Another Sum 41 firecracker
The fifth studio album to come from Canadian quartet Sum 41 was expected to hit the shelves late last year but Santa failed to deliver. However, it looks as though things are back on the up with the highly anticipated release finally being delivered in the form of fourteen varied and excitable tunes under the title "Screaming Bloody Murder".
If after a decade or more in the music making business you are asking yourself what can Sum 41 really achieve with this release that they haven't done before, the answer you would receive is A GREAT BLOODY DEAL! There are powerfully up tempo numbers, much like the opener 'Reason to Believe' and 'What Am I To Say'. There are your typical Sum 41 songs, those that resemble a touch of their previous sound. Then there are tunes that have some else included. 'All Comes To An End' has an underlying bounce, a spring in its step. 'Time For You To Go' and 'Baby You Don't Wanna Known' have a poppy rock and roll touch, something to get you on your feet. 'Happiness Machines' is a beauty as it punches through with something rough and heavy before settling into something gentler and then reverting back and forth for the tracks duration.
Although there are moments that stand out, such as the deafening instrumental of 'Crash' and the slightly bizarre poppy introductory verse of 'Sick Of It All', it is one track that is more memorable than anything else on the release. 'Over Now' is a slow moving tune powered by emotions, beautifully written. It is one to sit and listen to, don't sing along, or move, just listen and feel the words. It is one of the more beautiful, moving and sentimental Sum 41 creations.
Don't be fooled by the occasional angelic opening of tunes such as 'Screaming Bloody Murder' or the mid sections some of the tunes have. There is nothing angelic about this release. Sum 41 has gone back to their roots, adapting their sound to incorporate the tougher rockier moments alongside the poppier additions. This album not only demonstrates how far Sum 41 has come musically since the release of their early material, but also lyrically with much more depth and passion gone into the lyrical content. Although the tracks remain lyrically catchy and sing-a-long friendly, they have sentiment and meaning too.
'Does this look infected?' was my travel companion many years ago – never left home with out it. It was a release you could listen to on repeat, sing along with and put on to any mood. It sounds as though Sum 41 is getting better and better with age at what they do and have made the perfect addition to the wondrous discography they are gathering.