About the Band
My Chemical Romance, also known as MCR, is one of the greatest rock bands to come at the turn of the century. Consisting of lead singer, Gerard Way, bassist Mikey Way, lead guitarist Ray Toro and rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, MCR originates from Newark, New Jersey. Many of their songs deal with mental health and provide a sense of confidence for those who have ever felt alienated or a misfit from the status quo of society. Because of their songs and high concept albums,the band has a huge fan-base. MCR has since paved the way for musical artists of all genres as they have inspired many through their music as well as their overall presence such as Post Malone, Billie Eilish and Twenty One Pilots.
Albums
I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
The first album of MCR is full of the band's raw emotions. The 9/11 attacks led to the creation of MCR due to Gerard Way witnessing first-hand the attacks and deciding that he wants to change the world. The song "Skylines and Turnstiles" is one in which Way wrote his feelings towards the gruesome attacks. Throughout the majority of the album, there is somewhat of a storyline played out throughout the songs. This is left for the fans to interpret but a general consensus is that there is a couple who are like a Bonnie and Clyde duo from a mental health facility. Vampires, churches and hospitals are involed as well as the concept of immortality. At the end, as established in the song "Demolition Lovers”, the demolition lovers couple are hunted down and the male suffers as he loses his girlfriend. This is a rough concept due to the album being their first, but high concepts are a key element throughout their albums.
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
The second album is considered their breakthrough album as it was what helped the band gain popularity from the youth with hit songs such as "Helena" and "I'm Not Okay(I Promise)". Like their first album, there is a storyline concept present throughout their songs. This storyline also happens to connect the aftermath of the first album's concept. After the death of the woman he loved, the man decides to make a deal with the devil to be reunited with her. The deal was made in exchange for the man to kill a 1,000 wicked people for their souls. We, the listeners, learn of how the man goes on to kill people, his enjoyment as he grieves the loss of his girlfriend as well his hopefulness to reunite with her. As we get to the last song "I Never Told You What I Did For A Living" the man realizes that the last wicked soul he has to collect is his own. Lesson here is do not make a deal with the devil.
The Black Parade
The third album is MCR's most famous with their hit song "Welcome to the Black Parade". The concept of the album is death. We follow along the storyline of a man's death. At the beginning of the album, we see that the man learns that he has cancer and that he only has 2 weeks to live. He tries to live life to the fullest thinking that no one is going to miss him, but in the end he is depressed. The man dies of his cancer and death arrives in the form of his fondest memory: his father taking him to see a marching band when he was young, as pointed out in "Welcome to the Black Parade". In the second half of the album, we see the man's grief and eventual acceptance of his death. He no longer has to relive his PTSD from being in the military. He grieves that he left his loved ones behind. The album ends with him looking back at his entire life followed by a song that tells us to not be afraid to keep on living.
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
MCR's fourth studio album was their last album before their disbanding in 2013. The concept of this album is being unique in a world where individuality is not allowed. The band members, also known as the Killjoys in this universe, are men who love and embrace creativity and individuality. Battery City are a group of people who represent the status quo, those who want the world to be an emotionless state. Here comes a unique young girl who is under the protection of the Killjoys from Battery City. The songs Na Na Na and SING shows us snippets of how the Killjoys protect her via music videos, which is then followed by various Killjoy comics created by Gerard Way. The songs in this album do not cohesively follow the storyline concept compared to the other albums. Nevertheless, the overall idea of being a visionary in a mundane world is represented one way or another.