Sum 41's new album 'Screaming Bloody Murder' is "darker" than the band's previous work.

Frontman Deryk Whibley was going through a divorce from singer Avril Lavigne while writing the new record 'Screaming Bloody Murder' and he admitted it has had an effect on his songwriting.

He said: "There's definitely a lot of passion on these songs. I write the songs and when I was writing them it was in a darker period of my life. It's a heavier, darker record.

"It was just the mood I was in I guess. I don't really analyse it and I don't really think about it. I just write songs and whatever comes out comes out. If I'm feeling that way in my own personal life then it will come through in my music."

Deryk revealed he felt a sense of freedom while writing the new album because he decided he didn't care about anyone's opinion except the band and their fans.

He explained to thevine.com: "The thing that helped me make this record, or gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do, was that I just said f**k everybody. I don't give a s**t about radio, I don't give a s**t about press, I don't care what critics say about this record. All I care about is the band and the fans. People will come to our shows regardless, we don't need anyone.

"F**k everybody, you know? If anyone says anything bad about the record, or radio doesn't play it, f**k off I don't give a s**t. We've been around for 11 years now and it's better than ever."

'Screaming Bloody Murder' will be released on March 29.