My Chemical Romance, “The Foundations of Decay” | Track Review 🎵

Though imperfect, it is great to hear My Chemical Romance back with their first single in eight years, “The Foundations of Decay.”

Admittedly, back in the day, I was a big fan of 🎙 My Chemical Romance.  While I missed their debut album, I joined the bandwagon when 💿 Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge got ample buzz in 2004. I remained loyal in 2006 when their ‘big’ album, 💿 The Black Parade, arrived.  After that, my dedication cooled off, though the same could be said of the fan base considering 2010’s 💿 Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys wasn’t as big.  Still, when you hear a band you dug at one time is breaking up, it’s a sad day.  🎙 Gerard Way would release some solo albums but honestly, it wasn’t the same as 🎵 “Helena” or 🎵 “Teenagers”.  Surprisingly, the band returns (!) with their first single in eight years, the six-minute-long 🎵 “The Foundations of Decay”. The question is, does MCR give us those nostalgic vibes?

Thematically, My Chemical Romance is true to self.  Way and company reference age (“And so tired with age / He turns the page…”), mortality (“Let our blood invade if I die in pain”), and, it seems, their own career and reuniting as a band (“We lay in the foundations of decay”).  As to be expected, the lyrics are poetic, speaking to the fans who grew up with them. “But fate had left its scars upon his face,” Way sings in the first verse, continuing, “With all the damage they had done.” Also, as to be expected, “The Foundations of Decay” is a dark, heavy cut, also characteristic of the collective.  Somewhat odd, at times (verses), Way’s vocals are more in an undertone – in the background as opposed to the forefront.  This is intentional.  Thankfully, his vocals rise more to the occasion on the gargantuan chorus, but the instruments are loud, so, I’d still like to hear more Gerard.

Final Thoughts 💭

So, is the return of My Chemical Romance epic or not? Um, it’s good to hear MCR back.  Is “The Foundations of Decay” the perfect comeback? Not by my estimations, but it’s respectable.  We were never sure if they’d drop anything else, so, to have a new single is rewarding.

🎙 My Chemical Romance • 🎵 “The Foundations of Decay” • 🏷 Reprise • 🗓 5.13.22

[📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay, Reprise]