Alkaline Trio Releases First of Trio, ‘Oblivion’

Alkaline Trio unleash “Oblivion,” their first new music since January’s blistering LP Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs, and their first studio recording to feature new drummer Atom Willard. Produced by none other than Travis Barker of Blink-182 fame, “Oblivion” marks a new chapter in the band’s 25+ year legacy—one that leans into their macabre charm while setting their creative fires blazing anew.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had such a great time in the studio,” says frontman Matt Skiba, who—after years spent splitting time between Alkaline Trio and Blink-182—seems to have found a new spiritual charge back in his original band. “We’d been wanting to record with Atom since he joined the band, and working with Travis brought a level of magic and ease that felt surreal.”

“Oblivion” is just the first taste of three new tracks recorded with Barker at his serene Southern California studio. Originally intended as a casual session—perhaps a cover song to ease the pressure—Skiba, bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano, Willard, and Barker ended up with a triumvirate of brand-new originals instead. The result is raw, immediate, and unmistakably Trio.

The single hits with classic Alkaline tension: a serrated guitar riff, a melancholy hook, and lyrics that dance between existential dread and dry wit. It’s got all the trademarks of their cult discography, but there’s something reinvigorated here. Atom Willard’s crisp, pulsing drums add fresh drive, while Barker’s production keeps the sound visceral without polishing away its grit.

“Recording with Alkaline Trio was such a treat,” Barker says. “Matt and Dan are two of my favorite lyricists ever. It never felt like work—it was a magical, natural process. I could’ve kept going forever.”

Fans might recognize the synergy; Skiba and Barker already forged creative chemistry during Skiba’s tenure with Blink-182. But now, with Skiba back at the helm of his first love, that collaborative spark has evolved into something deeper.

“Working with two of my favorite drummers—Travis and Atom—was absolute heaven,” Skiba adds. “Travis really felt like our fourth member on this.”

The admiration is mutual. Andriano praised the seamlessness of the sessions, calling the collaboration “easy and cool,” and hinting that this partnership might just be the start of something bigger. “We thought we’d get one track done—maybe a cover. Instead, we came out with three new Alkaline Trio songs. Travis had so many cool ideas, from structure to mix. He really blew us away.”

Willard, who cut his teeth with punk icons like Against Me! and Angels & Airwaves, describes the experience as “like being 20 again.” He’s been playing live with Alkaline Trio since 2023, but “Oblivion” marks his first official stamp on the studio recordings. His influence is felt—not just in percussion, but in the energy that lifts these new tracks out of the crypt and into a firestorm of punk-rock renewal.

And if “Oblivion” is a sign of what’s to come, fans better brace themselves.

To complete the gothic ceremony, the single arrives with a darkly cinematic video directed by Mark Eaton, pairing the band’s signature noir aesthetic with a fever-dream visual that echoes the song’s lyrical descent. Think apocalypse chic meets existential choreography.

The band will support Blink-182 across the United States this August and September on the Missionary Impossible tour, with a handful of select headline dates sprinkled in. Check AlkalineTrio.com for full ticket info.

Alkaline Trio are reborn, still twisted, still black-hearted, but more inspired and collaborative than ever. With Willard on drums and Barker behind the boards, they’ve conjured something special: a band that sounds like they just crawled out of the grave—and can’t wait to burn the place down.