Pop-punk trio Blink-182 are back.
Earlier in the week, the band — made up of Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker — surprised fans by announcing they had reunited and are embarking on a 70-stop world tour next year, as well as releasing new music and a new album ahead of it.
Scroll through the gallery above to see images of Blink-182 through the years
Their new single Edging was released on Friday. It marks Blink-182’s first new music in almost three years. Ahead of its debut, DeLonge took to Instagram and shared a photo from the band’s earlier years.
“What if I was to tell you we just made the best album of our careers,” he captioned the post.
The release date for the new album has yet to be announced. However, the group has been around for more than two decades and have put out eight studio albums — including two that topped the Billboard 200 — so if that's anything to go by, fans should be in for a treat.
From the commercially successful breakthrough Enema of the State to the band's earlier sounds in Dude Ranch, here’s where their albums rank:
8. 'Cheshire Cat' (1995)
Is there really a bad album when it comes to Blink-182? Cheshire Cat was the group’s debut album with original members DeLonge, Hoppus and Scott Raynor.
It was met with unexpected success thanks to songs such as M+Ms and Wasting Time showcasing the band’s early pop-punk sound. Although most of the tracks on it are mostly jokes, such as a song about enjoying watching television, fans were given an early insight of what was to come.
7. 'Neighborhoods' (2011)
This album would come after an eight-year hiatus from their last album in 2003 and after the members decided to go on an “infinite hiatus” in 2005, later reconciling to put out Neighborhoods in 2011.
Unfortunately, it did not sell as well as its predecessors, although it reached No 2 on the Billboard 200 when first released. Some critics suggested that the long gap and sudden reunion after members had worked on other musical side projects led to a disjointed album that at times felt bland. Lead singles Up All Night and After Midnight were released from it, which found moderate success.
6. 'Dude Ranch' (1997)
The second album from the group was also the last to feature Raynor as the drummer before he was fired. Dude Ranch hit No 67 on the Billboard 200 thanks to its lead single Dammit, which was a commercial success getting major airplay on rock radio stations across the US. The song has also been a long staple in setlists as well as a crowd favourite. Blink-182’s soon-to-be signature pop-punk sound really shines as Hoppus and DeLonge sound more assured than ever through the album’s 16 tracks.
5. 'California' (2016)
This is the first of two albums to feature Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba, who was recruited to replace DeLonge after he left the band in 2015. Blink-182’s first album in five years since Neighborhoods, the 16-track album felt like a return to form for the punk-pop trio despite DeLonge’s departure. It hit No 1 on the Billboard 200 when it was released and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammys. Its first two singles Bored to Death and She’s Out of Her Mind notched respectable US rock chart positions, too — six and 11.
4. 'Nine' (2019)
The second and final album to include Skiba, Nine is more pop-centric in style, though it features darker lyrics and tones as it was reportedly inspired by Hoppus’s battle with depression, as well as world events such as Donald Trump’s presidency and the influx of mass shootings in the US.
Fans were left divided over the album with its blend of radio-friendly songs such as Happy Days to heavier tracks like Darkside and Heaven.
3. 'Blink-182' (2003)
This album, also known as Untitled, features Blink-182 trying a different sound than most fans were used to hearing. Inspired by lifestyle changes, including fatherhood for Hoppus, DeLonge and Barker before the album’s release, the lyrics are deeper and the sounds are more mature. Four singles were released from this including the successful and catchy pop-punk track Feeling This and the swelling ballad I Miss You.
2. 'Enema of the State' (1999)
This album is credited with bringing Blink-182 to the mainstream and will be likely remembered as one that also helped pop punk reach a wider audience. It’s also the first album to include Travis Barker on drums as a replacement for the departing Raynor. It includes breakthrough hits What’s My Age Again and All The Small Things as well as the more serious Adam’s Song, showing the trio could be versatile with their music, writing songs about not wanting to grow up to feelings of loneliness and depression.
1. 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket' (2001)
The anticipated follow-up to 1999’s Enema of the State did not disappoint as Take Off Your Pants and Jacket became the first punk rock record to reach No 1 on the Billboard 200 on its debut. It featured three hit singles The Rock Show, First Date and Stay Together for the Kids — each portraying different themes of adolescence. While it was reported that there was some strife between the members and their record label at the time, this album has Blink-182 at the top of the game and is arguably one of the best pop-punk albums of all time.
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A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
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10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
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5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
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9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer