Blink-182 Suggest Summer Release for Comeback Album

Veteran pop-punk troupe Blink-182 are hard at work on their comeback album, Mark Hoppus has confirmed, with an early summer 2011 release tentatively penciled in for the finished product. In a blog post, the bassist/vocalist explains that "some tracks" slated to appear on the group's sixth studio album are "very near complete," the NME reports.

Blink-182 released five albums in nine years during the late '90s and early '00s, including the 1999 mega-smash, 'Enema of the State', but split following the issuing of their most recent, eponymous effort in 2003. After officially going on 'indefinite hiatus' in 2005, and working on various, less successful solo projects, the trio announced they were reforming early last year.

"We've been busy with new songs and ideas," Hoppus wrote. "In rough terms, I'd say we're working with the better part of ten or so songs at this point."

While stressing that "there's still a long way to go before the album is done," the pop-punker described the reconstituted band's new formula as being a mix of early and late period Blink-182. "Already it seems like the songs are both taking a step even further than we took on the last album, while also going back to the sound of some of the earlier albums," he explained.

As for that possible street date, Hoppus stated that the band hopes to "deliver the record in April or May, for release very soon afterward."

A note of caution, though, for eager fans: "The only thing more important to us than getting the record out in that time is getting a great record out."