Sum 41
Half Hour of Power
Big Rig/Island

This half-hour of pop punk is over in 182 blinks. "What I Believe" has predictable progressions and forced singing. "Makes No Difference" is one sweet step away from the Rembrandts. Searing surf metal and immature vocal lines fight the drummers attempt to mimic a "Machine Gun." The sudden appearance of 30-second Oi punk in "THT" is encouraging, but in this context seems like a novelty. A patronizing nod to Angry Samoans? The drum solo during "Summer" is actually a welcome break. Something unexpected in a light, Goldfinger influenced tune.

In "Second Chance for Max Headroom" they may be reading too much into the show. "You can’t afford the amass of denial / Don’t explain it, you can’t arcane it too." Wow, where did these profound lyrics suddenly come from? That still doesn’t justify the cute harmonies. A little ska shows up with the "You’re too proud too mention" line paraphrased from Adam Ant. Musically, it’s repetitive and redundant.

A little better is "Dave’s Possessed Hair." It’s fast-paced, accusatory and pointed. Shows intelligence if not originality. "You think unequalism makes you dignified." The ripping AC/DC metal riffs and Run DMC rap are unexpectedly enjoyable. After this shining point, the band slips back into barracuda guitars. They are great at smooth change ups.

The dirge-metal intro to "Another Time Around" transitions into off-kilter punk rhythms. The vocals are nice snotty and sloppy Spot 1019 style. Sum 41 tries different things, just not all of them work. How do you marry Beach Boy harmonies with Motley Crue metal breakdowns?

The songs "Grab the Devil By The Horns and *** Him Up the ***," "32 Ways to Die," and "Ride The Chariot To The Devil" all sound like nothing. They are mysteriously absent on my disc. Must be a promo thing.

-Ewan Wadharmi

Track Listing

1. Grab the Devil By The Horns and *** Him Up the ***(missing)
2. Machine Gun
3. What I Believe
4. T.H.T
5. Makes No Difference
6. Summer
7. 32 Ways to Die (missing)
8. Second Chance for Max Headroom
9. Dave’s Possessed Hair / It’s What We’re All About
10. Ride the Chariot to the Devil (missing)
11. Another Time Around

Mike Doughty