Sense May lead you to Spiritual Decay

I have never been a true fan of labelling a band “just because”. The press – and may I say the fans – has this need to place A and B inside a specific drawer, which makes it hard for the band to grow and reach different audiences, mostly due to these "restrictions". With that, we create niches… which is not always a bad thing, d’you know what I mean?! Be with your mates and all that, the same music, the same mindset, a “tribe”, per se.

I am an avid Music fan. Yes, I have my favourite bands, genres, styles, etc., but if something good hits, I am all for that, and I am all in, of course. And it happened very recently, as I was going through social media. I read a short note on a Brazilian band whose members were living in Portugal and started a band after many years. Their name is Spiritual Decay, and the webzine/magazine/whatever was IDIOTEQ, which is a name I pay attention to due to the quality of the content. However… through Spiritual Decay I got to listen to Sense May, and what would initially not be my cup of tea, became my cup of tea very quickly.

These lads are from Porto – muy nobre e invicta cidade do Porto – and play a mixture of Emo, Alternative/Indie Rock, and maybe some Seattle riffs, that sounds very fresh and cool. Yeah! Fresh and cool. And in all honesty, this sound is one I am not very knowledgeable of, so if shite comes out, please correct. I did get into bands like Basement, Superheaven and Narrow Head this year, and I do find points of contact between these, and Sense May, and if that makes sense, all cool!

I consider myself to be an Extreme Metal fan with a prominent taste for Hardcore and Punk. The Hardcore I lean into the most has this Old-school thing to it, a darker atmosphere, a more visceral sound, however I can also jump up and down to much more melodic sound, and Sense May truly has that melodic side to it. I recall the term Emo being an insult and a way to bully your friend that had “that” haircut, but looking back I was always into melodic Extreme Metal and melodic Hardcore… hell, I love the Deftones and if these guys are not the epitome of today’s Alternative Emotional Rock, I want to know who are! You know? The term Emo is a killer, right? People read Emo and go “vomit and puke”! it is painful when people cannot enjoy Music for what it is. Again, I know some people really do not connect with A or B, and that is cool and chill, but no need for hate! I see the meme: Wu Tang Clan slitting throats right and left!

Sense May started releasing music in 2024. Singles, live singles, full EP, everything. In 2025 “Live at Room 27” came out, with 3 previously released tunes and 2 new ones. It is cool. The sound is crisp and clean, but the gerne would not have it any other way, so… This one, along with “Sense May” EP, is all we have from these lads from the magnificent city of Porto, caralho! If you are into melodic music, more into the Alternative side of things, this is a good possibility.

And the guys that got me here, ladies, gents, and pugs world-wide: Spiritual Decay. The second I heard these guys, the name Feels Like Heaven came to mind! I found out about FLH a few years ago and got hooked on them quite quickly. More on the Emo and Melodic side of the Hardcore spectrum, just like FLH, Spiritual Decay has a harsh side – please, Satan… that bass – and a more melodic side to it, and both are amazing! And I loved it! And I am extremely curious to see how the rest sounds!

I cannot do much with only one tune, however, the tune sounds magnificently amazing eheheh the one that asks for beanie and shorts pants – not shorts – and Star Wars socks (daily uniform, yeah) due to its really fucking cool style. Hey, look at High Vis. You got these Football Ultra looking guys, kick, and punch on stage, and then you get Graham Sayle come up front stage, shirtless and full of tats, speak out on depression and grief and mental health. There is no way you can be more Hardcore than that. That shit right there is Hardcore. Spiritual Decay does not sound like High Vis, but with age I came to the conclusion that Hardcore and Punk are not just Music, this being the least important for me, but a message and a state of mind, d’you know what I mean? Hardcore and Punk are a bloody state of mind, and Spiritual Decay, along with Sense May, are there!

Go and check them out, organize a show, start a zine, spread the message… Love and Fraternity… Hardcore.

SPIRITUAL DECAY FIRST TRACK - "PEOPLE FADE FAST"

SENSE MAY OFFICIAL BANDCAMP