My Chemical Romance’s “The Foundations of Decay” Single Review

Let’s be honest, there are likely few handfuls of people between the ages of 24-36 that weren’t anticipating this release, as well as

completely floored by its announcement and the idea of the band getting back together in general. After their break-up in 2013, citing ”no longer being needed” as their reasoning for throwing in the towel, it was hard to believe we‘d ever see the days we’re now seeing arrive again. Apparently, contrary to the band’s observations and statements of their own mission, they were, in fact, much needed. With this new track hitting the airwaves and already at about 4-million-plus streams before even being out a full calendar week yet, the band has once again succeeded in delivering nothing short of their best.

If you never knew of the magic that is My Chemical Romance before, and the unwavering chemistry (Damn Dylan, back at it again with the terrible puns) this band has resonated with much of the emo, rocker, goth, ”scene kids,” and just general music lover communities they’ve upheld for two decades now, all you have to do is walk through even a couple albums in the earliest days of their discography and you’ll likely see (or hear) why this band carried such an impact from even the beginning of their career. Strong songwriting, absolutely visceral and gut-wrenching lyrical content with hauntingly familiar and relatable subject matter, catchy driving guitars riffs for days, adrenaline-igniting drum passages, and plenty of bass just to keep your knees shaking all the more, it’s hard to deny this band’s place as one of the best modern rock bands to ever take the scene. Not to mention, their influence is felt all across many of the modern rock musicians we see coming up today. Even if you don’t find yourself necessarily a fan or totally in-love with My Chemical Romance, it’s hard to not find something to respect and nod to them and the influence they’ve generated for so many.

All that said, we are also no strangers to bands (many seeming to choose the last couple of years specifically as ample time to reunite, perhaps a whole year of no live music and venues disappearing, or all of it appearing much at risk of going away forever, served as a pretty understandable factor in these decisions…) making “comebacks,” and sadly not all of them end up being what we’d hoped for. Everyone remembers MCR primarily as that band that soundtracked those kids who used to say things like “it’s not a phase, mom!!!” and could be classified as the “emo kids,” so what would a band like that’s comeback look like here in 2022, past the old familiar, nostalgic hits from efforts such as “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” or “The Black Parade?” Could they stand the test of time in an age where things like e-girls, SoundCloud rappers, NFTs, lots of at-home studios, and just a bunch of other trends and new-age aspects have dominated what we once knew and created almost an entirely new culture of their own with many different interests and ideas flowing in and out daily? What place does a sound like MCR’s have in a day and age where it’s no longer “cool” to have a wallet chain, all the “scene” kids are now adults and have families and office jobs, Warped Tour no longer exists, and bands like KoRn are referred to by some as “dad rock?”

Clearly, this new single finds itself right at home…

(Image of band borrowed from NME.com)

While it’s no question at all that things have certainly changed, some things, as they say, never do change. Tenacious D once said “you can’t kill the Metal,” and clearly that sentiment also stands towards Rock n Roll. Though electronics seem to have much more of an almost essential presence in a greater majority of the popular music within the last 5 years or so, guitars are still cool!!! Who’d‘a thought? As much of the modern music also seems to be emulating at least elements of what once was, (anyone else notice a major resurgence of 70’s hard rock, 80’s pop, and 90’s grunge and alternative making a sort of comeback lately? Perhaps even some punk stuff working its way in there, too…) it seems that the ”old familiar” will perpetually refuse to die. We get plenty of that “old familiar“ with “The Foundations of Decay,” as well.

From the start of the song, we’re immediately thrown back into the days of “The Black Parade,” with an almost chanty-like, gritty intro welcoming us right back into the thick of it, as if the band never broke up or went away at all. Gerard Way belts out some powerful passages that seem to allude to the band itself. While the introductory stanzas paint for us what could be translated as an introspection of historical success amongst the band, it seems they still feel as though something isn’t quite complete; The story hasn’t quite yet been concluded. It’s now time to turn the page and enter a new chapter, even with how many have been written before and even if all the words aren’t quite there to even begin.

The rest of the song follows with this, as a massive build-up in all its 6-minute glory, feeling more and more driving and stronger as it progresses. The verses, the choruses, and even the bridge all tell us that nothing has faltered with this band at all. The vocal delivery just as strong as we all remember, the instrumentation just as powerful and present as the days of Three Cheers, and somehow even with all the familiarities there, this song breaks into a sort of new territory for the band. It’s anyone’s guess how to interpret Way’s lyrics on this one, but I agree with most of what I’ve read that this seems like the band reawakening and, despite the dust of old age, struggles both with self and the world around them, and a seemingly uncertain and doom-and-gloom future ahead, the band is ready to sound the trumpets and march on again, parading their message against all odds that they may encounter. “If we’re gonna have to die sometime, might as well do it in style,” seems to be a theme of sorts with the message embedded in this one. Living in today’s society feels like fighting a war of sorts, and MCR are here again to cheer us all the through our daily battles, onward to victory.

I especially found myself in awe about 3:13 in, where the guitars get this heavy, doom-rock-ish, breakdown-like riff going that feels like the feet of the band and their fans pounding the ground beneath as they push forward, proving to all of us that nothing can stop them. Even with all the metal and crazy moments I’ve heard many, many times in music prior and even recently, this struck me as one of the heaviest things I‘ve heard in a song for awhile. Sure, it’s not downtuned to drop G, it doesn’t have blast beats, it doesn’t have double bass, Gerard isn’t doing any gutturals, and there‘s no bass drops to be found…but when I say “heavy,” I mean it encapsulates a spine-shivering level of power that only a band like MCR can ever hope to deliver. The entire song has a similar excitement to it, but this moment in particular is what sold me, personally.

(Image of band borrowed from NJ.com)

So if the question is, “Are My Chemical Romance back?“ Then this song should certainly supply the answer: Yes. Without a doubt.

If this single is any glimpse into what is to come or could (MCR don’t seem to like to give too many hints on their next move, wise perhaps as both marketing and given it doesn’t appear to turn off their fans whatsoever), we’re in for a very special treat. The band has proven with this track that they apparently have not faltered at all and likely never will. The good ‘ole fashioned MCR touch is certainly still there, even after all this time. Guess it’s time for all of us to hit up Hot Topic and Spencer’s and get our make-up ready for the new-age Black Parade all over again! Don’t forget your fishnet gloves!

Overall score: 9/10. Loved it. Hope the boys continue to impress us for as long as possible, now that we know they are back!