Sum 41 transcends time with career-finale record 'Heaven :x: Hell'

Saying farewell to scene pioneers.

Photo Credit: Travis Shinn

Sum 41 pays tribute to every phase of its almost 3-decade-long career with their dual album, Heaven :x: Hell, out today via Rise Records.

On the new album, vocalist Deryck Whibley says, “Once I heard the music, I was confident enough to say, ‘This is the record I’d like to go out on.’ We’ve made a double album of pop punk and metal, and it makes sense. It took a long time for us to pave this lane for ourselves, but we did, and it’s unique to us."

Undoubtedly, this record captures the signature sounds of every major record they've released since 1996. Teetering the line between pop-punk and metal is what makes Sum 41 such an innovative and iconic part of the scene's music. They were one of the first artists to effectively blend the two subgenres seamlessly.

Heaven transcends time and captures every iconic sound of Sum 41.

The Heaven half of the record includes upbeat, pop-punk tracks that take us through the scene's historical trends. Songs like "Waiting On A Twist Of Fate" and "I Can't Wait" fit perfectly in the late 90s, early 2000s staple rhythms of Sum 41 and alternative rock in general. On the other hand, "Time Won't Wait" and "Future Primitive" give mid-2000s, summer-at-warped-tour vibes. They follow the upbeat, poppier sounds of that time period. One track, "Bad Mistake", is clearly inspired by The Offspring's trendsetting 2008 release. Some of my top tracks include "Landmines" and "Dopamine" which offer the more modern rhythms and melodies seen in the scene.

From this part of the record, "Not Quite Myself" is my absolute favorite. Not only do I resonate well with the lyrics, but they pair very well with the dancelike melody and rhythm.

Hell includes Sum 41's signature metal sounds & epic guitar solos.

The Hell half of the record opens with "Preparassi A Salire" which slows the music down and is the perfect transition from the punk world to the hardcore metal riffs that they rock out on this track. Releasing "Rise Up" as a single provided listeners a great preview to the dynamic aspects of this side of the album. The opening riff of "Stranger In These Times" feels so gritty; it is clear it is about to be an absolutely rockin' song. Same thing with "I Don't Need Anyone" - the opening riff sets the stage for a fast-paced, headbanging masterpiece. One of my favorites is "House of Liars" since it fits so well with my mid-late 2000s emo taste.

My favorite track from this half has to be "You Wanted War." The guitar solo is insanely epic with such speed and skill.

I find it very interesting that they recorded a "Paint It Black" cover. I love the original song but definitely appreciate Sum 41's metal twists to it.

Is this the Beginning of the End of an Era?

"How The End Begins" emphasizes feelings of ending this journey. We know that Sum 41 is not the first, nor the last band, to step away from the scene. With the pioneers of my favorite genre leaving, it really does feel this is the beginning of the end of continuing the 2000s rock sounds into the 2020s.

Without a doubt, Heaven :x: Hell deserves 5 stars. As sad as we are to see Sum 41 go, they are leaving fans with the satisfaction of the best record they have ever produced.

Let us know what you think of Sum 41’s new album. We’d love to hear read your thoughts!

And if you can’t get enough Sum 41, be sure to check our 2022 interview with Sum 41's Dave Baksh!