Sum 41 have been going strong since 1996, serving up both thrashy bangers and syrupy pop-punk anthems that have inspired countless imitators. Now, with seven records to their name, the band are hanging it all up following the release of their eighth studio album, Heaven :x: Hell, and a slew of farewell tour dates. Appropriately, it’s a double LP that will capture the lighter pop punk of their early days on the Heaven side and “newer, heavier Sum 41” on the Hell side, and it’s bound to be a hard-hitting swan song. As we gear up for the band’s sendoff, we asked our readers to name the most underrated Sum 41 songs of all time. They sounded off with a plethora of different answers, but only the top five fan picks are ranked accordingly below.
Read more: Every Sum 41 album ranked: From worst to best
5. “Summer”
Most Sum 41 fans will tell you that their 2001 debut album, All Killer No Filler, is a perfect album, and we’re not disagreeing. While not as popular as “In Too Deep” or “Still Waiting,” “Summer” still hits every time. The band actually released three different versions of the song, including a 1998 demo, the OG from Half Hour of Power, and a rerecorded version from AKNF. In addition to being featured on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, “Summer” is a sugary belter from start to end — and a song that the band have been including in the encore on their most recent dates.
4. “The Bitter End”
Chuck is another Sum 41 album that fans will always go to bat for. It’s by far their heaviest, blending melodic hardcore with a metallic edge. “The Bitter End” is a standout with its thrash-metal roots that, consciously or not, pay homage to Metallica. The guitar solo from Dave “Brownsound” Baksh simply rips, and it’s an aptly titled pick as the band prepare to pack it up with their final show at the top of next year.
3. “88”
“88” is another Chuck rager that, despite many fan conspiracy theories, is titled after 88 BPM. The song runs in a similar vein to “The Bitter End,” offering up another face-melting guitar solo from Brownsound toward the middle that sounds completely unhinged and urgent. Live, “88” takes on an even greater life, as evinced by their 2005 album Go Chuck Yourself. No matter where Chuck falls on your own personal ranking, though, “88” will forever remain one of their best and most criminally underrated songs.
2. “Noots”
In another life, ”Noots” could be a blink-182 song, but in this one, it’s a bonus track from Chuck. Tons of votes were cast for this undersung track that should have been a lot bigger, which balances a thoughtful mix of chugging riffs and a fiery chorus that’ll rattle around your head for hours. To this day, Sum 41 have never played it live, preferring to run through the hits because not many people know their bonus tracks well. The votes don’t lie, though, and this seems like proof enough that the band should work it into the setlist, if only for a handful of shows.
1. “Handle This”
Our fans really love All Killer No Filler, so it’s no surprise that “Handle This,” one of the album’s back-half tracks, snagged the top spot. Blinded by the album’s colossally catchy three singles — “Fat Lip,” “In Too Deep,” and “Motivation” — the song never really received its proper due. It’s simple, tasteful, and melodic, revolving around a relationship that seems to be falling off the rails. And according to our readers, it’s a painfully underrated gem that deserves far more airtime.
