| Screaming Bloody Murder | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Sum 41 | ||||
| Released | March 25, 2011 (see release history) |
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| Recorded | January 26–June 24, 2010 at Perfect Sound Studios, Capitol Studios, EastWest Studios, Mr. Biz Studio, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA | |||
| Genre | Melodic hardcore, alternative rock, alternative metal, punk rock | |||
| Length | 48:31 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Producer | Deryck Whibley | |||
| Sum 41 studio album chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Screaming Bloody Murder | ||||
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Screaming Bloody Murder is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Sum 41, released on March 29, 2011, after many delays. It was the band's second album produced by the band's frontman Deryck Whibley and recorded as a three piece, and is the first album by the band since 2007's Underclass Hero, which marks the longest gap between two Sum 41 albums. Even though new lead guitarist Tom Thacker was already a part of the band and co-wrote the title track of the album, all guitars were still recorded by singer Deryck Whibley. As of September 2011, the album has sold 36,000 copies in the US.[1]
Contents |
The band initially entered the studio in late 2008 with plans to record an EP for release in April 2009, though as more and more material was written, they have decided to keep writing and make the album a full-length album, with Deryck Whibley commenting that "it's the safe to say the album will be released in 2009", though it was fast announced by Cone McCaslin and Steve Jocz not to expect the album any sooner than summer 2010.
In November 2009, it was announced that the band hired legendary British producer Gil Norton to produce the album, and that they will go into pre-production in December, and will enter the studio to record the album in January 2010, though Gil Norton was dismissed one week into main recording, with Deryck Whibley producing the album himself, just as he did on the band's last effort Underclass Hero.
Recording of instruments began on January 26, 2010, and finished on March 17, 2010, after which only vocals were left to record by Whibley himself in his home studio. Vocals were recorded until late March, when the band entered the studio once again on April 7, 2010, to record some additional songs for the album. On June 12, 2010, Deryck reported in a video update that the album was "99% done". Recording was finalized on June 24, 2010, a day before the band went on to play on the 2010 Vans Warped Tour. While playing the Warped Tour, the album went into the mixing stage by Tom Lord-Alge in Miami, Florida.
It was announced that a new song entitled "Skumfuk" was set to appear on the Warped Tour sampler CD, though it eventually wasn't ready for release in time. On July 6, 2010, the track was leaked online, though in a non-final form. The band confirmed the song won't be a single from the upcoming album, but due to its raising popularity online, started playing it live on their European tour in October. It was later announced that the band would release a 12-minute section from the album (later entitled 'A Dark Road Out of Hell', consisting of tracks 7 – 9 of the final album) for free on their website before the official release. However, this release was later denied by the band's label. It was later then revealed on the back of the album that 'A Dark Road Out of Hell' was indeed true compromising of tracks 7-9 entitled Holy Image of Lies, Sick of Everyone & Happiness Machine
In December 2010, Cone McCaslin confirmed that the album will finally go into mastering, and though it was all done for a while now, it was Island Records who decided to push the album and not release it on Christmas time as it'll be a bad commercial move. Deryck Whibley then confirmed that Island Records has set a tentative release date of March 2011 for the album.
On January 13, 2011, "Screaming Bloody Murder", the first official single from the album, had its worldwide premiere on the Windsor, Ontario based radio station 89X. The official single was released as a digital download on February 7, 2011, in Europe, and a day later in the US. It was also released in the UK on February 13, 2011.
It was announced by Universal Japan that the album will be released in Japan on March 23, 2011. On the band's official website it was announced the album will be released on March 29, 2011, in the US, and a day before in Europe. The release in Japan was then posponed until April 6, 2011, because of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
On January 8, 2011, it was announced that the band will release the radio single "Screaming Bloody Murder" on February 7, 2011 in the United States.[2][3] The song had its worldwide premiere on January 14, 2011, on the Windsor radio station 89X.[4] Universal Japan has confirmed on the official Japanese Sum 41 website, that Screaming Bloody Murder will be released in Japan on March 23, 2011, after which it was confirmed on the band's official website that the album be released on March 29,
2011, in the US.[5] On February 28, 2011, a stream of "Blood In My Eyes", another new song from the album, was released for free listening on Alternative Press.[6] Universal Music Japan then announced that they postponed release date of the album in Japan because of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, until April 6, 2011. On March 24, 2011, Island Records started streaming the record in its entirety on the band's official website.
On June 15, 2011, Sum 41's Twitter has confirmed "Baby, You Don't Wanna Know" as the second single, also announcing its release to Canadian radio stations.[7] On June 22, 2011, during the band's performance in Angers, France, the band debuted the same song live for the first time.[8] On June 28, 2011, Sum 41's twitter has announced that the band shot a a music video for "Baby, You Don't Wanna Know" during a day off in Germany, also announcing its release very soon.[9] In July 2011, Matt Whibley has confirmed that the music video for the first single "Screaming Bloody Murder" will be left unreleased due to its content and difficulties with the label, but the video for "Baby, You Don't Wanna Know" will be released soon instead.[10] On August 3, 2011, the band premiered the music video for "Baby, You Don't Wanna Know" exclusively on German website Myvideo.de.[11]
The album debuted at 5 on the UK Rock Albums chart.[12] The album debuted at 11 on the Australia Top 50 Digital Albums chart.[13] The album debuted at 18 on the Australia Top 50 Physical Albums chart.[14] The album debuted at 16 on the Australian Albums Chart chart.[15] The album debuted at 100 on the Dutch Albums Chart chart.[16] The album debuted at 66 on the UK Albums Chart chart.[17] The album debuted at 35 on the Spain Albums Chart chart.[18] The album debuted at 23 on the Austrian Albums Chart.[19] The album debuted at 9 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[20] The album debuted at 25 on the France Albums Chart.[21] The album debuted at 23 on the German Albums Chart.[22] The album debuted at 21 on the Swiss Albums Chart.[23] The album debuted at 31 on the U.S. Billboard Billboard 200.[24] The album debuted at 5 on the U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums chart.[25] The album debuted at 15 on the U.S. Billboard Digital Albums chart.[26] The album debuted at 5 on the U.S. Billboard Rock Albums chart.[27] The album debuted at 7 on the Japanese Albums Chart.[28]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AbsolutePunk | (76%) [29] |
| Alternative Press | [30] |
| BLARE Magazine | [31] |
| CultureTease | [32] |
| IGN | [33] |
| Rock Sound | [34] |
The album has received mixed to positive reviews since its release, and is a Grammy Nominee as of December 1st, 2011.[35] Grace Duffy of Under The Gun said:
“Screaming Bloody Murder” takes things up a notch, with a forceful and cutting rhythm and vocals to match. The undercurrent of rage and disillusionment is one that echoes throughout the record, and the band capture it well here.[36]
Along with this review, Shakefire, Ultimate-Guitar and IGN all welcomed the album as Sum 41's greatest album, citing that they have given up the humour in songs and actually become a very good band.
On November 30, 2011, Sum 41 is nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for the song Blood In My Eyes, the winner will be announced on February 12, 2012.[35]
All songs written and composed by Deryck Whibley, except where noted.[37][38]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Reason to Believe" | 3:28 |
| 2. | "Screaming Bloody Murder" (Whibley, Tom Thacker) | 3:24 |
| 3. | "Skumfuk" | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Time for You to Go" | 3:01 |
| 5. | "Jessica Kill" | 2:50 |
| 6. | "What Am I to Say" | 4:12 |
| 7. | "Holy Image of Lies" (A Dark Road Out of Hell: Part I) | 3:47 |
| 8. | "Sick of Everyone" (A Dark Road Out of Hell: Part II) | 3:05 |
| 9. | "Happiness Machine" (A Dark Road Out of Hell: Part III) | 4:48 |
| 10. | "Crash" | 3:19 |
| 11. | "Blood in My Eyes" | 4:16 |
| 12. | "Baby, You Don't Wanna Know" (Whibley, Matt Squire[39]) | 3:34 |
| 13. | "Back Where I Belong" | 3:41 |
| 14. | "Exit Song" | 1:42 |
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Total length:
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48:31 | |
| iTunes Bonus Track | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 15. | "Reason to Believe" (Acoustic) | 2:38 | |||||||
| Japanese Bonus Tracks | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 15. | "Reason to Believe" (Acoustic) | 2:38 | |||||||
| 16. | "We're the Same" (Whibley, Cone McCaslin) | 4:10 | |||||||
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Top 50 Digital Albums[13] | 11 |
| Australia Top 50 Physical Albums[40] | 18 |
| Australian Albums Chart[15] | 16 |
| Austrian Albums Chart[19] | 23 |
| Canadian Albums Chart[20] | 9 |
| Dutch Albums Chart[41] | 100 |
| France Albums Chart[21] | 25 |
| German Albums Chart[42] | 23 |
| Japanese Albums Chart[43] | 7 |
| Spain Albums Chart[18] | 35 |
| Swiss Albums Chart[23] | 21 |
| UK Albums Chart[17] | 66 |
| UK Rock Albums[12] | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard 200[44] | 31 |
| U.S. Billboard Rock Albums[27] | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums[25] | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Digital Albums[26] | 15 |
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| Australia | March 25, 2011 |
| Germany | March 28, 2011 |
| Italy | |
| Netherlands | |
| Denmark | |
| France | |
| New Zealand | |
| Norway | |
| Poland | |
| Portugal | |
| Russia | |
| Spain | |
| Sweden | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Canada | March 29, 2011 |
| India | |
| United States | |
| Argentina | March 30, 2011 |
| Brazil | |
| Japan | April 6, 2011 |
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