Blink-182 - ‘EDGING’

The saga of Blink-182 has been an interesting one over the past ten years. The band’s last release with the traditional lineup of Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge came back in 2012 with the ‘Dog’s Eating Dogs’ EP but when the band returned four years later for their album ‘California,’ Tom had been replaced on guitar and vocals with Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba.

Rumours of infighting, Tom being hard to work with and so much more were rife as blink entered this new chapter but as the Skiba era rolled on Tom was adamant he would be back one day. That day finally came this Tuesday when the band put out an announcement video sharing that after two Tom-less albums, ‘California’ and ‘NINE,’ he was back with the band and a new era was underway.

‘EDGING’ is the first single with Tom back in the band and it is everything it needed to be. The simple but wildly catchy guitar riff, the duelling vocals, Mark and Tom having a verse each it all just feels so comforting and recognisable. It doesn’t sound dated like they’re trying to recapture the sound of 1999 but instead they’ve made a song that feels appropriate for them in 2022. The lyrics are cheeky, the chorus is huge and memorable and overall ‘EDGING’ is all we’ve been asking for.

It’s a bit simple and straightforward, it doesn’t have an insane Travis Barker drum section, it’s just a good, fun, catchy pop punk song and that’s all we need right now. It doesn’t need to feel larger than life and over the top as I’m sure the album will have its tracks like that but for now this is perfect. ‘EDGING’ is a celebration of who blink are now, both in terms of their members and their musical identity, and this song is a love letter to themselves.