunge and alternative influences, this isn’t an album to be missed.
Rating: Iconic
