Screaming Bloody Murder
{{About|Sum 41 album|the title track from the album|Screaming Bloody Murder (song)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Screaming Bloody Murder
| type = studio
| artist = Sum 41
| cover = Screaming Bloody Murder.jpg
| alt =
| released = March 29, 2011{{Cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/screaming-bloody-murder/sum-41|title = Screaming Bloody Murder by Sum 41|website = Metacritic}}
| recorded = January 26 – June 24, 2010
| venue =
| studio = {{hlist|Perfect Sound (Hollywood)|Capitol (Hollywood)|EastWest (Hollywood)|Mr Biz (Hollywood)}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Heavy metal
- punk rock{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/sum_41/screaming_bloody_murder/3339/|title=Screaming Bloody Murder Review | Sum 41 | Compact Discs | Reviews @|work=Ultimate Guitar|date=March 29, 2011|access-date=July 6, 2013}}
- {{nowrap|hard rock{{cite magazine|first=Jon|last=Dolan|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/screaming-bloody-murder-20110329|title=Screaming Bloody Murder|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 29, 2011|access-date=March 13, 2012}}}}
- garage rock{{cite web|first=Ethan|last=Stewart|url=https://www.popmatters.com/ranking-the-sum-41-albums|title=Ranking The Sum 41 Albums: From Pop-Punk To Thrash Metal|work=PopMatters|date=May 17, 2023|access-date=May 17, 2023}}
- emo{{cite web|url=https://killyourstereo.com/reviews/sum-41-screaming-bloody-murder/X597c3J1dHc/03-04-11 |title=Album Review: Sum 41 - 'Screaming Bloody Murder'|work=Kill Your Stereo|date=April 2, 2011|access-date=May 14, 2013}}
}}
| length = 48:36
| label = Island
| producer = Deryck Whibley
| prev_title = Underclass Hero
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = 13 Voices
| next_year = 2016
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Screaming Bloody Murder
| type = studio
| single1 = Screaming Bloody Murder
| single1date = February 7, 2011
| single2 = Baby You Don't Wanna Know
| single2date = August 3, 2011
}}
}}
Screaming Bloody Murder is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Sum 41, released on March 29, 2011, after many delays. It is the band's second album produced by frontman Deryck Whibley. It is the band's last album to be released on Island Records before they had fulfilled their contract with the major label in 2016 and their first album not to be released on Aquarius Records, which they left in 2010. The album has received mixed reviews.
It is the last album to be released with longtime original drummer, Steve Jocz before he announced his departure from the band in April 2013.{{cite news|url= https://www.facebook.com/Sum41/posts/10151331783477890|title= Steve Jocs departure from Sum 41|publisher=Facebook}} Even though new 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. Despite not playing on the album and being uncredited, Thacker is seen in photos with the band in the album's booklet.
Background
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2011}}
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 recording a full-length album, with frontman Deryck Whibley commenting that "it's safe to say the album will be released in 2009", though it was fast announced by bassist Jason "Cone" McCaslin, and drummer 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 would begin pre-production in December, and would begin recording the album in January 2010. The recording did begin in January 2010, but Gil Norton was dismissed one week into the recording, with Deryck Whibley deciding to produce the album himself, just as he did on the band's last effort Underclass Hero (2007).
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. Drums were recorded at Capitol Studios and Perfect Sound Studios, after which the band rented a house at the Hollywood Hills which served as their recording studio. Vocals were recorded until late March, when the band relocated to EastWest Studios, on April 7, 2010, to record 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 on 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, in a non-final form. The song began rising in popularity online, which led Sum 41 to start 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 revealed on the back of the album that "A Dark Road Out of Hell" was indeed true, comprising tracks 7–9 entitled "Holy Image of Lies", "Sick of Everyone", and "Happiness Machine".
In December 2010, bassist Jason "Cone" McCaslin confirmed that the album would finally go into mastering, and that though the album had essentially been ready for months, Island Records decided to postpone its release until after Christmas.
Promotion
On July 6, 2010, Screaming Bloody Murder was announced for release the following month; alongside this, "Skumfuk" was posted online.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/38957/media-sum-41-scumfck|title=Sum 41: 'Scumf*ck'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=July 6, 2010|access-date=October 20, 2022}} On January 8, 2011, it was announced that the band would release the radio single "Screaming Bloody Murder" on February 7, 2011, in the United States.{{cite web| last = Ableson| first = Jon| title = New Sum 41 Single To Hit US Radio Next Month| work = Alter the Press!| date = January 8, 2011| url = http://www.alterthepress.com/2011/01/new-sum-41-single-to-hit-us-radio-next.html| access-date =January 9, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2111782 |title=Sum 41 Screams Bloody Murder – New Article – |publisher=Absolutepunk.net |access-date=December 10, 2011}} The song had its worldwide premiere on January 14, 2011, on the Windsor radio station 89X.{{cite web|url=http://www.89xradio.com/ |title=The home of 89! |publisher=89xradio.com |access-date=December 10, 2011}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/u-pop/artist/sum41/ |title=SUM41 |publisher=Universal-music.co.jp |access-date=December 10, 2011}} 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.{{cite web|title = New Sum 41 Song| work = Alt Press| date = February 28, 2011| url = http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/exclusive_stream_sum_41s_blood_in_my_eyes/| access-date =March 1, 2011}} 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.
"Baby You Don't Wanna Know" was the album's second single in the UK and Europe only.{{cite web|url=https://www.twitter.com/Sum41/status/80750846303944705 |title=Twitter |publisher=Twitter |access-date=April 22, 2013}} On June 22, 2011, during the band's performance in Angers, France, the band debuted the song live for the first time.{{cite web|author=bibout182 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX1MMYtFMbo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/PX1MMYtFMbo |archive-date=December 15, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Sum 41 – Baby You Don't Wanna Know & In Too Deep @ Angers – Chabada le 22 06 2011 |publisher=YouTube |date=June 23, 2011 |access-date=December 10, 2011}}{{cbignore}} Sum 41 shot a music video for "Baby You Don't Wanna Know" in June.{{cite web|url=https://www.twitter.com/Sum41/status/85866607104102400 |title=Twitter |publisher=Twitter |access-date=April 22, 2013}} In July 2011, Matt Whibley confirmed that the music video for the first single "Screaming Bloody Murder" would be left unreleased due to its content and difficulties with the label.{{cite web |url=http://theresnosolution.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11601&start=12320 |title=TheresNoSolution.com • View topic - Sum41/SBM Discussion! |access-date=January 18, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001131700/http://theresnosolution.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11601&start=12320 |archive-date=October 1, 2011 }} On August 3, 2011, the band premiered the music video for "Baby You Don't Wanna Know" exclusively on German website Myvideo.de.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Sum41/posts/145053105576661 |title=GERMANY! Check out... |publisher=Facebook |access-date=December 10, 2011}}
On February 29, 2012, the band shot a music video for "Blood in My Eyes", with director Michael Maxxis in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Sum41/status/173138710861328384|title=Sum 41 on Twitter|work=twitter.com|access-date=January 12, 2017}} The video was shot in the desert around the Los Angeles area.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Sum41/status/174731222545727488|title=Sum 41 on Twitter|work=twitter.com|access-date=January 12, 2017}}
Singles
"Screaming Bloody Murder", the band's first single in three years, was released on February 8, 2011, in the United States.{{cite web| last = Ableson| first = Jon| title = New Sum 41 Single To Hit US Radio Next Month| work = Alter the Press!| date = January 8, 2011| url = http://www.alterthepress.com/2011/01/new-sum-41-single-to-hit-us-radio-next.html| access-date = January 9, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2111782 |title=Sum 41 Screams Bloody Murder - News Article |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |access-date=April 22, 2013}} It was released a day earlier, on February 7, in Europe. The song was released as a digital download only on iTunes, Amazon.com and other music retailers.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/screaming-bloody-murder-single/id417482150 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214135511/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/screaming-bloody-murder-single/id417482150 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 14, 2011 |title=iTunes - Music - Screaming Bloody Murder - Single by Sum 41 |publisher=iTunes |date=February 8, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2013}} The song had its worldwide premiere, a month before the official release, on January 13, 2011, on the Detroit area radio station 89X.{{cite web|url=http://www.89xradio.com/ |title=89X - Home - The Only New Rock Alternative |publisher=89xradio.com |access-date=April 22, 2013}} It then premiered on AOL Radio, a few hours later the same day.{{cite web|first=Nadine |last=Cheung |url=http://www.aolradioblog.com/2011/01/13/sum-41-screaming-bloody-murder/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115060016/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2011/01/13/sum-41-screaming-bloody-murder/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 15, 2011 |title=Sum 41, 'Screaming Bloody Murder' - New Song |publisher=AOL Radio Blog |date=January 13, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2013}}
The band performed the song live for the first time on February 4, 2011, in Paris, France, the first date of their first official European leg of the Screaming Bloody Murder Tour. It was performed at every show of the album's tour
The songs "Screaming Bloody Murder" and "Skumfuk" were performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on March 31, 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://pjfleckcamp.com/tv-shows/jimmy-kimmel-live/jimmy-kimmel-live-david-beckham-wes-craven-sum-41-31-mar-2011.htm |title=Jimmy Kimmel Live, David Beckham, Wes Craven, Sum 41 31 Mar, 2011 |access-date=September 11, 2012 |archive-date=August 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824132904/http://pjfleckcamp.com/tv-shows/jimmy-kimmel-live/jimmy-kimmel-live-david-beckham-wes-craven-sum-41-31-mar-2011.htm |url-status=dead }} "Screaming Bloody Murder" was also performed on Lopez Tonight on April 14, 2011.
"Baby You Don't Wanna Know", along with "Time for You to Go", was one of the four songs that were written and recorded by the band at the last minute, on April 7, 2010, at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, California.{{cite web |url=http://www.sum41.com/dttah/ |title=Watch Screaming Bloody Murder |publisher=Sum41 |access-date=January 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102101817/http://www.sum41.com/dttah/ |archive-date=January 2, 2012 }} The song, co-written by Matt Squire, was added to the album at the last minute and its recording was funded by Deryck Whibley himself, as the label refused to pay for any more songs for the album.
As said by Todd Morse on the album's making-of documentary, Don't Try This at Home, the song's style was more in the vein of classic rock and "straight-up-rock and roll", taking influence from the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, as opposed to all the other songs that were written during 2008–2009, that resulted in a more "dark" alternative rock style.
In an interview with the band during their European tour in July 2011, the band has commented that they considered releasing either "Blood in My Eyes" or "Back Where I Belong" as the second single, but opted to release "Baby You Don't Wanna Know" instead, as it was more radio friendly. It is also on the soundtrack of the 2011 film Green Lantern.
The band performed the song live for the first time on June 22, 2011, in Angers, France, during the band's summer European leg of the Screaming Bloody Murder Tour. The song was since then performed at various other concerts, and although being an official single, the band does not perform it on every date. It was performed on and off until August 2011, and was not played again when the band resumed the tour in 2012.
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| MC = 47/100[http://www.metacritic.com/music/screaming-bloody-murder/sum-41 MC]
| rev1 = AbsolutePunk
| rev2 = AllMusic
| rev2score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}[https://www.allmusic.com/album/screaming-bloody-murder-mw0002003375 allmusic]
| rev3 = Alternative Press
| rev3score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|first=Jonah |last=Bayer |url=http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/sum_41_screaming_bloody_murder/ |title=Alternative Press | Reviews | Sum 41 – Screaming Bloody Murder |date=March 21, 2011 |publisher=Altpress.com |access-date=December 10, 2011}}
| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev4Score = C+{{cite magazine|title=Screaming Bloody Murder Review |last=Franich |first=Darren |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 1, 2011 |page=77}}
| rev5 = IGN
| rev6 = Kerrang!
| rev6score = {{rating|2|5}}Sadly, Sum 41 spread the good stuff far too thin over an ambitious but not always successful 15 songs, and, to paraphrase an old title of theirs, there's too much filler and not enough killer material to truly convince. [26 Mar 2011, p.52]
| rev7 = Now
| rev7score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/sum-41-screaming-bloody-murder/|title=Sum 41 – Screaming Bloody Murder|website=Now|last=Keller|first=Jason|date=31 March 2011|access-date=21 April 2025}}
| rev8 = Rock Sound
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev10 = Sputnikmusic
}}
The album has received generally mixed reviews since its release, with its darker tone and songwriting drawing varied reactions.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/screaming-bloody-murder|title=Screaming Bloody Murder by Sum 41|work=metacritic.com|access-date=January 12, 2017}} In the site Metacritic, the album received a score of 47/100 based on 8 reviews.
Jonah Bayer of Alternative Press said: "While we believe Sum 41 has the potential to succeed without the power chords, the fact that only a handful of musical ideas are fully developed in the album is a frustrating experience to listen". Rock Sound remarked: "It is no longer a phenomenon but, Sum 41 have continued to mature as a pretty good band."
On the other hand, Sputnikmusic called the album "Revolting, messy, lazy, and undeniably Sum 41."{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/42615/Sum-41-Screaming-Bloody-Murder/|title=Sum 41 - Screaming Bloody Murder (album review 7) - Sputnikmusic|work=sputnikmusic.com|access-date=January 12, 2017}}
Grace Duffy of Under the Gun said:
{{cquote|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.{{cite web|url=http://underthegunreview.net/2011/03/29/review-sum-41-screaming-bloody-murder/ |title=review |publisher=Underthegunreview.net |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=December 10, 2011}}}}
=Accolades=
Sum 41 was nominated for the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for the song "Blood in My Eyes", but they lost to Foo Fighters.{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Grammy-Awards-2012:-Check-out-the-list-of-nominations/8450580 |title=Grammy Awards 2012: Check out the full list of nominations - 02/12/2012 | Entertainment News from |publisher=OnTheRedCarpet.com |date=November 30, 2011 |access-date=February 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521223858/http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Grammy-Awards-2012:-Check-out-the-list-of-nominations/8450580 |archive-date=May 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 31 on the US Billboard 200, with first week sales of 15,000 copies. {{as of|2016|October|df=US}}, the album has sold 52,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005091256/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Hits Daily Double: Upcoming Releases|archive-date=October 5, 2016 |access-date=October 5, 2016}}
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Deryck Whibley, except where noted.{{cite web |url=http://www.sum41.com/album.aspx?pid=12484 |title=Official track listing on |publisher=Sum41.com |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=December 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104000013/http://www.sum41.com/album.aspx?pid=12484 |archive-date=January 4, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sum_41_track_listing_for_screaming_bloody_murder/ |title=Official track listing on |publisher=Altpress.com |date=March 7, 2011 |access-date=December 10, 2011}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Standard edition
| total_length = 48:36
| title1 = Reason to Believe
| length1 = 3:28
| title2 = Screaming Bloody Murder
| note2 = Whibley, Tom Thacker
| length2 = 3:24
| title3 = Skumfuk
| length3 = 3:24
| title4 = Time for You to Go
| length4 = 3:01
| title5 = Jessica Kill
| length5 = 2:50
| title6 = What Am I to Say
| length6 = 4:12
| title7 = Holy Image of Lies
| length7 = 3:47
| note7 = A Dark Road Out of Hell: Part I
| title8 = Sick of Everyone
| length8 = 3:05
| note8 = A Dark Road Out of Hell: Part II
| title9 = Happiness Machine
| length9 = 4:48
| note9 = A Dark Road Out of Hell: Part III
| title10 = Crash
| length10 = 3:19
| title11 = Blood in My Eyes
| length11 = 4:16
| title12 = Baby You Don't Wanna Know
| note12 = Whibley, Matt Squire{{cite web|last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/screaming-bloody-murder-r1821310/ |title=Screaming Bloody Murder – Sum 41 |website=AllMusic |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=December 10, 2011}}
| length12 = 3:34
| title13 = Back Where I Belong
| length13 = 3:41
| title14 = Exit Song
| length14 = 1:42
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = iTunes bonus track
| total_length = 51:14
| title15 = Reason to Believe
| note15 = Acoustic
| length15 = 2:38
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Japanese bonus track
| total_length = 55:24
| title16 = We're the Same
| note16 = Whibley, Jason McCaslin
| length16 = 4:10
}}
Personnel
Sum 41
- Deryck Whibley – vocals, guitars, keyboards, piano, production, mixing (tracks 4, 10, 12 & 14)
- Jason "Cone" McCaslin – bass
- Steve "Stevo32" Jocz – drums
Additional musicians
- James Levine – piano on "Crash"
- Dan Chase – percussion on "Holy Image of Lies", "Sick of Everyone" and "Happiness Machine"
- Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. – additional keyboards & piano (uncredited)
Production
- Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
- Chris Lord-Alge – mixing (tracks 6 & 13)
- Femio Hernández – mixing assistant
- Nik Karpen – mixing assistant
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Gil Norton – additional drums production (uncredited)
- Ryan Hewitt – engineering
- Jason Donaghy – engineering
- Travis Huff – additional engineering
- Joe Hirst – additional engineering
- Robbes Steiglitz – assistant engineering
- Ben O'Neil – assistant engineering
- Ken Sluiter – assistant engineering
- Brad Townsend – mixdown engineering
- Andrew Schubert – mixdown engineering
Artwork
- Evan Lipschultz – A&R
- Javon Greene – A&R
- Kristen Yiengst – artwork, photo coordination
- James Minchin – photography
- Paul Resta – marketing
- Kristen Yiengst – artwork, photo coordination
- Marjan Malakpour – stylist
Charts
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjK2W6TkofG_UPi34RXbuRN0yVITnSvIl Screaming Bloody Murder] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
- [https://myspace.com/sum41 Sum 41] on Myspace
- {{Metacritic album}}
{{Sum 41}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Island Records albums