Kristen Misak

Special to the Chronicle

With the October 8th release of Mayday Parade’s “Monsters in the Closet,” the world of contemporary alternative rock receives another valuable contribution to its collection.

Although Mayday does not stray far from the beaten path in their most recent release, there is no doubt that they have mastered the ability to make heartbreak sound badass. Reminiscent of the sound heard in previous albums, the band manages to showcase lead vocalist Derek Sanders’ powerful and passionate voice, while keeping the energy up and the guitar just as strong as ever.

If you’ve never heard Mayday Parade, they’re worth checking out. It’s nearly impossible to refrain from singing along to “Girls” or “The Torment of Existence Weighed Against the Horror of Nonbeing” after hearing them a few times. Even the two ballads found on the twelve-track album, “Hold Onto Me” and “Angels” are easy to rock out to. What the album lacks in innovation for Mayday Parade, it makes up for in consistency and loyalty to the original sound of the band. It seems that Mayday really found its niche in the realm of pop punk music.

In the past eight years, Mayday Parade has generated a lot of momentum. “Monsters in the Closet” is undeniably worth a listen and definitely helps to propel them into the limelight.