The Starting Line announce first album in 18 years, share “Sense of Humor”

Emo/pop punk vets The Starting Line broke up after releasing their most adventurous album (2007’s Direction), which cut their trajectory short in a way that left a lot of us wondering what they might’ve done next. We got a little taste of that after they reunited and released the three-song Anyways EP in 2016, but now they’ve finally announced a new full-length album, their first in 18 years. Titled Eternal Youth, it comes out on September 26 via the band’s own Lineage Records (pre-order), and lead single “Sense of Humor” is out now.

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, it kind of sounds like you’d hope and expect a comeback from The Starting Line to sound. It embraces the catchy emo/pop punk catharsis of the band’s first two albums, mixed with the maturity they developed on Direction as well as the continued growth that the members of this band have undergone together and separately since. It’s both a culmination of everything they’ve done and a step forward, and it’s got me excited to hear more. Check out the song and its Lupe Bustos-directed video below.

The band says:

The album will be released by OURSELVES, INDEPENDENTLY via our new imprint Lineage Recordings. Never stepped on by any music industry non-musician. Direct from the horse’s mouth. May this record serve as our most PURE form of expression yet. If you are reading this you likely have some background on our career-long saga in and out of labels, and the significance of our now independent ownership. It’s a confident victory in longevity and loyalty, as well as our finest sonic moments to date. It means the world to still be here to tell the tale. Don’t ever lose your sense of humor. Defy time, tap into eternal youth.

The Starting Line also play NJ’s Starland Ballroom on Friday (6/6) with Armor For Sleep and Oso Oso, followed by summer and fall tours that include NYC’s Irving Plaza on August 22 with Oso Oso and Macseal. See the tour poster with all dates below.