Songs for Black Days: Memphis May Fire's Matty Mullins | Revolver

Songs for Black Days: Memphis May Fire's Matty Mullins

Metalcore vocalist shares 6 songs that have helped him through dark times
mattymullins.jpg, Kylie Rebecca
Memphis May Fire's Matty Mullins, 2018
photograph by Kylie Rebecca

Over the course of five albums, Spokane, Washington-born vocalist Matty Mullins has sung (and screamed) about his experiences with anxiety and depression with Memphis May Fire. And he's not done — the quartet's upcoming full-length Broken, due November 16th via Rise Records, includes the lead single "The Old Me," which tackles those exact issues head-on.

Mullins says that the song tackles "what feels like a war between good and evil, loathing the person I become mentally when it consumes me, and trying to remember what life was like before I lived with the symptoms. Ultimately, hoping to one day become that person — 'The Old Me' — again."

Through it all, music has been there for him. For our continuing "Songs for Black Days" series, presented in partnership with Hope for the Day, we asked the singer to share a few songs he turns to in dark times. Below is what he offered up.

Saosin - "You're Not Alone"

It's all in the title really. The chorus of this song was so powerful for me when I was in high school, feeling like an outcast and dreading every day.

Papa Roach - "Born for Greatness"

Love this song and the dudes in the band! It's such an empowering anthem whenever I feel looked down on or like an underdog. Not to mention the music video is KILLER!

Killswitch Engage - "The End of Heartache"

Losing a loved one comes with pain that is impossible to be prepared for mentally and can send you into a spiral of depression. This song has been a go-to in my healing process when losing family members and friends over the years.

Terminal - "Just a Failure"

This song, and honestly this whole record [2005's How the Lonely Keep], was a huge help in my younger years. It felt like the songs were written specifically for me and the singer was saying things in a way that I never figured out how to say on my own.

Linkin Park - "Crawling"

No one was better at describing mental struggle and pain than Chester Bennington was. Songs don't have to sound hopeful to offer hope. Sometimes, you just want a song that you can relate to so you don't feel alone in your pain. That's what this song did for me.

As I Lay Dying - "Nothing Left"

This was my "pump up" song that made me feel like I could take on the world. No matter how defeated I was feeling, this song always gave me the boost I needed to carry on.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of resources.