With this, their third album, the New Jersey quintet seem to be trying to branch out from the emo-goth scene that they've been leading lights in. This is a brave move given the current popularity for all things melodic post hardcore, but don't be too afraid for them on this release, whilst its being touted as a concept album in some quarters (involving a Sgt Peppers-like band alter ego known as "The Black Parade") the main theme is one of death/dying which is hardly a fresh source of inspiration for these guys.

This albums nearest musical companion, believe it or not, is Green Days' "American Idiot" with added dashes of that albums predecessor "Warning" given that this release finds MCR experimenting with musical styles and instrumentation in the same way as the Berkeley trio did on those two albums. Not that "The Black Parade" finds the Way brothers following in Billie Joe and company's footsteps, far from it, the main comparison stems from the fact that both are loosely based concept albums that seem to focus their creators energies to impressive effect.

There's a definite sense of fun within the grooves here as well, whether its the rollicking chorus and outro to "Dead!", the 12-bar boogie of "Teenagers" or the vaudevillian touches found on "Mama" for example (the latter features a guest appearance from Liza Minelli no less) and stylistically there's such a breadth of influences brought to bear, most notably Queen on the epic "The End" with its multiple musical parts but there's also touches of bleak electronica in the intro to "The Sharpest Lives" with some Dick Dale-esque surf guitar on this tune as well, it shouldn't work but it does!! 

They still rock out though, the intro to "This Is How I Disappear" is huge and builds into a perfect slice of uptempo rock, propelled by some great drumming from Bob Bryar and they put the riff to "Detriot Rock City" to good use in "House Of Wolves" as well!

Possibly the best example of this musical melting pot is lead single "Welcome To The Black Parade" which starts with a sparse piano-led verse that builds through a harmony guitar Brian May would be proud of into its pop/punk 2nd half but never seems forced or disjointed, truly a work of epic proportions that no-one would have the thought the band capable of on previous evidence.

It doesn't all quite work though, borrowing the piano riff from "Live And Let Die" for "Cancer" doesn't rescue what is in fact a bog standard power ballad by numbers but these low points are rare and in the main "The Black Parade" is a hugely enjoyable modern rock record that demonstrates a band willing to take some musical chances, recommended!

Let us know your views on 'The Black Parade'

Track List

The End
Dead!
This Is How I Disappear
The Sharpest Lives
Welcome To The Black Parade
I Don't Love You
House Of Wolves
Cancer
Mama
Sleep
Teenagers
Disenchanted
Famous Last Words

Line Up

Gerard Way - Vocals
Mikey Way - Bass
Ray Toro - Guitar
Frank Iero - Guitar
Bob Bryar - Drums