My Chemical RomanceThe band
My Chemical Romance is a band I have been obsessed with since I was 13 years old. Their intense sound combined with emotional theatrics stole my teenage heart and I've never been able to let it go. The band was founded by singer Gerard Way in 2001 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Gerard was working as an intern for Cartoon Network in New York City on that day. The tragedy of the attack motivated him to start the band, wanting to make a difference in the world. Soonafter he got joined by his brother Mikey Way playing bass, Ray Toro and Frank Iero both on guitar and Matt Pelissier on drums (being probably the most disliked former member of the band, getting kicked out around 2004 after the release of their second album.)
2002: I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
This album is an absolute banger of a debut. I feel like it's often underappreciated because it's a lot more raw than their later albums, but that rawness is what makes it special to me. The sound is much more in the direction of emotional hardcore/hardcore punk and you can even hear heavy metal influences in there. The track “Skylines and Turnstiles” is the first song Gerard had ever written for MCR after witnessing the September 11th attacks but my favorite track of the album is tied between Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough For The Two Of Us and Demolition Lovers.
My Chemical Romance makes a concept album out of every album they make and I Brought You My Bullets is no exception, though the story is by far the most vague out of all their albums and if you weren't looking for it you could easily miss the overarching story but I'd blame that on it being their first album. The album tells the story of two characters inspired by Bonnie and Clyde together living a life of crime until they eventually get gunned down in the desert. Overall a great album that deserves more love.