This new album from Sum 41 will be their last of their career, with a breakup announced for early 2025. Heaven :X: Hell thus closes nearly 30 years of career for this iconic punk rock band. But that’s only after a world tour and one last tour in their home country, Canada. In short, let’s just say it right away, Sum 41 delivers here, with Heaven :X: Hell, a masterful finale.
By the way, this album is actually a double album. The first part, Heaven, plunges us into the more pop-punk universe of the band and its early years of career, through 10 tracks. The second, Hell (hope you guessed), leans more towards heavy metal sounds, emblematic of what the band has produced more recently, with 10 other tracks. That means there’s something for everyone! Both the music and the lyrics of the songs on this latest album pay tribute to Sum 41’s career, which has been one of the major bands in the punk rock scene of the last three decades.
A little aside: it was far from smooth sailing for the band, especially for its leader Deryck Whibley. Problems with alcoholism, pneumonia, near-death experience, fatherless childhood… Just for him, the list of challenges to overcome was long. He has also announced the release, next October, of a biography in which he will revisit not only his personal challenges but also those of the band of which he is the leader.
But let’s get back to our subject!
Heaven
While both facets of this double album are, in my opinion, very successful. I must admit to having a preference for Heaven. The pop-punk sound found there, reminiscent of their beginnings, takes me back to my adolescence, much to my delight.
We kick off with “Waiting On A Twist Of Fate,” released as a single, which sets the tone with a prominent guitar complemented by heavily shaken drums and clear vocals, making it a typical pop-punk track. “Landmine,” which was the first single from this album, starts with these poignant lyrics for all fans, “And I don’t want to believe / That this might be the end.” Neither do we, we don’t want to believe it either!
Then, several songs clearly throw us back to several of their past albums. The track “I Can’t Wait,” one of my absolute favorites, is a journey into their flagship debut album “All Killer, No Filler” (2001). “Time Won’t Wait,” on the other hand, pays homage to the iconic “Does This Look Infected?” (2002). “Future Primitive” and “Dopamine” – the latter being the last single released to introduce the album and, for me, the ultimate favorite of this double album – are two tracks that unmistakably recall the metal sounds of one and the melodic tones of the other from the album “Chuck” (2004). Finally, “Radio Silence” revisits the softer sounds of the album “Underclass Hero” (2007) or even “Screaming Bloody Murder” (2011), taking us back to our youth.
Amidst all this, there are other tracks that are definitely worth listening to as well, notably the explosive “Johnny Libertine,” which is a piece of speed rock with blazing drumming and riffs.
Hell
The Hell side of this double album kicks off with “Preparasi a Salire” a track whose gentle intensity doesn’t really foreshadow what’s to come but serves as an effective transition marking the descent from Heaven to Hell. This part starts off with the exceptional “Rise Up,” the second single from the album. Undoubtedly the best track of Hell for me, it marks the musical break that occurred with “13 Voices” (2016) and its much heavier metal tone. “Stranger in These Times” is a pleasantly heavy track with a chorus that you find yourself singing along to at the top of your lungs. Another excellent piece!
“Over The Edge” suggests a delightful mix of pop and hardcore. Further on, it’s surprising to find a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black”… Or not, for those who have seen Sum 41 live won’t be surprised as the band regularly covers songs that have inspired them. I myself have heard this cover at a concert a few years ago.
“How The End Begins” concludes Hell and, in terms of discography, concludes Sum 41 altogether. Once again, it’s a more emotional piece, with a chorus that starts with the line “now it’s the end, we can’t get it back.” It emphasizes that all good things come to an end, whether natural or not, and that there’s no going back. The message couldn’t be clearer and will leave many feeling orphaned from a part of their youth after this song.
I told you this double album was full of gems!
And now…
If this is Sum 41’s last album, the band members won’t just stop there. Without being too clear, Deryck Whibley has announced that he “looks forward to the next chapter.” In other words, he’s looking toward the future. He adds that he’s eager to move forward, to try new things, to grow, to be creative in a different way, and to see where life takes him.
In summary, Sum 41 delivers a masterful finale with this double album Heaven :x: Hell, allowing the band to leave the stage with their heads held high. And despite their distinct identities, Heaven and Hell truly embody Sum 41. This will please all their fans and make this final album, and their last tour, an event that will go down in the band’s legendary history. Well done, gentlemen! Bravo, Deryck, for leading this magnificent band for all these years.
Listen below, and I’ll see you in Quebec this summer and Montreal in January 2025.
