After twenty-seven years Sum 41 have decided to call it a day and they are going out in a blaze of glory with their final album, “Heaven :x: Hell”, a double album that brings the curtain down on an astonishing career.
On previous albums, the band has always put a great mix of high-energy pop punk and heavier trashier metal tracks. Still, here they have split it down the middle with Heaven being the pop-punk side and Hell the metal side giving you the ultimate Sum 41 experience. Kicking the whole thing on if undeniable Sum 41 fashion is “Waiting For A Twist Of Fate” a punchy number that is just what the doctor ordered; great riffs, a thumping drum and bass beat with Whibley giving it socks, Baksh drops a ripper solo near the end of the track topping off a great opening. “Landmines” is another typical killer from the band but with a twist around the verses’ with Whibley sounding a little like Skinhead Rob from Transplants, regardless of that, it’s catchy as fuck and a real toe-tapper. “I Can’t Wait” kicks it up a notch with an injection of pace as the riffs rip, keeping in step with the pounding drum beat as Whibley spits out lyrics like nobody’s business, the perfect two-minute song.
“Time Won’t Wait” slows it down a little, not by much mind, mainly around the verses but when the chorus hits it all goes off with a bouncy rhythm that they have become synonymous with, another cracker. “Future Primitive” brings the snarl and a heavier punk sound than the previous tracks, fast sharp riffs with a pummeling drum beat drives the track, Whibley turns it on and is on top of another killer solo from Baksh pulls it all together nicely. “Dopamine” is packed with crunching riffs and that bouncy rhythm that is so infectious you won’t be able to sit still, this is one of the best tracks on the Heaven side of the album. While “Not Quite Myself” is what you would expect from the band; gritty riffs, crashing drums and a big chorus it is also a beacon for those struggling not to be afraid to call for help, It is a great song with a great message. “Bad Mistake” sounds like an Offspring track, no bad thing for sure, with a catchy singalong chorus this will be massive live. “Johnny Libertine” is a rip-roaring punkster that flashes by in a blink of an eye, short and sweet. “Radio Silence” is a slower tune that builds as the track moves along, particularly around the chorus’, to a crescendo at the back end of the track, the piano on this one is a nice touch adding a little something extra to an already great track, the perfect way to close out the Heaven side of the album.
“Preparasi A Salire” opens up the Hell side of the album, a quirky little number that acts as a palate cleanser for what is to come and believe me you will not be disappointed. “Rise” ratchets up the intensity with a pummeling track that tears along, a killer drum beat and savage riffs push this along with Whibley on top form snarling and roaring his way through with Baksh dropping another monster solo, this is a monster track. The opening refrains on “Stranger In These Times” set the tone for this one, faster and heavier, a round kick-ass track with cutting riffs and a fat bass, a deadly track. “I Don’t Need Anyone” continues with the heavy, the bass and drums are massive on this one while the guitars play off each other nicely and Baksh outdoes himself with a brutal solo, the true metal side of the band shines brightly here, one of the best tracks across the two albums. “Over The Edge” continues the onslaught with a barrage of blistering drums, insane riffs and a rumbling bass, Whibley screams his way through as only he can as a slow piano outro brings the curtain down on another serious contender for track of the album. “House Of Liars” is a hard rocker with a cool rhythm that will have you banging your head and stomping your feet, the riff and solo that combined midway through are amazing, this one grows on you the more you listen to it. The frantic “You Wanted War” sees the band stretch their legs with monster riffs and a pounding drum beat, throw in a cracking solo and you have a beast of a track as the band embraces their true metal side, you can only love this one. “Paint It Black” is a pretty cool cover of the Stones classic albeit with a heavier darker style. The heavy bass line on “It’s All Me” gives it such a kick it’s unreal, one of the heavier tracks on here and you can feel it as it combines with the drums to create a savage pulsating rhythm, Baksh throws out another mind-bending solo as it all crashes around him in a flurry of mayhem, a banger if ever there was. The last ever track to be laid down by Sum 41 is aptly entitled “How The End Begins”, it feels like this is their own personal anthem about how things turned out, it’s a brilliant tune that has all the hallmarks of the band from their inception to now, the end, a fitting way to put an exclamation mark on an amazing career.
This album is the perfect way for the band to bow out, it’s All Killer No Filler
Final Double Album Heaven :x: Hell
Out 29th March, 2024 via Rise Records
Pre-Save Now
Heaven :x: Hell Tracklist
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
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
SUM 41 is getting ready to embark on their final worldwide tour, Tour Of The Setting Sum, later this year. The band will be making stops in the United States, Japan, Mexico, Germany, Italy, and more, as well as performing their largest show to date to a sold-out crowd of over 35,000 people at Paris La Défense Arena in France later this year. Sum 41 will be playing their final show as a band in Toronto, Ontario, at Scotiabank Arena on January 30, 2025. All tickets are on-sale now at www.sum41.com/tour.
Looking back at the band’s storied 27 year career, Sum 41 has firmly cemented their place in rock history with over 15 million records sold worldwide, multiple Billboard Charting releases, a Grammy Award nomination, 2 Juno Awards (7 nominations), a Kerrang! Award in 2002, multiple Alternative Press Music Awards, and countless other accolades.
Tour Of The Setting Sum Dates
February 27 – Seoul, South Korea – Yes 24 Live Hall
February 28 – Seoul, South Korea – Yes 24 Live Hall
March 1 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Uptown Park
March 2 – Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Kridosono Stadium
March 4 – Singapore, Singapore – Star Theatre
March 5 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Megastar Arena
March 7 – Guangzhou, China – Voice Republic – SOLD OUT
March 9 – Shanghai, China – ??????????? – SOLD OUT
March 10 – Nanxing, China – 1701 Live House – SOLD OUT
March 11 – Nanxing, China – 1701 Live House – SOLD OUT
March 14 – Sapporo, Japan – Zepp
March 16 – Tokyo, Japan – Punkspring*
March 18 – Yokohama, Japan – Zepp – SOLD OUT
March 19 – Nagoya, Japan – Zepp – SOLD OUT
March 21 – Hiroshima, Japan – Blue Lives
March 22 – Fukuoka, Japan – Zepp
March 23 – Osaka, Japan – Punkspring*
March 29 – Mexico City, Mexico – Punk Rock Festival*
March 30 – Monterrey, Mexico – Pa’l Norte*
April 19 – Omaha, NE – The Astro^
April 20 – Wichita, KS – Wave^
April 21 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater^
April 23 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory^
April 24 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory^
April 26 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe^
April 27 – Milwaukee, WI – Rave^
April 29 – Baltimore, MD – Pier 6^
April 30 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway^
May 1 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena^
May 4 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage^ – SOLD OUT
May 5 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Paramount^
May 6 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Paramount^
May 8 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena^
May 9 – Raleigh, NC – The Red Hat Amphitheater^
May 11 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy^
May 12 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville*
May 14 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium^
May 15 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre^
May 17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple*
May 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Skyline Stage at The Mann^
May 19 – Norfolk, VA – Chartway Arena^
June 13 – Interlaken, Switzerland – Greenfield Festival 2024*
June 14 – Hradec, Czechia – Rock For People*
June 15 – Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock*
June 16 – Derby, United Kingdom – Download Festival*
June 19 – Dublin, Ireland – Fairview Park
June 21 – Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany – Southside Festival*
June 22 – Lyon, France – Slamdunk*
June 23 – Schneesel, Germany – Hurricane Festival*
June 26 – Viviero, Spain – Resurection*
June 28 – Ysselsteyn, Netherlands – Jera on Air*
June 29 – GeiselWind, Germany – Mission Ready*
June 30 – Marmande, France – Garorock*
July 4 – Nantes, France – La Nuit de ;’Erdre*
July 5 – Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter*
July 6 – Belfort, France – Les Eurockéennes*
July 7 – Hunxe, Germany – Ruhrpott Rodeo*
July 9 – Milan, Italy – I-Days*
July 11 – Argeles sur mar, France – Les Deferlantes*
July 12 – Madrid, Spain – Madcool*
July 13 – Lisbon, Portugal – Nos Alive*
August 1 – Rimouski, Quebec – Parc Beausejour
August 3 – New Glasgow, Nova Scotia – The Jubilee 2024*
August 4 –Saint John, New Brunswick – Area 506 Festival 2024*
August 7 – Saguenay, Quebec – La Baie’s Harbor Village Agora*
August 8 – Québec, Quebec – Quebec City Old Port Agora* – SOLD OUT
August 9 – Victoriaville, Quebec – Rock La Cauze*
September 3 – San Francisco, CA – Masonic Auditorium^
September 4 – San Francisco, CA – Masonic Auditorium^
September 6 – Portland, OR – Alaska Airlines’ Theater Of The Clouds^
September 7 – Seattle, WA – Wamu Theater^
September 8 – Boise, ID – Revolution Concert House and Event Center^
September 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Lot at The Complex^
September 11 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre^
September 12 – Des Moines, IA – Vibrant Music Hall^
September 14 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple^
September 15 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center^
September 17 – Coraopolis, PA – UPMC Events Center^
September 23 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach^
September 24 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater^
September 28 – Austin, TX – H-E-B Center at Cedar Park^
September 29 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall^
September 30 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory^
October 2 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre^
October 3 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater^
October 5 – Las Vegas, NV – Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino^
November 23 – Nanterre, France – Paris La Défense Arena – SOLD OUT
January 28, 2025 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
January 30, 2025 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena – SOLD OUT FINAL SHOW
* Festival Appearance
^ with The Interrupters
Heaven :x: Hell is available to pre-save and pre-order now at https://sum41.lnk.to/
Review: Conor
Sum 41 are:
Deryck Whibley Vocals, rhythm guitar
Dave Baksh Lead guitar
Jason McCaslin Bass
Tom Thacker Rhythm guitar
Frank Zummo Drums