Sum 41 never fit in. They didn’t give a shit or try to either. Instead, they came out of the gate swinging with a signature style punctuated by pop punk singalongs and hard-hitting heavy metal proficiency. As a result, they’ve cast an unmatched shadow over popular culture, tracing back to their turn-of-the-century domination of TRL up to a rapturous set at the inaugural When We Were Young Festival. Within the span of a year, Iggy Pop tapped them for a collaboration, and they paid a fiery tribute to Metallica for MTV Icon. Their music has surged through major franchises, ranging from Spider-Man to American Pie and Bring It On. They ignited a triptych of classic albums—the platinum-certified All Killer No Filler [2001], gold-certified Does This Look Infected? [2002], and gold-certified Chuck [2004]—and persisted in their second decade with just as much piss and vinegar on the likes of 13 Voices [2016] and Order In Decline [2019]. Slant hailed the latter as “a hell of fun ride,” while GQ applauded how “the band made it all the way back.” After selling 15 million albums worldwide, garnering two Juno Awards, a Kerrang! Award, and a handful of Alternative Press Music Awards, receiving a GRAMMY® nomination, and packing venues everywhere, they’re going out with a bang—and on their own terms. Disregarding the rules, ignoring expectations, and following their instincts once again, the band—Deryck Whibley [vocals, guitar], Dave Baksh [guitar], Jason McCaslin [bass], Tom Thacker [guitar], and Frank Zummo [drums]—deliver a fittingly fiery final statement in the form of the double-LP, Heaven :x: Hell [Rise Records]. Heaven is 10 tracks of snarling high energy pop punk, while Hell consists of ten heavy metal anthems spiked with fret-burning solos, thrashing riffs, and fist-pumping hooks. It’s big, it’s ballsy, and it’s their boldest and best body of work to date.
