My Chemical Romance: 'Our Fourth Album Is Concept Free'

My Chemical Romance have spoken about their as yet-untitled fourth album and have revealed that for the very first time it will be concept free.

Singer Gerard Way said they originally struggled to let go of the idea of a concept album but believes it is all the better for it.

Gerard told Kerrang!: "To be able to let go of your game plan is really hard.

"There were many times where we had to really move on our feet very quickly and say, ‘No, the album’s taking a turn and we need to accept it, because if we fight it we’ll end up with a record that doesn’t make any sense’."

He continued: "Everything is taking so much longer, in a really great way. We’ve never been able to go through the songs like this and get things as great as we possibly can.

"It’s always been like, ‘You’ve got three months to record and two weeks to mix, then you’re back on an airplane to go tour again!’. This time, we afforded ourselves the luxury of exploring every song."

The follow-up to 2006's "The Black Parade" will be released next year.

Thanks for the report to Gigwise.com.

Comments

[blackomen9]

'bout time i hope its better then the black parade (which wasnt that bad but it was sub par) i have faith in them to make an awesome record this time around

[chrisdazzo]

There's a news post on their website (http://www.mychemicalromance.com/) naming some songs and detailing some of the mixing that's currently going on. Pretty excited for this. I loved the Black Parade, and I've got high hopes that this is similar, if only in the way it sounds. Something new could be fun.

[paddypadman]

From the live clips I've heard. The new sound is different.. but good different! Every band cant do the same thing every album!

[Cheesepuff]

i hope they mix up the song structures instead of the one they use in EVERY FUCKING SONG.

INTRO VERSE CHORUS VERSE CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS END

ANNOYS THE HELL OUTTA ME

[lexanirider78]

I thought they broke up or something.

[Wildchild92]

Musically/instrumentally The Black Parade was probably their best but if the singing/lyrics are just dreadful [which in the case of TBP, they were] it just totally spoils the album.

Hopefully this record shall be good, I liked the old MCR sound, their progression from Bullets to Revenge was good but then they slipped up with Parade.

Here's hoping album number 4 is good!

[harpcicle]

for the very first time it will be concept free.

for the record, i hate mcr but, about ****ing time. if they have to infect the world with their music at least maybe this time it might actually be something decent

[Gerard Way Jr]

They've said at least twice that the new record isn't a concept album. Geez. Who's the dipshit writing news on this site?

[Zycho]

harpcicle wrote:

for the very first time it will be concept free. for the record, i hate mcr but, about ****ing time. if they have to infect the world with their music at least maybe this time it might actually be something decent

Are you implying that all concept albums are bad? If so, wtf?

[Nor'Easterbass]

lexanirider78 wrote:

I thought they broke up or something.

if only that were true...lol

[MotörHeadFan22]

Nor'Easterbass wrote:

lexanirider78 wrote:

I thought they broke up or something.

if only that were true...lol

agreed

[MegaRon]

It's fun to read all the MCR-hate from people that probably haven't listened to them past two or three songs. Kudos, fellows.

As for the next album being concept-free, I won't lie, it kind of puts me off. I love albums that have a theme to go along with them, and tell a story (this definitely explains my recent obsession with Coheed & Cambria). I like the band, we'll see where this goes.

[jetfuel495]

But the concept made the first two albums so good. Granted, it did kinda spoil the third album, but those first two albums were just great. Oh well, in the end, it's the sound that matters. Hopefully they go back to how they sounded on the first two records rather than being this pop punk they've evolved into.

checked

[crazy8rgood]

To bad The Black Parade was awesome, and it was a concept album.

I can already tell this is going to be disappointing.

[Conformist]

Looking forward to this..

[NemX162]

Hopefully Gerard will stop trying to sing so pretty and go back to his harsh sound of the first two albums...

[SharpObject]

They're really dragging this thing out past the emo craze of 2004-2005, I guess they gotta change with music since they've only been good at being trendy.

[venomouskiss320]

Cheesepuff wrote:

i hope they mix up the song structures instead of the one they use in EVERY FUCKING SONG.

INTRO VERSE CHORUS VERSE CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS END

ANNOYS THE HELL OUTTA ME

You do know that almost every song is that format, right? By every band?

[lao123]

The Black Parade was a really good album but it didn't feel raw enough. This seems like it will be, I've heard a lot about them trying to capture their live sound

[hernandeznathan]

I can't wait for the new album!

[Paramore.]

While another concept album would be cool because I loved The Black Parade so much, is one of my favourite albums and was the album that really got me in to MCR, it doesn't matter at all and the album will be just as good concept or not! I can't wait for this

[TheLifeguard]

Don't care what anyone says, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge would probably be in my top 10 albums.

Gerard's singing on it is fantastic, it reminds me of old-school punk in it's delivery, yet it's still very well articulated. The instrumentals on it are solid to, and I like the lyrics.

Hopefully, their new album is somewhere along the lines of 3 Cheers.

[Rockinguitar]

Any particular reason we're arguing about Muse on a MCR news page? And too bad about new album. I like concepts, but I guess I don't care if it's good.

checked. keeep it about MCR.

[patrickdenneyto]

I can't wait. Everyone talks about how emo they are, but I think they're a damn good hard rock band, and "The Black Parade" was a freakin' masterpiece. I'm pumped to see what they've done.

[Limelight08]

I really hope this album sounds like Three Cheers, or Bullets. The Black Parade was okay, but not really my kind of jam.

[chaoticfables]

I liked the Black Parade. I'm not sure if they can pull it off better than their last album, but I still have my fingers crossed.

[voodoochild23]

I've never enjoyed concept albums. I like the songs on them, but I've never been able to care at all about the fact that they apparently fit a theme together.

American Idiot was the same for me, the only thing I caught was the odd repeating of the name Jimmy, or the fact that there was a lot of teenage anger in it.

Anyway, I like some of MCR's songs, from each of their albums, I don't have a problem with whether or not they're "similar" to each other, because I don't see why that matters. I don't have to listen to ALL of them...

[Alexxx.]

Hopefully it'll be music free aswell

[Gerard Way Jr]

Zycho wrote:

harpcicle wrote:

for the very first time it will be concept free. for the record, i hate mcr but, about ****ing time. if they have to infect the world with their music at least maybe this time it might actually be something decent

Are you implying that all concept albums are bad? If so, wtf?

Yeah, seriously. See: THE WALL. Geez.

[CrashLove]

Cheesepuff wrote:

i hope they mix up the song structures instead of the one they use in EVERY FUCKING SONG.

INTRO VERSE CHORUS VERSE CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS END

ANNOYS THE HELL OUTTA ME

If you want less structure, listen to the first two albums. Mainly the first one.

[megamouth2]

From what I've heard, the new songs are melodically quite cool. Catchy riffs, and good guitar work. But the lyrics spoil it. I read them and LITERALLY went "O.o WT ACTUAL F!?"
I wish Gerard could change his voice, tbh. There's just something that gets to me about that nasal-tone. Especially live.

[aussieboy]

NemX162 wrote:

Hopefully Gerard will stop trying to sing so pretty and go back to his harsh sound of the first two albums...

yh thats basically what they SAID they are gona try and do because they "miss being a rock band" or something along those words...they apparently listend to themselves live and liked they sort of harder style garagey sort of sound it had....which is why im looking forward to this album

[Jondy]

Wait, is this article implying that the first 2 albums were concept albums?

[.:*§c@rY*:.]

Can't wait for this! The Black Parade was an album that grew on me. Along with Revenge and Bullets. I hope they keep it going on their fourth one too!

[Metallichemical]

I am definitely happy that they will have some new material coming out soon.I personally like all of their albums and The Black Parade is what originally got me hooked on them.Back until about just a little over a year ago, they were my favorite band and biggest musical inspiration.Although not my number one any more, I still like them, and just to put in my opinion, their first two albums were my favorite, but I love all three albums a lot.I am confident they can pull off another great album.

[Avengethedeath]

Jondy wrote:

Wait, is this article implying that the first 2 albums were concept albums?

Yeah they were concept albums. Actually Three Cheers was sort of a sequel to Bullets' story.

[<Paper Cuts>]

MegaRon wrote:

It's fun to read all the MCR-hate from people that probably haven't listened to them past two or three songs. Kudos, fellows.

As for the next album being concept-free, I won't lie, it kind of puts me off. I love albums that have a theme to go along with them, and tell a story (this definitely explains my recent obsession with Coheed & Cambria). I like the band, we'll see where this goes.

THANK YOU
You just summed up all of my thoughts right there lol

[Tster]

It'l be awesome!

[Uranutan]

MegaRon wrote:
It's fun to read all the MCR-hate from people that probably haven't listened to them past two or three songs. Kudos, fellows.

Why would I continue listening to MCR after I've heard a few of their songs and didn't enjoy them when I could be spending my time listening to music I like instead?

Uranutan wrote:

MegaRon wrote:
It's fun to read all the MCR-hate from people that probably haven't listened to them past two or three songs. Kudos, fellows.
Why would I continue listening to MCR after I've heard a few of their songs and didn't enjoy them when I could be spending my time listening to music I like instead?

I think the better question is why you would then go on to read an article about a band that you've decided you don't enjoy?

[HATECREWofBODOM]

almost everyone seems to just hate on all these bands haha, MCR used to be my favorite band...until i got into metal. I started with 3 cheers, and stopped listening to them for awhile then the black parade came out. I got hooked on that and saw them live which was amazing. But i got put off when i realized 3 cheers was better, and that bullets was prolly their best album.

People change, and so does their music. People are always going to find something to complain about. If you don't like a band,don't listen to em or stick with the material you happen to like.

It's that simple now stop hatin jeeeeez

[Pretty. Odd.]

Bullets was a great album, and this is coming from a metal fan. Metal fans who don't like them, try their first album, it's nothing like The Black Parade, it's more like morbid punk music. You'll at least find it respectable.

Here's how I understand the concepts: Bullets was the story of a couple (The Demolition Lovers) who traveled the country shooting up liquor stores, eventually culminating in a massive firefight somewhere in the desert, in which the woman uses the man to escape, at the cost of his life. The next album, Three Cheers, is about the same couple. The betrayed man makes a bargain with Satan: a thousand souls for the chance to get revenge on his partner. So he starts luring people into bed and murdering them, keeping a book of their names until he hits a thousand. He fails, as Number 1,000 guns him down.

The Black Parade is about an unnamed cancer patient coping with his impending death. As a small boy, his father took him to the city to see a parade, and that memory is what he clings to- he revisits his life, preparing to die, guided by an imaginary parade, before he finally passes on.

Now, that said, yes, the article says that this next album will not be a concept album.

[Martindecorum]

venomouskiss320 wrote:

Cheesepuff wrote:

i hope they mix up the song structures instead of the one they use in EVERY FUCKING SONG.

INTRO VERSE CHORUS VERSE CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS END

ANNOYS THE HELL OUTTA ME

You do know that almost every song is that format, right? By every band?

Completely wrong venomous, there is tones of music that doesnt follow this generic structure and that music tends to be more fresh and appealing, why dont you open up your mind and venture into some new music

[Serjem]

thought they disbanded or something... huh

[CranberryJuice]

Finally, proof that just because you have the right ideas and process of creating something doesn't mean you should.

MCR should probably go back to their roots. That was decent stuff.

[Jondy]

Avengethedeath wrote:

Jondy wrote:

Wait, is this article implying that the first 2 albums were concept albums?

Yeah they were concept albums. Actually Three Cheers was sort of a sequel to Bullets' story.

Huh. I need to go back and relisten to that shit.

[Whip It]

The Black Parade was horrible. It was terrible. I was embarrassed to call myself an MCR fan when that came out. I still love their first two albums (Three Cheers was the first album I ever bought and it's still one of my favourites today) but The Black Parade was rubbish.

[Like I Is]

I didn't know they were still around.

[nephilium]

am i the only one who thinks gerard sounds a little like freddie mercury?

[stumaster18]

I think we can expect a lot of black, make-up, and power chords. Oh wait, weren't those things the base for the previous albums? who even cares anymore. it's all the same.

[The-Red-Sky]

stumaster18 wrote:

I think we can expect a lot of black, make-up, and power chords. Oh wait, weren't those things the base for the previous albums? who even cares anymore. it's all the same.

Well you're basically right but I think the singer went blonde for the last album. If the hairs the only thing to change, i vote ginger.

[The_lizard_king]

wait do you mean the wall is bad?

Checked.

[henkka_potku]

Mainstream bands... it's not the band that annoys me, it's the amount of fans they have compared to the quality of the music.

"It's not the band I hate, it's their fans" from Coax Me, by Sloan. Haha

[Bozjoarmstrong]

everyone seems to either love or hate The Black Parade
I'm fairly indifferent to it, I really liked Disenchanted and Famous Last Words, the rest were pretty average

[jethro bob]

concept free...about time mcr takes the little spark of talent shown on the first two albums, and lets it overrun the album instead of sticking to the script and producing mediocre bullsh** like the black parade

[pwninator123]

What a wonderful band, albeit a bit over-hated, and I loved Black Parade, hearing MCR pretty much channel Queen was pretty entertaining, though not as visceral as their earlier albums

and they are not Emo *facepalm*

[overkill127]

I don't understand why people hate them so much. I think it might be because of the connotations associated with them but if you put their media image aside, they're an amazing band. Their lyrics remain intriguingly vague while still telling a story, and the instrument work is profound as well.

That said, I think the departure from the story they've told through their past three albums is something to be seen. They are definitely an album band, every one of their albums has its own unique qualities musically with work with the lyrics seamlessly. but either way, I'm hope it will be a great album

[CranberryJuice]

overkill127 :
I don't understand why people hate them so much. I think it might be because of the connotations associated with them but if you put their media image aside, they're an amazing band. Their lyrics remain intriguingly vague while still telling a story, and the instrument work is profound as well.

Generally when you abuse your talent to make a shit load of money, a lot of people won't like you. Kinda like Favre. He was good, he just needs to stop because he doesn't fit anymore.

MCR doesn't flow with people that actually appreciate music. Maybe the "emo kids" appreciate their lyrics, but thats their target audience.

[Snowblind 911]

TheLifeguard wrote:

Don't care what anyone says, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge would probably be in my top 10 albums.

Gerard's singing on it is fantastic, it reminds me of old-school punk in it's delivery, yet it's still very well articulated. The instrumentals on it are solid to, and I like the lyrics.

Hopefully, their new album is somewhere along the lines of 3 Cheers.

this

[Ultimate_Taffy]

MegaRon wrote:

It's fun to read all the MCR-hate from people that probably haven't listened to them past two or three songs. Kudos, fellows.

So you're saying to appreciate a band you have to listen to every song they record?
A band gains fans from single plays and handful of songs they and their fans shouldnt expect non-fans to listen to everything they've recorded.

Everyone makes their judgements on bands after only a handful of songs so don't try the "holier than thou" routine just because you like this band

[bertismydog31]

They have the talent to write some kick ass stuff. I have their 2nd and 3rd albums, and listening to songs like Thank You For The Venom and Wolves shows they have some good potential. If they could just cut the radio friendly crap songs and write some more stuff like that, theyd be great.

[Zeoilvia]

CranberryJuice wrote:

overkill127 :
I don't understand why people hate them so much. I think it might be because of the connotations associated with them but if you put their media image aside, they're an amazing band. Their lyrics remain intriguingly vague while still telling a story, and the instrument work is profound as well.

Generally when you abuse your talent to make a shit load of money, a lot of people won't like you. Kinda like Favre. He was good, he just needs to stop because he doesn't fit anymore.

MCR doesn't flow with people that actually appreciate music. Maybe the "emo kids" appreciate their lyrics, but thats their target audience.

Speak for yourself

[FearOfTheDuck]

No thanks.

[turbo474]

as-yet*

[pwninator123]

Bighair wrote:

Never had a concept anyway. I don't see whats conceptual about "Not being OK" :P Dream Theatre write good concept albums with stories. Along a similar vein of music, Coheed and Cambria write good concept albums with good stories. These guys write depressing drivel aimed at 14 year old girls who think they're suicidal. If I wanted to know about cancer I would smoke!

Really? The first two albums had a running storyline involving a couple running away from attacking vampires, whereas Black Parade is about a teenager with cancer having a complication in his heart, and he starts to hallucinate as a way for his brain to show him what he did wrong in his life

These are quite entertaining concepts beyond, "I'm not okay." Ignorance does not suit you well.

[trendkill-]

overkill127 :
I don't understand why people hate them so much. I think it might be because of the connotations associated with them but if you put their media image aside, they're an amazing band. Their lyrics remain intriguingly vague while still telling a story, and the instrument work is profound as well.

profound:
penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge; having deep insight or understanding:
2. originating in or penetrating to the depths of one's being;
3. being or going far beneath what is superficial, external, or obvious

i think most here can agree they do not fit the deffinition of profound.

bands like opeth or porcupine tree and other such progressive in nature bands have proufound and amazing instrument work. mrc doesnt realy have and profoundness or any actual complex or awe inspireing instrumental work.

[Bighair]

pwninator123 wrote:

Bighair wrote:

Never had a concept anyway. I don't see whats conceptual about "Not being OK" :P Dream Theatre write good concept albums with stories. Along a similar vein of music, Coheed and Cambria write good concept albums with good stories. These guys write depressing drivel aimed at 14 year old girls who think they're suicidal. If I wanted to know about cancer I would smoke!

Really? The first two albums had a running storyline involving a couple running away from attacking vampires, whereas Black Parade is about a teenager with cancer having a complication in his heart, and he starts to hallucinate as a way for his brain to show him what he did wrong in his life

These are quite entertaining concepts beyond, "I'm not okay." Ignorance does not suit you well.

They might parade around saying that they are concept albums, but unless the listener understands the story from the songs then whats the point? After listening to them for a few times, I still couldn't see what story was behind them. Even if there is a story, it's lost on a majority of their fans who feel that their music is as essential as thick eyeliner and a fringe, so whats the point?

[COBHC728]

venomouskiss320 wrote:

Cheesepuff wrote:

i hope they mix up the song structures instead of the one they use in EVERY FUCKING SONG.

INTRO VERSE CHORUS VERSE CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS END

ANNOYS THE HELL OUTTA ME

You do know that almost every song is that format, right? By every band?

Maybe every band that YOU listen to. A lot of bands with better songwriting ability than MCR tend to use more varied song structures.

[ehnoway]

nephilium wrote:

am i the only one who thinks gerard sounds a little like freddie mercury?

Yes, you are. If Gerard was even a fraction as good as Freddie, then this band would have some credibility, even among people who hate them quite intensely. And I don't get the comparisons to Queen. They sound nothing like Queen. At all. The only thing they have remotely in common with Queen is a flair for the dramatics, but that's it. That's no reason to compare the bands. MCR may say they're influenced by Queen, but the only influence I see is in the makeup. They need to spend less time in front of a mirror and more time honing their skills and making good music. Image is nothing if you don't have the music to back it up. And stop dragging Queen's name through the mud like that. People are going to actually think they're responsible for bands like My Chemical Romance.

[cody502]

Cheesepuff wrote:

i hope they mix up the song structures instead of the one they use in EVERY FUCKING SONG.

INTRO VERSE CHORUS VERSE CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS END

ANNOYS THE HELL OUTTA ME

Thats a common setup for just about every band.It would be nice to hear a different setup,but I don't mind it personally.

[vIsIbleNoIsE]

i initially read that their fourth concept album is free. i almost decided that MCR were actually alright. phew.

[ApeOfJustice]

Cheesepuff wrote:

i hope they mix up the song structures instead of the one they use in EVERY FUCKING SONG.

INTRO VERSE CHORUS VERSE CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS END

ANNOYS THE HELL OUTTA ME

I don't think music is for you.

[Macabre_Turtle]

ehnoway wrote:

nephilium wrote:

am i the only one who thinks gerard sounds a little like freddie mercury?

Yes, you are. If Gerard was even a fraction as good as Freddie, then this band would have some credibility, even among people who hate them quite intensely. And I don't get the comparisons to Queen. They sound nothing like Queen. At all. The only thing they have remotely in common with Queen is a flair for the dramatics, but that's it. That's no reason to compare the bands. MCR may say they're influenced by Queen, but the only influence I see is in the makeup. They need to spend less time in front of a mirror and more time honing their skills and making good music. Image is nothing if you don't have the music to back it up. And stop dragging Queen's name through the mud like that. People are going to actually think they're responsible for bands like My Chemical Romance.

There harmonized leads usually do sound a ton like Queen. And I'm sure when Gerard Way claims to be influenced by Queen he specifically means the theatrics anyway. I think you just don't want to accept that a band you don't like happens to like a band that you do.

Bighair wrote:

pwninator123 wrote:

Bighair wrote:

Never had a concept anyway. I don't see whats conceptual about "Not being OK" :P Dream Theatre write good concept albums with stories. Along a similar vein of music, Coheed and Cambria write good concept albums with good stories. These guys write depressing drivel aimed at 14 year old girls who think they're suicidal. If I wanted to know about cancer I would smoke!

Really? The first two albums had a running storyline involving a couple running away from attacking vampires, whereas Black Parade is about a teenager with cancer having a complication in his heart, and he starts to hallucinate as a way for his brain to show him what he did wrong in his life

These are quite entertaining concepts beyond, "I'm not okay." Ignorance does not suit you well.

They might parade around saying that they are concept albums, but unless the listener understands the story from the songs then whats the point? After listening to them for a few times, I still couldn't see what story was behind them. Even if there is a story, it's lost on a majority of their fans who feel that their music is as essential as thick eyeliner and a fringe, so whats the point?

because you make music for you, not fans.

checked.

[MegaRon]

Ultimate_Taffy wrote:

MegaRon wrote:

It's fun to read all the MCR-hate from people that probably haven't listened to them past two or three songs. Kudos, fellows.

So you're saying to appreciate a band you have to listen to every song they record?
A band gains fans from single plays and handful of songs they and their fans shouldnt expect non-fans to listen to everything they've recorded.

Everyone makes their judgements on bands after only a handful of songs so don't try the "holier than thou" routine just because you like this band

You're right, people do make their judgments on a band after only a few songs. I was wrong to post that statement, I will admit it.

Regardless, I still agree that it is kind of silly to jump into an article of a band that you don't like, and posting negative things about them. It's one thing if you disagree with their direction, or are unhappy with something they've done; it's completely different to come around and post hate just for the **** of it.

[JacksonDinky!]

Pretty. Odd. wrote:
Bullets was a great album, and this is coming from a metal fan. Metal fans who don't like them, try their first album, it's nothing like The Black Parade, it's more like morbid punk music. You'll at least find it respectable.

Here's how I understand the concepts: Bullets was the story of a couple (The Demolition Lovers) who traveled the country shooting up liquor stores, eventually culminating in a massive firefight somewhere in the desert, in which the woman uses the man to escape, at the cost of his life. The next album, Three Cheers, is about the same couple. The betrayed man makes a bargain with Satan: a thousand souls for the chance to get revenge on his partner. So he starts luring people into bed and murdering them, keeping a book of their names until he hits a thousand. He fails, as Number 1,000 guns him down.

The Black Parade is about an unnamed cancer patient coping with his impending death. As a small boy, his father took him to the city to see a parade, and that memory is what he clings to- he revisits his life, preparing to die, guided by an imaginary parade, before he finally passes on.

Now, that said, yes, the article says that this next album will not be a concept album.

Whoever wrote this is pretty good at analysing songs.