Yellowcard meant it when they said goodbye. The lights dimmed on one of the most beloved pop-punk and alt-rock bands of the 2000s with intention and authenticity. Wrapping things up with a farewell tour, Yellowcard exited the right way, with grace, appreciation, and finality.
But the story wasn’t complete. Legacy cracked the door. Healing blew it wide open. Riding a resurgence that saw the global Ocean Avenue 20th anniversary tour featured in Forbes and a reconciliation that put all four members at peace with their legacy and each other, Yellowcard just made the most ambitious and emotionally resonant record of their career. Better Days, the band’s first album in nearly a decade, was produced by Blink-182’s Travis Barker, who also played drums on every track.
On 10th October, it will be the band’s first album release for the Better Noise Music label and seen as testimony that healing is a process, growth is nonlinear, and sometimes the best chapter opens after the supposed ending. This isn’t just a return. It’s a reckoning. And this time, Yellowcard is ready – Out now is the lead single and title track ‘Better Days’ along with album track ‘honestly I’.
The single ‘Better Days’ is an unflinching reflection on gratitude, forgiveness, perspective, and purpose. Once ubiquitous on MTV and the Billboard Hot 100,the Vans Warped Tour veterans, whose first two albums produced double-platinum and gold title tracks, sound fully recharged and revitalised in 2025. The song is also accompanied by a music video that has the guys depicting iconic 80s movie characters performing in a vintage video shop. Directed by Jordan Phoenix, the video is a reflection of how much fun the guys are having this time around as a band and with their music. Ryan Key said, “We are focused on this chapter of our career being about happiness. This is the most fun we’ve had making a video in 20 years and we hope everyone has a smile on their face when they watch it.”
The band agreed that making a new album was pointless unless it was the best of their career. They refused to rush the process and for the first time gave themselves permission to ask for help. Ryan Mendez invited his longtime friend Nick Long into the writing sessions and it was through Long that Barker became part of the project, coming on board to play drums and produce the whole album.
“I started the record as one version of myself and came out the other side changed,” said front man Ryan Key who credits Barker with a significant impact on his personal and creative studio breakthroughs. “I went in knowing I needed help. I came out of it writing songs like I was 19 again.”
Formed in Jacksonville FL in 1997, Yellowcard became one of the most influential bands in the 2000s alternative rock scene. Known for blending high energy pop punk with a signature violin twist, their 2003 breakthrough Ocean Avenue is certified platinum with the title track now certified 2 times platinum. With over 4 million albums sold worldwide and over 1 billion streams, the band is poised for continued success on this new endeavuor. After disbanding in 2017, Yellowcard reunited in 2022 entering into a new creative era and a year packed with a global tour to support it.
The full length album features: ‘Better Days’, ‘Take What You Want’, ‘Love Letters Lost (feat. Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio)’, ‘honestly I’, ‘You Broke Me Too (feat. Avril Lavigne)’, ‘City Of Angels’, ‘Bedroom Posters’, ‘Skin Scraped’, ‘Barely Alive’ and ‘Big Blue Eyes’.
The singles are available for streaming here and you can check out the video here at RAMzine.
