Since alt-band fave Hoobastank was last here in August 2006 for Band Camp IV at the Waikiki Shell, the guys have taken a long hiatus away from the public eye.

But with a new album “;FORNEVER”; scheduled for release on Jan. 20, singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin and drummer Chris Hesse are back for their fans, and one of their first gigs will be in Honolulu at the Pipeline Cafe Wednesday night.

Not that it's been “;out of sight, out of mind”; for the band. The album's breakout single, “;My Turn,”; has been out since last month, and it's a concise, relatively raw and punchy motivational tune to get the fans anticipating their return to the tour grind.

The new album was produced by longtime collaborator Howard Benson, who helmed the band's last two best-selling albums, “;Every Man for Himself”; and 2004's “;The Reason.”; It was the latter that put Hoobastank over the top, earning them three Grammy nominations, one for the album and two for the title track.

“;We've accomplished everything we've ever dreamed about, including platinum albums, touring the world and getting nominated for awards,”; said Estrin in a press release. “;But getting a chance to do it all again is really exciting. We all have brand-new eyes and ears going into this, as well as an appreciation for what we've been through.”;

“;FORNEVER”;—an album Robb describes as “;about either the best aspects of relationships ... or the worst. It's either 'I love you' or 'I hate you,' and 'What am I doing here?'”;—captures the return to the band's hard-edged sound. “;My Turn,”; inspired by a poem written by Doug's older brother, is meant to be an ode to everyman or woman, someone who has worked all their life and is just looking to get the rewards they deserve.

“;The biggest difference is our mental attitude,”; said Robb of recording the album. “;The five years of constantly recording and touring honestly killed us. We were absolutely burnt. We had gone through a lot of band turmoil on our last album. We had to get our heads back to where they needed to be for the writing process on this record.”;

Taking almost 18 months off, Hoobastank went through a pair of management changes and a few false starts before starting work in earnest on their fourth album.

With this new work, the band said they're playing to their fan base, not those fair-weather followers who flocked to “;The Reason.”;

“;I just know what we're capable of, when we're not being lazy,”; said Estrin. “;If all our pistons are working, we can do a lot of really good things in the future. Our tires may need a little air, but once they're pumped up, it's going to be sick. I'm confident in what we have the potential to do and what we will do.”;