By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

My Chemical Romance had me at hello. Following the global success of The Black Parade, MCR has retooled their doppelgänger and unleashed a rowdy and fresh assault on the charts. My Jersey heroes are back with a dashing new album entitled Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. These lads shouldn’t scare you anymore my friends, for they have ditched the makeup and uniforms and this change of image isn’t just a ploy — it’s an active way to help MCR unshackle their music and do whatever they want with their new material. It screeches an energetic pop-punk sound, with a lot in between. Lead single, Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) is rising up the charts hastily. It’s a conventional jam with a chorus that just pleads to be sung along with (if you are uncertain about it, don’t give up, just keep spinning). This release struts with its innovative look, and I truly feel will find masses of fans willing to walk in the opposite direction of the darkly disturbed feel of previous releases. Indulge in a massive record with an injection of adrenaline for anyone repulsed by today’s redundant mainstream jams.

Since the dark days of Helena, MCR never ceases to amaze me. I can honorably say that I like the direction that they’re headed here with a fairer tone than the past three albums. It’s good to change things up once in a while, especially if you have the talent to do so. Gerard Way has the kind of screamo vocal range that definitely gets your attention on pretty much every track on Danger Days. Tracks like Bulletproof Heart fully showcase his pipes (I wouldn’t call it a power ballad but it’s not far off) along with Vampire Money, that takes a stab at the vampire culture that has dominated today’s world, and the pummeling rock riffs on Party Poison. We even take a dip into disco-flavored tonic on Planetary. One can find many musical elements on the record from throwbacks of their prior albums to new rock and synth mixes that are pulled off beautifully. Elsewhere, MCR are more daring AND intriguing on S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W and Summertime, which both field themselves as crispy executed radio friendly stadium fillers.

Maybe I’ve got this wrong, but it seems that My Chemical Romance uses hilarity and satire to defuse its critics. If the band didn’t prove it already on The Black Parade, they will on Danger Days. They’re in on it, now more than ever, playing themselves for laughs and constantly creating irresistible pop music in the process. The universal theme of the release sounds for a revolution against the corporate “cattle” that discourage authenticity in the music industry. I find it to be a breath of fresh air that we have an album whose sentiments and music are essentially genuine. Concurrently lengthening and fusing their influences into a refined and unexpectedly complete and focused product.

Killjoys, make some noise and rejoice!

My Chemical Romance is back on the airwaves.

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