Busted have grown-up without growing old with their fourth album ‘Half Way There’.

It finds the trio returning to their hyperactive pop-punk sound for the first time since 2003’s all-conquering, multi-Platinum album ‘A Present For Everyone’.

The return of Busted has seen the pop-punk power trio go back to the future as they prepare to reignite their glory days.

They started the campaign for the new album by playing three chaotic sold-out shows in a day at the 100 Club, and then dropped a throwback video for ‘Nineties’ which revived the days of Top of the Pops, Blind Date, Nirvana and white-suited boy bands.

To cap it all, their recent track ‘Reunion’ shot to #1 on the iTunes Rock Chart.

James Bourne, Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis approached the new album with a simple goal in mind: “How do we make the ultimate Busted album?”

They spent a year working on the album. They wrote more material than ever, much of it at Bourne’s apartment in North London where they spent so much time together back when they first started the band.

They constantly revisited each idea to make the album as strong as it could possibly be, and also had the opportunity to work with their dream producer Gil Norton, the man behind classic albums from Foo Fighters and Pixies.

The result is an album that expands upon Busted’s trajectory the first time around.

It’s a rush of melody and effervescent riffs as they blend huge arena-filling choruses with the classic pop-punk sound of Blink 182 and New Found Glory.

Lyrically it’s often reflective and nostalgic, but there are some fantastical flights of fancy too in the shape of ‘Shipwrecked In Atlantis’ and a tribute to Elon Musk in ‘Race To Mars’. The track

“I cannot wait for fans to hear this record and to be able to talk to them on social media about it,” said Matt.

“I just have a feeling that they’re going to love it.”

“If I was a Busted fan, I’d listen to this record and feel like I got my band back,” added James.

Charlie said:“It still has humorous elements and we’re still having a lot of fun, but we have some very poignant songs too.

"Our fans grew up with us so they’ll be able to relate to them too.”

‘Half Way There’ is Busted’s fourth album and their second after returning with ‘Night Driver’ in 2016.

The title is a play on the reference in their huge hit ‘Year 3000’ to the band releasing their seventh album. Now they’re halfway to achieving precisely that, and far ahead of schedule.

Busted’s forthcoming arena dates introduce their new touring drummer, Eddy Thrower from modern rock heroes Lower Than Atlantis.

You can catch Busted at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on March 23.

Tickets are available from myticket.co.uk/artists/busted.