Alkaline Trio are officially out of hibernation, and they’ve come back swinging with a brand-new single, Oblivion. It’s the first of three fresh tracks recorded with none other than blink-182’s Travis Barker in the producer’s chair — and by the sound of things, the sessions were nothing short of magic.
This also marks the band’s first proper recording with new drummer Atom Willard, whose résumé reads like a punk rock dream. He’s played with Angels & Airwaves, Rocket From the Crypt, The Offspring, and — in a fun twist — even filled in for blink-182’s 2011 reunion tour when Travis couldn’t fly overseas. So yeah, the connections run deep.
Travis called the process “natural and easy,” saying he could’ve kept going forever. “Both Matt and Dan are incredible lyricists,” he said, “two of my all-time favourites.” The band clearly felt the same — Matt Skiba described working with Travis as “surreal and dreamlike,” saying it felt like Travis had become their unofficial fourth member.
Originally, the plan was to ease into the studio with a cover — just to take the pressure off their first session with Atom. But once the chemistry kicked in, they ended up writing and recording three brand-new songs instead. “Having Atom and Travis working in tandem was absolute heaven,” Skiba added.
Whether you’re a long-time Trio fan or just curious to hear what this dream team cooked up, Oblivion hits hard, feels fresh, and shows a band that sounds more inspired than ever. And with two more tracks on the way, this comeback is just getting started.
