Sum 41

Annie Zaleski December 2, 2004 4:00AM

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If Sum 41 sounds hardened on its fourth album, there's good reason: The title refers to the name of a United Nations volunteer who helped the Canadian punk pranksters dodge bullets and explosions in the Congo, where the group was on a charity mission in 2003. The bandmembers haven't totally lost their sense of humor -- the video for the disc's first single, "We're All to Blame," spoofs gyrating Solid Gold dancers -- but spending time in the trenches certainly shook the mall-punk residue from their tunes.

Expounding upon the snarling metal fantasies of 2002's "The Hell Song," Chuck sounds battle-scarred. Jagged-lightning riffage and fret-shredding tempos dredge up the war-weary intensity of Black Sabbath or late-'80s Metallica ("The Bitter End"), while more punkish tunes (especially the no-brakes, Damned-esque "No Reason") sound like a war zone. Vocalist Deryck Whibley's nasally attempts at metal-dude gruffness backfire every so often -- causing a few cuts to skulk like shady Linkin Park castoffs -- but Chuck is both a loving homage to Sum 41's headbanging heroes and an impressive progression.

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Annie Zaleski

Contact: Annie Zaleski

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