Unlike many other bands in the so-called "heavy music" or alternative metal genre of the late '90s, Huntington, West Virginia's Chum knows the value of a good melody; while their guitars are so crushingly heavy that no one would mistake them for sellouts, Dead to the World is enlivened by John Lancaster's memorable hooks.

Not all of the songs stick, but the ones that do are pretty impressive; however, the gimmicky cover of Prince's "Darling Nikki" was probably not necessary.