MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

"THREE CHEERS FOR SWEET REVENGE"

Review Date: 08/04/04

Rating: 10/10

Rewiewed By: suj

My Chemical Romance will soon be on the lips of everyone in the world. Until then run off to your local record store pick up there cd's and jump aboard the chemical bandwagon before they become huge and only then you can say I knew them when...

'Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge' opens with "Helena" as it starts off with a little whispering from Gerard with some plucks of the guitar and a few hits on the skins until everything kicks into high gear and its then you'll know why this band will become huge. The song follows suit with its intro as it slows down dramatically for its chorus only to ride the staddle back up to where its needed. Track 2, tells you to "Give 'Em Hell Kid." The song starts with a nice little bass line followed by the muffled guitar and pounding drums that all come together like a sonic boom exiting from the arms of Street Fighter's Guile. As Gerard begins to spew out lyric after lyric you will find yourself trying to hold on to your marbles, trying to play catch up, trying to catch your breath during the chorus, trying to find medication as the song yanks you back up only to find yourself collapse to the floor where you lay helpless while you heart dances like a 5 year old on riddlin. As the song dwindles to its end the band goes all out in a steam of chaos as the instruments and Gerard screaming voice erupt into your speakers and its at this point you awake and find yourself in a ambulance heading to the nearby hospital.

As the ambulance rushes and run red lights "To The End" begins and as you hear the beeps of heart monitor your eyes start to close and everything gets darker and too the album gets darker. The song starts off with Gerard singing "the wedding party all collapsed in the room, so send my resignation to the bride and the groom, let's go down, this elevator only goes up to ten" and with the chorus of desperation also adds another touch to the song with lyrics like "would you marry me, would you bury me, would you carry me, to the end, say goodbye" He sings in a way that feels dark and mysterious of manner of style that gives it flavor that fits oh so well with this song. All of that backed by jazzy guitar (kudos for those menacing solos) and the pounding of drums release a feeling of searching for a way out, searching for way to open your eyes, searching for a way out of this ambulance.

As you sit on a rocking chair in the darkest depths of your mind stuck in a comatose like state "You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison" begins and this is surly the standout track on the album. The song starts off with lingering piano that has an old western movie soundtrack style feel to it. The piano mixed with Gerard singing "in the middle of a gunfight, in the center of a restaurant, they say come with your arms raised" is just a beautiful melody to the ears. Then comes in the guitar and the bouncing drums which follow suits with the pervious three songs in its ability to just kick the living shit out of you. The chorus is just blazing with speed and style like Luke Skywalker and his X-Wing weaving through the death star. And like Luke ready to fire the torpedoes there is no way to slow down, you can't get off for this, there is no stop, the song doesn't stop and if it does its only for a moment like the moment where Obi-Wan tells Luke to use the force and when the torpedoes are fired we all know the war and this album has just begun.

"I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" is the point of the album where you come in and out of consciousness as you lay still on a hospital bed while doctors run rapid to save your life. This song may comes off as being "poppy", but it sure is a catchy tune that stands out from the rest of the album. The song stands out because its here you sense the talent these boys posses, its stands out cause you believe. You believe Gerard isn't ok, he has something to get off his chest. The highlight of the song is where everything stops and with a little whisper Gerard sings "I'm ok .. I'm oooook" you believe in every hook. Now, as the doctors begin to give up on you as your heart begins to fade the very melodic "The Ghost of You" becomes the theme song of your demise. With its hypnotic riffs, soft drums, and the eerie voice of Gerard mixing together to call you towards the bright light. The song is slow compared to what you've heard pervious and has a very "chill" sound to it. The chorus comes in out of nowhere and is very "epic." The song leaves you alone, hurt, left out, the song is in all its meanings and simplicities is injected with the drug of pure emotion.

As you begin your trek towards the light in comes "The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You" full of distortion with its muting on and off guitar, and drums that make you jump like Kris Kross told you to do back in the early 90s. Then comes an interlude where you stop to realize that you have died and the light is beginning to fade and after 57 seconds of Gerard’s haunting voice you rush to the light before the gates of heaven are closed. The drums of "Thank You For The Venom" kick in and they are heavy and as the gates shuts in your face you fall down towards the underbelly of Satan's home. Gerard sings like man on a mission with line after line just spilling out. "So give me all your poison, and give me all your pills, and give me all your hopeless hearts, and make me ill, you're running after something you'll never kill, if this is what you want, then fire at will". The songs calm enough for you to sing-a-long with only to pound back into the verse. And fuck the solos are masterfully done.

Now you stand face to face with Lucifer himself ready combat in the ultimate battle of good and evil. "Hang 'Em High" starts off like western style beat with whistling in tow which sounds as if it could have been heard in Tarantino's "Kill Bill." Here Gerard starts wailing away like a madman by songs end backed by blistering speeds of instrumental glory. This song is insane as it is intense.

The fight has begun as Lucifer unleashes flames upon flames as you dodge them like Spider-Man dodging Goblin's pumpkin bombs."It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Deathwish" is fast and hard with loud drums and blazing guitars. At songs end you find inner strength and deliver a killer blow to the devil with horn as he falls to his death. At this point of the album is where your family gathers around your tombstone and how fitting the next track is called "Cemetery Drive", it starts with a drum solo and Gerard singing very softly and slow. This is a beautiful song and when you listen to the first 30 seconds you'll know exactly why.

You stand tried covered in blood after defeating Satan. Your looking up as your family sheds tears upon your grave site. "I Never Told You What I Do For A Living" sums up the album and band as a whole. Starting off with a heavily distorted guitar slide and the vocal stylings Gerard is known for. The brutally honest lyrics are quite the touch as well. Everything then just goes nuts. Every band member giving it their all. It’s like every natural disaster mixing together to destroy the world and not even Superman can save the day. The song slowly winds down into the background while we get some feedback 'til it goes completely silent....then you awake to find yourself on the floor, okay, as your discman states the batteries are low. The sun rises only to show hell on earth as Satan stands tall making his way to your house seeking what theme of this album is all about, revenge.

'Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge' is an album everyone must have for the simple fact that its good, unlike all the records coming out of this scene. So what the fuck are you doing sitting in front of your computer, get the fuck off your chair and buy this fucking record....or else!