Released: 29 March 2024
Rise Records
Sum 41 fans, this is it.
Whether you think this day is heaven or hell, is subjective. For the Canadian pop punk/rock outfit who have conquered the world in their 28-year tenure in the industry, Heaven :x: Hell is a culmination of their strength and endurance. The band is currently on one final farewell tour around the world and while we wait to hear if Australia gets one more glimpse of Sum 41 (nearing the end of 2024 if my close sources and prediction is correct), at least there is a brand new double whammy of Sum 41 glory to jam to.
First up, definitely give both sides of the album a spin from front to back first. After my first listen, Heaven was my calling from the getgo. Opening track ‘Waiting On A Twist of Fate‘ is contagious, high-energy pop punk that hones in on the band’s All Killer, No Filler era, climaxing with an iconic guitar solo from lead guitarist Dave “Brownesound” Baksh. ‘Landmines‘ and ‘I Can’t Wait’ also follows this vibe and is a testament to Sum 41’s strong ability to coin incredibly powerful hooks. The latter offers a little more of a punk rock offering, which fans heading for their 40s will gladly swallow up.
‘Time Won’t Wait‘ is where things begin to straight line. This sounded way too much like an MGK track from 2022 and the overly poppy guitars throughout the chorus felt like an Avril Lavigne/Simple Plan collab was coming. Honestly felt this would have worked better as a fun collaboration. In saying that, as a die-hard pop punk listener, this tune grew quickly on me and it’s starting to feel like a new addiction.
Thankfully, things pick back right up though with ‘Future Primitive’ as we head back in time to 2004 where Sum 41 levelled up into heavier territory. There are sneaky throwbacks to ‘We’re All to Blame‘ and that frantic guitar riff on the second verse is epic. On the contrary, ‘Dopamine‘ felt more like a song that fellow Canadians Simple Plan would drop. Personally, it didn’t feel very Sum 41, but this does leave us wondering whether this is a sign that Deryck Whibley or someone else in the band will produce for other bands? Only time will tell.
The backend of Heaven continues to carry from strength to strength, with ‘Not Quite Myself‘ delivering a punchy anthem straddling between 2004’s Chuck and 2007’s breakthrough LP, Underclass Hero. ‘Bad Mistake‘ feels like it was inspired from Sum 41’s recent tours alongside The Offspring. The guitar melodies are groovy as heck and the song’s structure feels very Offspring, which honestly is a compliment to be up there with one of the greatest punk rock acts of the 90s.
Speaking of punk icons, if Green Day have ‘American Idiot’, Sum 41 have ‘Johnny Libertine‘. This is fast-paced punk rock, thrown with a dash of anarchy only the best punk bands sing of. While effectively not as explosive as the band’s hit ‘Fat Lip‘, this quick trip back down memory lane serves as a fun interlude before coming in for the finale. ‘Radio Silence‘ is exactly what it was meant for. Ultimately calling for a phone/lighters in the air moment at their final showdown, Whibley pours his heart out to the fans and the diehards in what feels like the emo/pop punk follow-up to 2007’s ‘With Me‘ we’ve all been waiting for.
Heaven rating: 8/10
On that note, it’s time to raise some serious Hell.
‘Preparasi A Salire‘ serves as the extended intro to ‘Rise Up‘, the hot-headed defiant metal anthem we first heard last December. Featuring blazing riffs from the first note, expect to hear sprinkles of influence right through from Chuck to 2019’s LP Order in Decline. They told you they’d rise up and especially over the past fourteen years, they’ve kept that promise intact. ‘Stranger In These Times‘ sounded very unusual initially, but it quickly ramps up into that classic searing, metal sound that Sum 41 have focused on in recent years. On Hell, this is one of the top standouts.
From this point on, each track begins to blend into one another while also ramping up momentum. ‘I Don’t Need Anyone‘ and ‘Over the Edge‘ delivers strong riff energy and is more or less is a testament to each member’s relentless energy and abilities. While also bringing in 2000s metalcore influences (Atreyu), bassist Jason ‘Cone’ McCaslin and guitarists Tom Thacker and Brownesound are sounding so good collectively.
‘House of Liars‘ changes key momentarily for a moodier rock song. While Deryck sounds very much in his prime, this does feel very raw and marks a little more of the band’s vulnerable side. I enjoyed this, but follow-up track ‘You Wanted War‘ struck up new energy from within. Brownesound’s epic guitar solo here is definitely the best part about Heaven :x: Hell combined. It depicts a relentless sonic journey of metal/punk that lyrically speaks to those who attempt to objectify our worth. Musically however, it is one hell of a showdown and I would kill for this to be on the final setlist.
Did anyone expect Sum 41 to include a cover song on their final record? While it is quite a surprise and many fans may object loudly to this, the band have included a punk rock rendition of The Rolling Stones‘ hit ‘Paint It Black‘, which after looking into this track felt a little familiar to their friends Gob. These guys dropped their own version of ‘Paint It Black‘ on their 1999 LP, How Far Shallow Takes You. Given that Gob has recently just been announced to support Sum 41 on their final tour in their home country of Canada, the cover makes for a cheeky addition to their final release.
The band aims for one last shred of glory on the tantalising track ‘It’s All Me‘. Deryck chimes in to instil one more everlasting message of defiance with his words of empowerment. The gates of Hell are well and truly open as the opening bars of ‘How the End Begins‘ begin to play. Beginning with Whibley’s concerning words of wisdom as he comes to realise that they’ve reached the end of Sum 41’s journey. Musically, it’s a hot take into modern rock territory, throwing a splice of Linkin Park into the mix.
Hell rating: 7/10
Collectively, Heaven :x: Hell is Sum 41’s crowning moment. This is a record that celebrates why the band have maintained a high status in the pop punk/rock community. From the punchy, high-voltage tenacity of Heaven to the deep-rooted heavy dynamics of Hell, Deryck, Cone, Brownesound, Tom and Frank will leave behind a lasting legacy. While it is heartbreaking to hear the band’s end is near, rest assured bittersweet tears will be shed if you get the chance to see them live this year.
Review By Tamara May
Sum 41 – Heaven:
1. Waiting On A Twist Of Fate
2. Landmines
3. I Can’t Wait
4. Time Won’t Wait
5. Future Primitive
6. Dopamine
7. Not Quite Myself
8. Bad Mistake
9. Johnny Libertine
10. Radio Silence
Sum 41 – Hell:
1. Preparasi A Salire
2. Rise Up
3. Stranger In These Times
4. I Don’t Need Anyone
5. Over The Edge
6. House Of Liars
7. You Wanted War
8. Paint It Black
9. It’s All Me
10. How The End Begins
