Sum 41 has a question for their fans, and it's one that every skater who's ever carried the wounds of a wipeout has posed.

Does This Look Infected?, the band's second album, is set for release November 26, according to an Island Records spokesperson. The album was recorded in New York in July with production duties handled by their manager Greig Nori, who also produced their 2000 EP, Half Hour of Power. The follow-up to last year's All Killer No Filler, which has sold more than 1.6 million copies to date, according to SoundScan, was mixed by Andy Wallace (Limp Bizkit, Korn).

Guided by the influence of bands such as Metallica and Iron Maiden, singer/guitarist Deryck Whibley, bassist Cone McCaslin, drummer Steve Jocz and guitarist Dave Baksh promised their new album will be decidedly more metal than their previous releases, likening its feel to the speedy grind of "Pain for Pleasure," the final cut on All Killer.

"It's a bit of a different sound," Whibley explained. "It's a bit harder of a sound. It still sounds like Sum 41, but it's a little bit harder, better songs. In the past few years, we've done so much, we've grown a bit. We're better players."

Before Does This Look Infected? hits stores, the LP's first single, "Still Waiting," will surface at radio beginning October 8. A video is expected to be shot in two weeks.

As their past videos for "Fat Lip" and "In Too Deep" have shown, the members of Sum 41 have senses of humor to match their riffs. Devising such goofiness is a group effort.

"What we do for every video is we sit around and brainstorm a bunch of ideas," Whibley explained. "Us, the director, people from the record company ... and we just come up with as many ideas as we can."

A headlining tour to support Does This Look Infected? is expected in November, although prior to its launch Sum 41 will share the stage on November 2 at the fourth annual Voodoo Music Experience with No Doubt, 311, Jurassic 5 and Jack Johnson, among others (see [article id="1457347"]"No Doubt, Sum 41, Nappy Roots Do That Voodoo"[/article]).

For a feature interview with Sum 41 conducted in the studio while the band was recording Does This Look Infected?, check out [article id="1456425"]"Sum 41: Testing Their Metal."[/article]