Blink-182: One More Time… Review
The Californian rockers have delivered an album with Tom DeLonge to fans that was worth the decade wait
The long wait is over for Blink-182 fans. The band’s first album with Tom DeLonge in 12 years has been released and for many fans, it’ll feel like order has been restored.
The mid 2010s and early 2020s were chaotic for the band, with the long term abscess of DeLonge for not one but two albums giving Blink-182 a noticeable sound change. With the release of ‘One More Time’, however, the ‘Blink-182 sound’ is back and hopefully is now for good.
For around 12 months, the hype for this album has been growing. The return of DeLonge, the new album and a huge world tour have culminated in a burst back onto the front and centre of global music for this iconic band. Kicking off the album with ‘Anthem Part 3’, the third song in the ‘Anthem’ trilogy, is a real sense that the trio millions know to be Blink-182 are back together again. ‘Anthem’ was on the 1999 album ‘Enema of the State’ with ‘Anthem Part 2’ being released as part of the 2001 record ‘Take Off Your Jacket and Pants’.
Blink-182 are blessed with having what are effectively two front men in Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus. This chemistry is back and as good as ever in ‘One More Time…’ and fans old and new will no doubt be thankful for DeLonge’s return all over again after listening in.
‘Dance With Me’ is another vibrant track which is brought to life by DeLonge’s iconic voice. UK fans, including myself, had the chance to hear this one live on the tour before the album release and it coming immediately after ‘Anthem Part 3’ constitutes a strong album opening.
The album ebbs and flows, but its as though each tonal decision is made with good reason and to compliment the next. ‘Terrified’ is a taste of the classic emo Blink-182 and is rough but emblazoned with that classic DeLonge sound. The verses drift across the song life ships in the night, and then the sharp, punchy chorus awakens and settles in seconds.
The album’s title track is nothing short of beautiful and, again, is a deep dive back into the classic emo-age of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Hoppus and DeLonge give plenty of emotion to this one, and their voices are allowed to take control. This is a similar case in ‘Blink Wave’ which has elements of a proper re-branded Blink-182, just enough of the old and new.
‘Bad News’ is somewhat of a hidden gem towards the back end of the album, and it’s gentle intro soon makes way for crashing and thrashing rock music. Plenty of emotions are blasted through during this song, which is impressive as it’s not even two and a half minutes.
Fans of the solvent fluid turpentine will be delighted with news Blink have a song named after it. Lyrics aim towards calls to clean off some of the more unpleasant fluids and materials which we can come across through life. The sad realisation at the end of the track from DeLonge that turpentine does in fact not rhyme with some of the words addressed in the track is also a typically humorous Blink addition.
The final track on ‘One More Time…’ is just over four minutes of catchy and constructive rock music. ‘Childhood’ doesn’t have the breathless tempo which some Blink tracks are famous for, but instead it gives a broad and detailed example of what the band is up to in 2023. The track focuses a lot on nostalgia, and addressing the year and wanting to go back to maybe simpler times, which childhood always is.
I’m a big fan of Blink-182, there’s something about their sound which makes them nostalgic but in the best kind of way, even in their new material. They take the time to look back over the years at the style which has made them a global phenomenon, whilst also working on what sounds they can produce to keep them moving forward.
