by Nick Caramico

Following the grim and somber Black Parade, My Chemical Romance blasts back onto the scene with the anthemic and driven Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.

Following another loosely based concept, each band member takes on an alternate persona as one of the four “Killjoys”. The group of outlaws are set in California in 2019 battling an evil corporation, guided by pirate radio DJ “Dr. Death Defying”. Like most concept albums, the story is a little difficult to follow, but with the help of their unique music videos for the first two singles, things are cleared up a bit.

The album is a delightful mix of pop party hits, over-the-top ballads, and guitar driven rock. The guitar solo’s on “Bulletproof Hearts” are reminiscent of earlier songs like “Thank You for the Venom”, while the disco-like synth heavy “Planetary (GO!)” sounds like a Good Charlotte hit.

Slower, methodical songs like “SING” and “Summertime” add a nice contrast that really shows off the evolution of this band. Like all good concept albums, several shorter “songs” scatter the album, narrated by Dr. Death Defying, help to explain the story and serve as a momentary break from the surrounding chaos. Where The Black Parade drew parallels to The Who and Queen, the band more closely relates this album to 70′s and 80′s US radio rock. The intricate production and big lyrics on tracks like “S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W” and “The Kids from Yesterday” has the listener torn between comparisons to recent Green Day and The Killers or Whitesnake and David Bowie.

The real highlights of the album come with “Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back” and “The Only Hope for Me is You” where the true blend of old and new MCR shines. A wonderful balance of big, loud vocals, guitar riffs, and atmospheric effects show off the ambition of this band. The first single “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)” is a perfectly cliched rock song with it’s harmonizing guitars, solo, and drug references, while somehow making it sound their own. The album manages a unique and interesting blend of the punk that brought MCR into popularity and classic pop rock themes that make for catchy songs.

My Chemical Romance manages to capitalize on the grandiosity of The Black Parade while bringing back heavy guitars of their past, keeping it fresh all the way through.