There’s something undeniably magnetic about a band that can take raw emotion, package it in a catchy melody, and make you feel every word. Aberdeen’s Palejoy has mastered this delicate art, and their latest single, “Max Payne Au Chocolat,” released on February 21, 2025, is a testament to their ability to craft music that cuts deep while keeping your head nodding.
With an offbeat title that could be mistaken for a French café dessert special, Max Payne Au Chocolat is anything but lighthearted. Beneath its bouncy, riff-driven exterior lies a heart-wrenching exploration of emotional turmoil, relationship struggles, and the collateral damage of unspoken pain. The band—known for their introspective lyricism and emotionally raw sound—peels back the layers of a love story gone wrong, where devotion meets destruction, and care collides with cruelty.
Following up on their November 2024 release, “I Bet Heaven Isn’t Real At All,” Palejoy once again dives into the messy, complicated corners of human connection. Max Payne Au Chocolat tells the story of a short-lived romance riddled with emotional abuse and the weight of depression. It’s a narrative that feels achingly real—a love that, despite its sincerity, crumbles under the weight of unresolved trauma. The protagonist, full of empathy and patience, watches helplessly as their partner’s pain and self-destruction spiral beyond their reach, leaving them to pick up the emotional wreckage.
Musically, Max Payne Au Chocolat plays with contrasts. The upbeat, almost feel-good energy of the guitar work juxtaposes the song’s deeply melancholic themes, creating an effect that feels both cathartic and crushing. It’s the kind of song you find yourself singing along to, only to realize halfway through that you’re mouthing deeply confessional lines about heartbreak and self-doubt. Fans of Microwave, Hot Mulligan, and Jimmy Eat World will recognize the emotional whiplash of vulnerability wrapped in energetic, soaring instrumentals.
But Palejoy’s storytelling doesn’t stop with the music. The visual elements surrounding the release add an extra layer of depth and meaning. The single’s artwork—an aerial shot of tulip fields in The Netherlands—is a nod to City and Colour’s Little Hell, reinforcing themes of distance, drifting, and emotional landscapes. The reference is further cemented in the band’s lyrics: “drifting off to the voice of Dallas.” It’s these subtle yet intentional details that make Palejoy’s work resonate on a deeper level, rewarding listeners who take the time to unpack the layers.
The DIY ethos that has defined the band’s aesthetic continues with the self-produced music video, which leans into intimacy and authenticity over gloss and grandeur. It’s a choice that mirrors the deeply personal nature of the song itself, making it feel less like a polished production and more like a diary entry put to music.
Recorded by Ewan Simpson and mixed/mastered by Mark Morrow, Max Payne Au Chocolat feels refined yet emotionally raw, a balance that Palejoy has been perfecting with each new release. The band continues to carve out their own lane in the emo/alternative scene, proving that music about heartbreak and existential crises doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom—it can also be loud, defiant, and even a little bit fun.
With Max Payne Au Chocolat, Palejoy once again delivers a song that is equal parts nostalgia, catharsis, and gut-punching honesty. It’s a reminder that heartache doesn’t just sit quietly—it echoes, it lingers, and sometimes, it sings.
