Hyper-Insomnia-Para-Co ndrioid (Does This Look Infected? - Sum 41)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Does This Look Infected? - Sum 41
Date:	18/03/08 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An excellent album of Pop Punk, progresses the sound of Sum 41 perfectly.

Disadvantages: It's over far too quickly.

Sum 41 have been active as a band since 1996. In their twelve years together they have recorded and released five studio albums of which 'Does This Look Infected?' was their third. The album was released in 2002 and was the next logical step in the continuation of their progression as a band into a more competent and well rounded unit. Never have Sum 41 disappointed with their albums, always they impress and 'Does This Look Infected?' is certainly no exception from the Canadians.

The album begins on a high with 'The Hell Song' and from here on in Sum 41 have your full undivided attention as they charge their way through the 'Does This Look Infected?' album. They rattle their way through this album with great fury, never is there a dull moment here and always the band impress with their awesome sound which leaps between Pop Punk and straight up Punk Rock. Definitely in this album the band are showcasing a heavier side of themselves, their previous album 'All Killer No Filler' had been quite pop heavy and yet with this release the band portray a much greater strength in an album that is never short of excitement.

'Still Waiting' was the lead single for this album and is perhaps the best known track from this release. In the video to this track the band smash up their instruments in order to show how truly 'punk rock' they really are, it was a good bit of tongue in cheek fun and the track itself is absolutely brilliant. It is a hard hitting track, and right from the opening guitar riff the band possess great power as they fire their way through this track without once seeming to stop to take breath. 'Still Waiting' is without doubt one of my favourite Sum 41 songs of all the albums that they have released to date, it's absolutely excellent and few times in this bands career have they produced such finely crafted music.

'Hyper-Insomnia-Para-Condrioid' has to be another of my favourites from this album, it has the longest title on here and is blessed with an absolutely brilliant chorus. It is a fine track from Sum 41 and is yet another that is amongst the best that they have ever recorded. I don't know quite what it is about this one that caught my imagination in quite such a drastic sense, but every time I hear the track it impresses me hugely. The chorus comes belting out and the guitar riff that drives through the centre of the track is absolutely phenomenal. 'Hooch' is another similarly powerful track from this release and is one that I truly can't recommend enough. The chorus is just as excellent in 'Hyper-Insomnia-Para-Condrioid', in both the choruses come firing out with a great intensity of power. There is an amazing guitar solo contained within 'Hooch' that begs to be heard, the song breaks down at this point and turns from a powerful and hard hitting track into a soft and gentle yet equally entertaining piece of music. It's beautiful the way in which this track progresses and as it draws to a close it continues to wind down and slows gradually to its halt.

'All Killer No Filler' had a token heavy metal track in the form of 'Pain for Pleasure', and with 'Does This Look Infected?' the band couldn't help but once more include a heavy metal skit this time coming in the form of penultimate track 'Reign In Pain'. Personally I'm a huge fan of this track and although I realise it's only included as a novelty I appreciate it's inclusion here. Without this track the album just wouldn't quite feel complete and it would always feel as though something was sadly missing.

'Does This Look Infected' is an excellent album from Sum 41, never have they ever disappointed so far in their career and always when they emerge with a new release they seem to impress greatly. What I love most about Sum 41 is that their sound never remains static, always they seek to improve upon what they put down with their previous record and each and every time they come forth with something new and interesting. Their music is unpredictable and it is this that makes Sum 41 such a fantastically exciting band. Always they are energetic and at no stage do you ever feel that Sum 41 are not putting their all into the tracks. In each Sum 41 track the band are driving forward with every element of their sound, they are a band that never fail to impress and entertain with their excellent music. I've always been a huge fan of Sum 41, right from the first time I ever heard their first hit 'Fat Lip' I was hooked and never once have I looked back since.

Summary: 'Does This Look Infected?' is an excellent album from Sum 41, one of their best.