The Heavy Box, the new solo EP from Mayday Parade frontman, Derek Sanders, might be just a short five song release, but it is packed to the brim with emotion and powerful songwriting. While his first solo EP, My Rock and Roll Heart was comprised of five stripped-down covers, The Heavy Box is made up of five new songs that find Derek wearing his heart on his sleeve and even reuniting with Jason Lancaster for the first time since his departure from Mayday Parade in 2007.
Opening with the somber yet stunning “Home”, The Heavy Box is the perfect blend of emo nostalgia and a bright future for Derek Sanders. “With You On The Ground”, featuring Mike Hanson of local Tallahassee band Goodbye Love, feels like going back in time to the early 2000’s. Both singers’ voices sound incredibly raw and vulnerable on the track, which is carried by energetic acoustics. Meanwhile, the EP’s third song, “True Story Of The Boy Whose Exploits Panicked A Nation” feels a bit different than anything Derek Sanders has done before, carried by a cappella vocals and simplistic guitar. It’s a truly striking track.
Closing The Heavy Box are the spectacular “Howell Canyon”, which is sure to become a fan-favorite, and the heartbreakingly beautiful “For Dear Life”, which will make fans remember just how much they’ve missed hearing Derek and Jason’s voices together. Spearheaded by somber piano, vulnerable lyrics and powerful vocals, it’s the perfect conclusion to the short, yet emotional EP. With each song on The Heavy Box, we are reminded again and again why Derek Sanders is still one of the greatest voices of the scene, whether it’s with a full band, or on a stripped down solo release.