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Fans have been waiting for this moment since their self-title album in 2003…so was 8 years worth the wait? 

For some fans, yes. Because, really, this album isn’t just the fun and games the band is known for. Though still retaining familiarity with their old hits such as “What’s My Age Again”, this is an album that is markedly different from their old stuff.

The fast beats are still there, with a good fuse of punk, pop, and rock, but Blink is more mature. The lyrics are more serious and honestly, many times depressing; their current music reflects each member’s growth.They all have their own side project bands and through those their sound has deviated.

But, this change is by no means bad. 

The album starts off with “Ghost on the Dance Floor”, sounding like their old material. This, like most of their songs, is very much a rock-out song, with hard drums beats. But even between the rhythms there is a certain calm about it. 

“Natives” is another solid song, with its faster pace and steady vocals. 

Blink kicks things up with “Up All Night”, a louder rougher sound that contrasts with their pretty, catchy “After Midnight”. 

That then transitions into “Snake Charmer”, the longest song on the album, but also one of the worst. The piano here is strangely reminiscent of Linkin Park, but it still leaves much to be desired.  

Here they are coming away from their old sound in a bad way. 

“Heart’s all Gone Interlude” is the shortest song, but also not great. It feels unnecessary, and doesn’t add much to the album.

The album's redeemer is the full “Heart’s All Gone”; with its slow beats and on-point vocals, “You say you speak from your heart but your heart’s all gone”, the track is solid and on point. 

“Wishing Well” is a reminder of their old stuff, a nice respite from the songs before. 

“Kaleidoscope” is a good mix of bordering-on-erratic slow bits and fast rhythms. Similar is “This is Home”, a good example of their balancing act of old Blink with just the right touch of their new maturity.  

“Mh 4. 18. 2011” is another stand out song, which trumps the ending track; “Love is Dangerous” is repetitive and blends into the background.  

Yes, the group has grown up, and some fans are wishing for the old Blink. But, the fact is that bands mature and their sound changes.

Blink had to go through the process, and they had eight years to do it, so something had to differ.

Though Blink-182 is currently still looking for that perfect mix between their new found growth and the childlike fun poppy sound fans love them for, this album is a great starting point. 

Reach Noelia Callejas here.