My Chemical Romance has been known for punk-pop anthems, lyrics that spoke to angsty teens and their dark, macabre style. But with the release of their new concept album, “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys,” the band completely reinvents itself.
Released on Nov. 22, “Danger Days” is not at all a typical My Chemical Romance album. While a few of the songs are slightly reminiscent of their old sound, this album is full of heart-pounding, pedal to the metal, fast-paced songs that go straight for the throat. The vast majority has a dance rock feel to it and is a relief from the latest heavy-handed genre rock. When listening to this album, try to be in an isolated room so that you can feel free to dance along to the catchy songs it’s absolutely packed with.
The concept of the album is reminiscent of comic books, Blade Runner, and pulp science fiction. It takes place in Battery City, California in 2019 and revolves around a gang of bandits called the Fabulous Killjoys. Each member of the bandits is played by a member of the band, and the characters take their names from the laser guns they tote. From the music videos for “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)” and “SING,” it is also shown that the Killjoys are fighting against an evil corporation called Better Living Industries and are accompanied by a young girl named Grace. There are three spoken interludes in the album (“Look Alive, Sunshine,” “Jet-Star and the Kobra Kid/Traffic Report,” and “Goodnite, Dr. Death) that also plunge the listener into the desert world of the album.
By far, my favorite song on the album is SING. It starts out soft but intense, promising to build up into a soaring chorus. Between the soft, intense parts and the soaring choruses, the song builds itself step by step, led by the lyrics, which encourage the listener to speak out and show their true selves. The entire song sounds almost completely unlike My Chemical Romance and shows that the band has truly stepped up and grown as artists. The first time I heard the song, I got goosebumps, and I still do every time I listen to it. It’s absolutely beautiful, and even if you don’t listen to the entire album, I highly recommend listening to that one song.
Overall, the album is another step up for My Chemical Romance. Over the years, the band has changed and evolved and grown, not allowing their sounds to be put in just one genre. With “Danger Days,” My Chemical Romance has finally found their place in American rock. On a scale from one to ten, I give this album an eight.
