My Chemical Romance’s latest effort isn’t so much an album release as a well orchestrated apocalyptic art event. With the advent of listening parties the band last night offered fans worldwide an exclusive preview of the album as hosted by the elusive Dr. Death Defying.

Apparently this is the bands departure from concept albums, but you tell me, fans are ‘killjoys’, areas are ‘zones’, enemies are ‘draculoids.’ Now personally I don’t care about this, they are great at what they do and this whole new world is utterly engrossing, so why change? Though this is still a concept album, it’s a massive leap from their previous sound with everything bright, poppy, and dripping electro from its very core.

Within the first three songs two singles are showcased. The world has already heard ‘Na Na Na’ and is undoubtedly sick of having it infused in their brains, but ‘Sing’ is relatively new and I’m sure it will sneak its way into the charts. Structured like a 30 Seconds To Mars song it seems a bit too epic for such an early place on the album, but it does have some more traditional My Chem breakdowns thrown in.

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We have for some time, suspected that My Chemical Romance’s musical influences were much more than guitar riffs ridden with teen angst and emotional instability. From moments hinted on Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge to the rather bombastic leadoff single from The Black Parade, it would seem that the members of the band spent as much time listening to Aerosmith, David Bowie and Queen as they did their punk rock. Any doubt can be put to rest on the band’s foray away from their past- their terrifically outlandish, operatic rock theatre Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.

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Thank you to manuanya for the scans!

My Chemical Romance's upcoming fourth album, "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys," went through a long journey before arriving at its final stages. After a year of work on the record, the band decided to start over, and reintroduce their high-concept, cinematic approach to rock and roll.

"The decision to scrap a year of work felt like we were holding our career over an open flame, especially in today's business," MCR frontman Gerard Way told Billboard.com.

Oddly enough, this decision was inspired by an interview with "Blade Runner" director Ridley Scott, during which Way realized he had to fight to the death for his art. In the end, Gerard and his bandmates are pleased with the results on "Danger Days," which, just like "Blade Runner," is set in California circa 2019.

"It feels like a victory to see art win over fear or commerce," says Way. "Art won this time, and it made me feel like I could do what I do another ten years. Before releasing our last record [2006's "The Black Parade"], I kind of felt like the well was dry, and the inspiration is gone."

Now Gerard himself walks Billboard.com through "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys," detailing what stayed from the band's early recording sessions, and how the highly narrative, sci-fi world of Killjoys came to be.

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My Chemical Romance: 'Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys'
Theater of War: Post-emo superheroes save the world one diaper at a time

SPIN RATING: 7 of 10

Four years after The Black Parade solidified their place as America's goth-friendliest pop-punk band, My Chemical Romance return with a follow-up whose best song is called "Summertime." Have these horror-loving drama kings lightened up and gone Katy Perry? Well, not quite: "Party Poison" and "Vampire Money" see the like old-school Misfits, while "Destroya" finds frontman Gerard Way declaring his lack of faith in God and love and you. "I believe we're the enemy!" he yowls over an industrial-grade riff-rock groove.

For all its evil-empire imagery, though, the big-hearted Danger Days -- which My Chem recorded with Black Parade producer Rob Cavallo following an aborted collaboration with Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen) -- actually seems more informed by Way's latest alter ego: Daddy. His wife, LynZ of Mindless Self Indulgence, gave birth to daughter Bandit last year.

In "Sing," Way urges a chorus to "sing it for the boys, sing it for the girls," then promises to "keep you safe tonight" in "S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W," a midtempo power ballad. With its chiming new-wave guitars and delicate synth sparkles, "Summertime" could pass for something from Coldplay's last album. "You can run away with me anytime you want," Way croons, but the guy doesn't sound in a hurry to go anywhere at all. Viva la Vida Familiar.

By Mikael Wood

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Check out a review of "Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys" on ArtistDirect!
posted by Jeff on Nov 10, 2010 03:55pm

ArtistDirect has just posted a 5 out of 5 star review of "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys." Check it out!

by Jonah Bayer

It should come as no surprise that My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way has spent much of the past three years working on his graphic novel series The Umbrella Academy. Because his band’s fourth full-length, Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys, is literally the sonic equivalent of a comic book. Narrated by the self-described “surgeon/proctor/helicopter” Doctor Death-Defying, the 15-track album is as visceral as the superhero wannabes of Kick-Ass and a vast sonic departure for the band. It’s truly hard to believe this is the same act who exploded onto the scene six years ago with the emo anthem, “I’m Not Okay (I Promise).”

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