This is part 2 of sum 41 I’ll be talking about two albums and what are good songs to check out. I recommend checking out 13 voices it came out 2016 on this album it as a song war has over 124 million listeners. 157,102 listeners tracked on Last.fm. The song “War” by Sum 41 (released on August 25, 2016, as a single from their album 13 Voices) was written by frontman Deryck Whibley about his intense personal battle and recovery from near-fatal alcohol abuse. This was released as the lead single from 13 Voices. Frontman Deryck Whibley explained the story behind the song:”I picked this song because of its importance to me. I feel this song literally saved my life. I was at my absolute lowest point of what seemed like a never ending recovery. I was at a tipping point where I could have easily just given up and went back to my old ways of alcohol abuse which would’ve ended up killing me, which at the time felt like a better option, when all of a sudden, in mid thought, these lyrics sort of appeared in my head and i grabbed a pencil and paper instead of a bottle and started writing. When I read it back to myself I realized I had written words that I would need to live up to if I wanted to survive. whenever I had any thoughts of giving up I would read these lyrics myself to remind me that I need to keep fighting harder and what it was exactly I was fighting for.”

The Story and Inspiration: Near-Death Recovery Whibley suffered severe organ damage in 2014 due to years of heavy alcoholism, leading to a difficult and painful recovery process. A Tipping Point Whibley shared that he was at his lowest point and on the verge of giving up, contemplating a return to drinking—which he knew would kill him. Writing the Song Right in the middle of that thought, the lyrics to “War” appeared in his head. Instead of reaching for a bottle, he grabbed a pen and paper to write them down. He later noted that writing the words forced him to live up to them if he wanted to survive. Metaphorical Battle The track frames his internal struggle against addiction as a literal war—a fight to reclaim his life and overcome his past regrets. Sum 41 released their sixth studio album, 13 Voices, on October 7, 2016, via Hopeless Records. The album serves as a major comeback record born out of frontman Deryck Whibley’s near-death experience, recovery from alcoholism, and massive lineup shifts. 

The next song ima talk about this album is breaking the chain. ” Breaking the Chain” is heavily inspired by frontman Deryck Whibley’s harrowing, real-life battle with severe alcoholism and his journey toward recovery. In 2014, Whibley suffered severe liver and kidney failure that landed him in a near-fatal medically induced coma. The entire 13 Voices album serves as a chronological timeline of his rehabilitation, and “Breaking the Chain” specifically addresses the painful process of choosing sobriety. 41 “Breaking the Chain” is track 4 on Canadian rock band Sum 41’s sixth studio album, 13 Voices, released on October 7, 2016, through Hopeless Records. Personal Recovery The song was written by frontman Deryck Whibley and producer Mike Green. It reflects Whibley’s harrowing personal battle with severe alcohol abuse and the near-fatal health collapse he suffered in 2014, which forced him into a long, painful recovery. Lyrical Themes The track deals with self-liberation, facing past deceptions, accepting responsibility (“I’ve paid my price / I’ve done my time with the devil in disguise”), and cutting ties with destructive addictions or habits. Album Context 13 Voices served as Sum 41’s triumphant comeback record after Whibley’s recovery and the return of lead guitarist Dave “Brownsound” Baksh. The album centers heavily on themes of survival, mental health, and starting over. Acoustic Version An acoustic version of the song was later released in 2020 as part of the 13 Voices B-Sides collection.

The next album is heaven :x: hell: Sum 41’s final double album, Heaven :x: Hell, was released on March 29, 2024, via Rise Records. It serves as the band’s 20-track swan song before concluding their nearly three-decade career. 

Album Structure & Concept: The 20 tracks are split into two distinct thematic and musical halves. Heaven (10 tracks): Returns to the band’s early 2000s melodic pop-punk and skate punk roots, inspired by frontman Deryck Whibley driving with his young son and listening to 90s punk. Key singles include “Landmines”. Hell (10 tracks): Continues the heavier alternative metal, thrash, and aggressive style the band embraced in their later career, featuring tracks like “Rise Up” and a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black”.

This the History & Background

Announcement Sum 41 announced in 2023 that they would disband after 27+ years together, citing burnout and a desire to close the chapter on a high note. Tour of the Setting Sum The band supported the album with a massive global farewell tour running from January 2024 through January 2025. Legacy: The album received widespread critical acclaim (including an 85/100 score on Metacritic), celebrating the dual identities—pop-punk and heavy metal—that defined Sum 41’s evolution.  

Now ima talk about my two favorite songs on this album landmines and paint it black. I’m going to talk about the history about these two songs first is landmines.  This is the Writing and Creation of the song landmines. Origins Frontman Deryck Whibley wrote “Landmines” quickly after being asked to write songs for other artists, deciding instead to keep it for Sum 41. Style The track marks a return to the band’s fast-paced, old-school pop-punk roots reminiscent of their early 2000s career. Production Whibley wrote, sang lead vocals, and co-produced the track with Mike Green.

This the Release and Record Deal:

Rise Records  “Landmines” was the first single released after the band signed a new deal with Rise Records / BMGfor their final album. Music Video The accompanying music video portrays a 1998 high school prom that transitions into a chaotic rock show and food fight. Band Disbandment The song arrived shortly after the band announced in May 2023 that they would be disbanding after a 27-year career and a final world tour.

This is the Chart History and Milestones:

Billboard Number One On the chart dated March 9, 2024, “Landmines” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. Historic Gap: This marked Sum 41’s first No. 1 on the chart since “Fat Lip” in August 2001—a 22-year, 5-month, and 3-week gap that set a record for the longest span between No. 1 songs by the same artist in the chart’s history.