Blink-182 thrive on tension, says Mark Hoppus

Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus has said that the band thrive on "tension".

The 'Up All Night' star explained that strain within the group and recording together in the same room helped them develop ideas for upcoming album Neighbourhoods.

Hoppus told NME: "That's the tension we need in Blink. I think it is the way forward for us. It's the way we can all work together and explore all of our ideas.

"In the past, when we've all been in the same room, you're recording your parts while the other guys are sitting around waiting and this way enables each of us to explore every single idea we might have, in our own time, in our own comfort space."

The 39-year-old also insisted that the band's new record is their most "well-written" piece of work.

Hoppus added: "We've had people say to us that they think the songs sound more mature, which is probably right, but we've tried to stay away from that word [mature], because every album we've released after Enema Of The State has been called 'the mature Blink record'.

"But I think, lyrically, it's a little darker than the stuff we normally do, I think the songs are more intricately structured, I think the parts are more well-written."

Blink-182's new album Neighbourhoods will be released on September 26 in the UK and September 27 in the US.

> Blink-182 debut new 'Neighbourhoods' single 'After Midnight' - listen now
> Blink-182: 'Not all fans will like our new album Neighborhoods'

Watch the music video for Blink-182's single 'Up All Night' below: