Nothing good can stay forever. As quickly as artists can appear in the music industry, they can leave. Too often do singers fade from popularity, bands split, and icons die. But before taking their final bow, they leave behind a legacy consisting of a massive community of fans, smashed records, and various awards. One band in particular whose goodbye will not be taken lightly is the popular, impactful group My Chemical Romance. On March 25, the band released a greatest hits album titled May Death Never Stop You that serves as its theatrical exit from the music community. The album is an excellent compilation of tracks that captures the best highlights of a band that was one of the biggest musical icons of the 21st century.
My Chemical Romance’s roots trace all the way back to 2001 in New Jersey with frontman Gerard Way, bassist Mikey Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and drummers Matt Pelissier (2001-2004) and Bob Bryar (2004-2010). Throughout the band’s twelve year career, they released four albums, including the certified platinum records Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and The Black Parade. With each highly acclaimed album, My Chemical Romance provided millions of young people worldwide with relatable music about many topics, such as dealing with the death of a loved one in the song “Welcome To The Black Parade” or the cruelty of society in “Teenagers.” Despite being at its peak, the band called it quits in March 2013, but claimed that altercations between the members were not the reason for the breakup. Following the split, the band started working on the album that would be its last hurrah.
No goodbye would ever be complete without a giving the fans one last gift–a new song. One of the last songs ever recorded by the band, “Fake Your Death” does not showcase the absolute best musical abilities of the band but nonetheless is an appropriate opener for the album. Comprised of piano chords and a somber chorus, it sets the tone of the album as being a bittersweet and heartbreaking adieu: ¨ I choose defeat, I walk away and leave this place, the same today, some like to sleep, we like to play, just look at all that pain.” Juxtaposed with liveliness of the songs next to come, “Fake Your Death” immediately takes fans on an emotional rollercoaster.
As for the rest of the compilation, the songs included were thoughtfully chosen from all four of the band’s records and fairly represent each major milestone in their career. Organized in chronological order of release, the first two songs originate from the group’s debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. These songs clearly capture the naivety and tentativity that the band was experiencing early in their career. Tracks that also display the band’s youth are three unreleased demos recorded around the time their first album was produced. These three are included at the end of the compilation. Including the demos and the songs on the band’s first album May Death Never Stop You respectfully reminds fans of their humble beginnings.
The next four songs come from My Chemical Romance’s sophomore album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. After surmounting initial inexperience in the music industry, the band began to evolve, developing the emotional and angsty style that they are most known for. Around the time of this album’s release, the group started attracting more young listeners with lyrics that have diary-like narrations. Since these songs were the first evidence of My Chemical Romance’s potential, the greatest hits album portrays the band’s rise to music stardom.
As soon as a fan hears the familiar piano strains of “Welcome To The Black Parade”, he or she would instantly know that The Black Parade era of the compilation has begun. Taking up five out of the nineteen spots on the album, it is no question that The Black Parade was the band’s major breakthrough in the entertainment community. With the album’s anthemic choruses that listeners cannot help but sing along to, May Death Never Stop You, features the band’s penchant for epicness and theatrics.
The final stage of My Chemical Romance’s whirlwind success concluded with last album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. These four songs represented a time when the band began to slow down and create music that was more fun and carefree. Adding synthesizers and keyboards with guitar riffs proved to be a successful venture in the band’s fourth and final studio record. Although it was a noticeable and controversial change in sound for the band, the compilation made sure not to leave out this critical final leg of the band’s career.
For listeners who are not very familiar with the band, the greatest hits album is the perfect overview of their entire discography. On the other hand, for fans, perhaps all the songs included in compilation were heard before millions of times. Or maybe fans already own deluxe versions of all four albums. Nevertheless, a My Chemical Romance collection would never be complete without their final release May Death Never Stop You. As the title of the compilation suggests, My Chemical Romance urges listeners and fans worldwide to accept their ‘death’ from the international stage. The album effectively concludes the band’s legacy.
Embrace My Chemical Romance’s emotional last goodbye by picking up the album in stores or on iTunes.
