In 2001, Sum 41 burst onto the music scene with "All Killer No Filler," a collection of pop-punk songs dealing with subjects you'd pretty much expect from four rebellious teens out to have a good time.
The CD went two-times platinum, and suddenly the quartet from Ajax, Ontario, was known all over the world.
"When the first EP ('Half Hour of Power') came out, all we knew how to do was drink booze and party," drummer Steve Jocz said by phone during a tour stop in Chicago. "We hadn't been anywhere, some of us hadn't even been to the U.S. before. Now we've been as far as you can possibly be ... circled the world four times."
That maturity and worldly experience is evident on the band's latest CD, released in July: "Underclass Hero." Some have compared the sound to the "Killer" and "Does This Look Infected?" albums as it has more of a punk flavor than the band's previous effort, the heavy "Chuck." But while the album looks back to the band's pop-punk roots, it also moves forward with the music-and-lyric writing.
While Jocz, frontman Deryck Whibley and bassist Cone McCaslin still know how to have a good time, some of the songs on "Underclass Hero" continue the recent trend of being more political.
Sum 41 contributed a song to the first "Rock Against Bush" album in 2004, titled "Moron." In April, the band released a song on iTunes, "March of the Dogs," another highly political anti-Bush song, which generated controversy with its metaphoric lyrics saying the president is dead.
"The world became a larger place," Jocz said, especially for a band that had previously never been outside of Canada. He added that if band members write songs about their environment, "With the war going on and everything, it's sort of hard to ignore it."
One difference in the writing and recording of the new album was getting rid of all the behind-the-scenes negativity that came in the form of former management. "Recording was fun again. We had a great time," Jocz said. "Recording this album was just as fun as recording 'Killer.' The same fun was there. It was fresh."
Another change on the album was the departure of guitarist Dave Baksh. Although there were no hard feelings, Jocz said it was evident Baksh was not happy with the band's musical direction, especially when it came to the slower songs. "Dave was the guy always carrying the torch for the heavy-metal sound. I like heavy metal, but I like other forms of music too. That's all he likes.
"If you wanted to write a slow song, he always would be dragging his feet. We knew he wasn't happy with the music. There's no animosity. We were all expecting it. I think we're tighter than we've ever been. Everybody out here now is excited about the show, whereas Dave had lost interest."
As for playing in Salt Lake City, "We've always done good shows there," he said.
If you go ...
What: X-96 BASH
Where: Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
How much: $25
Phone: 467-8499, 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com