Sum 41 - Heaven :x: Hell
Released March 29, 2024
Deryck Whibley, Dave Baksh, Tom Thacker, Jason McCaslin, Frank Zummo
Punk Rock, Alternative Metal
Man this one hurts. The final Sum 41 album. I've mentioned it before on this site but this is my all time favorite band, so as much as it pains me to see them go to see them go out with a bang is so fucking nice. I know I just spoiled it but God this album is a masterpiece, shitty art aside. This album has the perfect mix of heartbreaking punk/emo with the modern Sum 41 metal power anthems. With that being said lets get into the review, this album is long.
Thoughts & Feelings
This album makes me feel both depressed and happy. The feelings from the songs themselves are perfect and they really have the perfect mix of early Sum 41 punk and their modern metal bangers. With that being said, this album hurts so bad to listen too knowing that this is the end of my favorite band. Good luck in retirement boys.
Smash Or Pass?
Waiting On A Twist Of Fate- SSSSSSMMMMMMMMMAAAAAASSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH. HALF HOUR OF POWER BABBBYYYYYY. This sounds exactly like something off of their first ever release and its so fucking good. God this song is so fucking fun. Its so nice to hear that they are going out on top on their own terms with another banger release.
Landmines- SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS SONG. This was the first single off the album, and GOD IS IT A FUCKING BANGER. This is also the theme for NHL 24, the whole reason I ended up buying that pile of dogshit was because I wanted what was technically the first physical release of this song. Anyways about the song. This is a pop punk MASTERPIECE. Its both happy, sad, and angry all at the same time. This song is just perfect. The slow section near the end before the final chorus is so good. 11/10. This album is so fucking good.
I Can't Wait- SSMMAAASSSSHHHH. This track is straight off of All Killer No Filler and you cannot convince me otherwise. This song is so fucking good, every punk fan should listen to this. This album is putting up a strong fight to be their best work.
Time Won't Wait- SSMMMMAAAASSSHHH. First "ballad" of the album, and its much needed and once again is absolutely perfect. This song sounds like a cross between 2000s Simple Plan and Underclass Hero era Sum 41 and its just perfect.
Future Primitive- SSSMMMMAAAASSSHHH. Descendants?? This song sounds just like the Descendants if they played pop punk instead of traditional punk. Another banger.
Dopamine- SSSSSSSSMMMMMMAAAAAASSSSSHHHHH. This was the final single released off the album, and damn is this song heartbreaking. This is the first slow, depressing ballad off the album and man does this one feel personal. Someone hurt Deryck and this is him just fucking laying into them. Deryck is by far one of the best when it comes to conveying emotions in his songs, as seen in every song on 13 voices and most other releases Sum41 has.
Not Quite Myself- SSMMMMAASSSHH. UNDERCLASS HEROOOOOOO. This song could have been on that album and it would fit PERFECTLY. This song is so fucking good its scary. If this band can be this good after this many years with 0 bad releases that is insane. Even Green Day had a fuck up, Sum 41 has a perfect discography. That's just wild.
Bad Mistake- SSSSSSSSMMMMMMAAAAASSSSSSSSHHHHHH. THIS SONG IS SO FUCKING GOOD. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN OFFSPRING SONG BUT SOOOO MUCH BETTER. I know the obvious points have to be made here, Deryck sounds fucking INCREDIBLE on these tracks but shoutout to Dave Brownsound Baksh for being one of the best punk guitarists over the past 24 years. The solo on this song is incredible and adds so much here. Hands down the best non single so far.
Johnny Libertine- SSMMMAAASSHHH. SPPPPEEEEEED. PUNK ROCK BABBBYYYYYYYYY. Shoutout to the Libertines, great band. This song sounds like it belongs on Half Hour Of Power yet it works so well on this album.
Radio Silence- SSMMAASSSHHH. God this song. It almost made me cry which is super rare for anything, especially a song. This might be the single greatest punk ballad ever, and you cannot change my mind. This song is so fucking heartbreaking. Just listen to it. This is the perfect closer to the punk band Sum 41. Next up is Hell.
Preparasi A Salire- Smash. Just a little transition song. This is the gateway to Hell. The perfect fade into the next one is so fucking good. Sum 41 is now a metal band.
Rise Up- SSSSSSSSSMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH., 13 VOICES. POWER METAL BABBBBYYYYYYYYYYYY. THIS SONG IS THE PERFECT OPENING TO THE HELL SIDE. This album is half punk and half metal. This is the first of the metal song and its so fucking good. SCREAMMINGGGGGG. Deryck doesn't scream often but its great when he does. BROWNSOUND WITH THE BEST FUCKING SOLO ON THE ALBUM.
Stranger In These Times- SSMMMASSSSHH. TOOL? This opening sounds like a Tool song and its so fucking perfect. Everything about this album is perfect. This metal side has been incredible so far and adds so much to the album. The use of punk choruses on these heavy metal tracks is something very few bands can pull off, and Sum 41 does it perfectly every time.
I Don't Need Anyone- SMMMASSSSHHH. This sounds like an Architects song with Sum 41 vocals, and I have no complaints at all. This song is fucking amazing. This sounds more like metalcore than anything else on this album and as a metalcore fan I love that. I TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID EARLIER. THE SOLO ON THIS SONG IS THE BEST SOLO ON ANY SUM 41 SONG. DAVE BAKSH LADIES AND GENTLEMEM. WHAT A LEGEND.
Over The Edge- SSMMMAAASSSHHH. SCREAMING ON THE OPENING. THIS IS THE HEAVIEST SONG ON THE ALBUM. The whole band really starts to let it all out on this half of the album, they know this is their last run and are just making this an emotional masterpiece. THAT HALF TIME BREAKDOWN WITH THE MACHINE GUN BASS DRUM IS SO FUCKING GOOD. Slow creepy piano ending that leads into the next song perfectly
House of Liars- SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. WHAT AN OPENING. I love perfect transitions between songs and this is one of the best. This song is so fucking good. Its emotional, heavy, loud, and the riff just feels so special. This is one of the best songs Sum 41 has ever released. This one right here confirmed it. This is the best Sum 41 album of all time. This song sounds just like MCR and I just love how well executed this is. Gold Medal. No questions asked.
You Wanted War- SSSMMAAASSSHHHH. This sounds like Escape the Fate and I have no complaints about it. This album is so fucking good I just cant. All of these songs deserve medals but I have to pick 3. This album is a must listen for any music fan, I don't care what genres you like this is a masterpiece. OH MY FUCKING GOD DAVE. THE SOLOS OIN THIS ALBUM ARE FACE CRUSHING. THIS ONE IS ABSOLUTELY FILTHY. What a song.
Paint It Black- SSSSSSSSMMMMMMAAAAASSSSSSHHHHHH. I saw this on the track listing and thought "No, They couldn't have". They did. A Rolling Stones cover. And one of the best EVER at that. This song sounds just as emotional and broken as the original. Instead of singing about Vietnam like Mick, Deryck is singing about his personal struggles and its just perfect. By far one of the best covers of this song ever made.
It's All Me- SSMMMAAASSSSHHH. HEAVY AS FUCCCCKK. SCREAMING, MACHINE GUN DRUMS, EVERYTHING. THAT SOLO IS SO FUCKING GOOD, DAVE OUTDID HIMSELF ON THIS ALBUM.
How The End Begins- SSSSSMMMAAAAAASSSSHHHH. This one hurts. This is it. The LAST Sum 41 song. This is the perfect song to close off their careers. Its heavy, punky, emotional, everything. I'm so fucking glad that Sum 41 is going out with a bang. This album is the best thing they have ever, and sadly, will ever release.
Conclusion
This hurts to type. This isn't just the conclusion to this review, this is the conclusion to my all time favorite band. Sum 41 was the first band I ever truly fell in love with after one listen. I still remember vividly, I heard Pieces on the radio and ever since that day I have loved everything this band has ever made. I know I'm probably gonna look biased for calling this their best work but from a music standpoint and from the significance that THIS is their last contribution to music, it is. This album is perfect, absolutely perfect. I can go on and on but this review is already too long.
RANK: S+
Man this felt so good but hurt so bad at the same time. This album is the perfect closer to such a legendary career. Good luck to the boys in whatever they do next. That does however bring up the big question. Am I glad they are done? Yes and no. I'll explain, I'm glad they retired on top and with a bang, but I'm sad they retired in general. I got to see them on the Let The Bad Times Roll tour with the Offspring and I'm forever grateful for that experience. That night is one of my best ever, I got to see my all time favorite band with the best lineup they have ever had. It hurts I'll never get to see them again but I'm happy I saw them, so many would have killed to go. With that though that's the end of the review. Any feedback is welcome and appreciated. Thanks for reading. 🤚🖕
-Jake (JunosBestFriend)
Fuck You Brendon Urie. Deryck was and always will be a better singer.
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