Review: My Chemical Romance earns more than "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge"

 


My first proper blog post was about a song that released on 9/11, so it's only fitting that I make one about a band that was founded partially because of 9/11.

My Chemical Romance released their sophomore album "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" on June 8, 2004, as their major label debut under Reprise Records.

The album opens with a tribute to Gerard and Mikey Way's grandmother, "Helena." In the song, Gerard addresses the anger and difficulty of moving on from losing a loved one. From there, the tempo of the album moves at a breakneck pace, with bangers like "To the End" and "I'm Not Okay" turning the speakers up to 11. In comparison to the band's debut, the production by Howard Benson allows even the heaviest songs to come out loud and clear.

"The Ghost of You" takes a rock ballad approach to similar themes of loss to the album's opener, "Thank You for the Venom" is an unexpectedly danceable motivational anthem, and "Hang 'Em High" transports the listener into a high-stakes Wild West movie. Guitarist Ray Toro deserves credit for creating unique riffs that elevate these songs from standard rock fare to something much grander.

The through line between many of these songs is the story of the Demolition Lovers, revisited from the previous album closer and featured on this album's cover. From each song, we unravel the deal the man makes with the devil, which ends badly for him in the closer "I Never Told You What I Do for a Living."

Overall, "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" successfully establishes My Chemical Romance as a force to be reckoned with, even 21 years out from its release.

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