(Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Parade)

In light of My Chemical Romance getting back together (after their 2013 break up) and announcing a North American tour, it’s a good a time as any to review The Black Parade, MCR’s most successful album to date as it garnered double-platinum status (meaning it sold over 2 million copies) in the United States and the UK after its release in 2006, and the Rolling Stone Magazine rated it as the 20th best album of the year.  

But review perhaps isn’t the right word, as I’m biased. The Black Parade was my go-to workout song freshman and sophomore year of high school. Before every one of my cross country meets, I would listen to The Black Parade from start to finish. I thought I was edgy for listening to bands like MCR and Green Day and Weezer. Thankfully, my emo phase was short-lived, and I wasn’t very outspoken about it.  

As an overview, The Black Parade follows the story of a fictional character called “The Patient” through his life and death. It tackles topics such as self-harm, suicide, and death, but in a sensitive, understanding way that is uplifting for much of their fanbase. That being said, there are a few songs that have a special place in my heart.  

The first is Dead!. The second track off the album, which is pretty sad if you look at the lyrics. It’s a fast-paced song, with its musical composition almost betraying the depressing nature of the lyrics, though that’s a theme for most of the songs off the album. It’s more about being metaphorically dead than actually dead in this case. In a twisted way, the lyrics are funny and implore the listener to not take life too seriously.  

I also love Welcome to the Black Parade. Yes, it’s a generic choice, but it’s arguable MCR’s most recognizable song, so it deserves some recognition. Contrasting the high-energy openers of the album, Welcome to the Black Parade starts off minimalistic. The single notes played on the piano eventually swell to a wall a sound with an electric guitar that becomes the focal point.  

The best part about Welcome to the Black Parade, however, is the acknowledgment of the inevitability of death while still giving the listener hope. “We’ll carry on, we’ll carry on, and though you’re dead and gone, believe me, your memory will carry on” are the first lines of the chorus. It makes the listener think about the relationships (family, friends) they’re had with people in the past and the process that comes with coping with loss. Moreover, it almost makes me nostalgic for things that haven’t happened yet.  

Overall, The Black Parade was and continues to be a monumental album for the alternative/emo community. It’s given an innumerable amount of people hope about the future because it showcases relatable teenage and young adult struggles, but it also explores the ways in which we can cope with them.  

Rating 11/10, a classic