DEREK SANDERS

STRIKING OUT INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN DEREK SANDERS

INTERVIEW BY ANNETTE HANSEN

For 14 years, Derek Sanders Everything in Mayday Parade is a called ‘But Lauren,’ and I recorded it getting feedback. That’s been suhas built a career as the group, you know, the five of us vote as a Valentine’s Day gift for my wife,” per rewarding.” frontman of Mayday Parade. and decide on things, and it’s kind Sanders explains. “I ended up showThrough the band, Sanders of nice to have the freedom to do ing that song to the guy who wrote it, As Sanders embarks on this new has been able to share his music whatever I want.” his name is Mike Hanson.” outlet in his career, there’s a lot to with the world. It’s a new decade, look forward to. With the freedom though, and Sanders is now ready The EP consists of five stripped-down Sanders says showing Hanson the of creating and touring as a solo to put his musical gifts out there in covers from bands like Saves The track was the first push towards a artist, he is ready to enjoy whatever a whole new way. Day and Jimmy Eat World, all songs bigger project, comes next. that Sanders says were important On Feb. 14 Sanders released his tracks from his teenage years. “When I sent [the song] to him, he “I’m excited to know what people debut solo EP, My Rock and Roll was the first one to bring up like, think of it, and excited to go play Heart, via Rise Records. Despite “These bands all had a huge impact ‘yo, this is great, you should release a couple of shows,” Sanders relays. having an active and successful on my life and on the music that I this, put it out somehow.’” “Part of what’s neat about this is music career, Sanders doesn’t shy went on to create,” he says. that, because it is just me, whenaway from discussing the nerves Now that the project has come to ever there’s time when Mayday and anticipation he has surroundReleasing a solo EP wasn’t a spur fruition, Sanders is reveling in the Parade is off, it’s easy for me to zip ing the project. of the moment decision for Sandreality and the newness of it all. around and play a few shows here ers. The project began as a single and there. Maybe fly to some plac“It’s kind of weird, because it’s such recording of a single track, meant “It’s been something I’ve thought es and play a couple of shows, and a foreign concept to me at this as a gift and not for wider release. about doing for so long,” he says. just sort of keep it simple for now, point,” Sanders says. “Because Ultimately, Sanders and others saw “Even when I recorded these songs but have fun with it. I don’t know, I’ve been in Mayday Parade for potential in bringing a full solo reyears back, it’s just been like ‘one it’s just an exciting thing.” �� �� �� 14 years, and I haven’t put out any lease to light. day this will be a real thing.’ And type of music in any type of projnow we just put out this first song, ect other than Mayday Parade. “The first song that I recorded is and it’s actually real, and you’re

INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST AND GUITARIST MARTIN BUSH BY NICHOLAS SENIOR

Everyone knows that the That particular, sonic flavor is does contain some surprises, original is always better honed and honeyed to greater but it also feels more confident than the sequel, except heights on Vol II—vocal hooks and assured in going about the when that’s not true—The feel sharper; there isn’t a various, musical movements. Dark Knight, The Empire Strikes throwaway riff, and the songs Improved songwriting has paid Back, Terminator 2, the list goes feel laser-focused. This is like off to where these feel more on. Now, we can add Vol II—out the holy grail of an intricate, impactful as songs rather than March 20, 2020 via Season of prog odyssey that grabs you just moments between killer Mist—to that mighty list of times instantly and never lets go. riffs. Bush notes that nothing when a great idea was outdone There’s a comfort that clearly was forced this time around, the second time around. came into play with the trio, who and these great ideas came have been friends for decades about through care rather than Kansas City (if you’re anyone before figuring out how well intention. but the president, I’m sure you they fit into a band together. know that’s in Missouri) trio Vocalist and guitarist Martin “As cliché as it is, we are really Hyborian stormed out of the Bush reflects on how Hyborian just getting together and having gate with Vol I, an excellent came to be. fun when we write,” he explains. batch of proggy, thrashy sludge “We aren’t really aiming for a fueled by an interesting, sci-fi “We really just started playing specific sound; we are just narrative. Hyborian even stood together and realized we wrote making the metal we want to tall in the face of Mastodon really well together,” he says. hear. I think that if Vol II has comparisons, in part because of “We just started getting together better writing, it’s probably just their unique, thrashy execution— in my garage (which we called because we have been writing think everything Sepultura got ‘the shred’) once or twice a week, together longer now, so our right over their storied career, and a few months later, we had process is a little more defined, mix it with stadium prog and a some pretty decent songs.” and we understand how to work guitar tone thicker than that with each other even better.” natural peanut butter you need This record is such a delight, to stir to even get out of the jar. brimming with ideas and truly “Obviously we wanted the feel of So delicious. astounding execution. Vol II the music to match the mood NEW NOISE

and feel of the source material,” he continues. “But [we] also felt like there always has to be something interesting going on. Sometimes, it’s a vocal hook or an extra heavy riff, sometimes a rhythmically interesting part. We really just wanted there to be no filler on this one.”

That source material is The Traveller, a long-form, sci-fi story written and released by Bush to accompany the album, and Vol II is the second in a planned trilogy. Spoiling the story would ruin half the fun of diving headfirst into the world of Hyborian, but all the thought and love poured into making the band’s now-patented brand of progressive sludge was matched by the labor that went into this engaging and harrowing tale.

Now we just have to hope that Vol III is more Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade than The Godfather Part III. �� �� ��