Twenty One Pilots is a genre-bending duo fronted by singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. After embarking on a breathtaking world tour for their album Clancy, the duo is finishing their decade-long storyline with their new album, Breach.
Twenty One Pilots have consistently experimented and reinvented the sound of their music across their albums. Breach continues this tradition and embraces it in full as the record moves from fragile moments to rhythmic eruptions.
Who are Twenty One Pilots?
Twenty One Pilots was formed in 2009 in Columbus, Ohio, by original band members Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas, and Chris Salih. Later in 2011, both Salih and Thomas departed from the band. However, after an invitation from Salih to take his place in the band, Josh Dun soon joined the musical project. Ever since, the duo have been creating music together with Joseph on vocals and Dun on drums.
In 2011, the duo self-released their first album, Regional at Best. After catching the attention of several record labels, they signed to Fueled By Ramen in 2012. The next year, they officially released their first studio album, Vessel.
The duo found commercial success in 2015 after the release of their album Blurryface, which features the single “Stressed Out.” The song reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Number 1 on both the alternative and hot rock songs charts. Blurryface became their first number 1 album on the Billboard 200.
The release of Breach acts as the duo’s eighth studio album.
Breach
“City Walls” opens the record with a killer bass line and builds up to Joseph’s unique vocals. The opening track welcomes back fans to the world and story of Trench. “Rawfear” tackles the heavy burden of being driven by anxiety, with the chorus mimicking a panic attack-like state. Joseph’s voice is filled with rawness and urgency as his thoughts begin to spiral.
“Robot Voices” is filled with robotic textures and features an interpolation of Blanket Approval’s “My Soft Spots My Robots” and tackles the fear of letting yourself fall in love. In “Center Mass,” Joseph’s reflection on loss and vulnerability are accompanied by the pounding of drums and synths. The track also features an audio clip from a fan of the “drum gate” incident (where a fan stole Dun’s snare drum after a show).
“Cottonwood” is a beautiful ballad about Joseph’s late grandfather featuring beautiful piano melodies and raw, melancholic vocals. “Intentions” is a gut-wrenching emotional closer that brings a close to the duo’s lore and leaves an emotional impact with Tyler’s aching vocals.
So, how does Breach conclude the decade-long story that the duo has created? Well, after a little bit of research and a music video watch party, here is my attempt at explaining Twenty One Pilots’ lore and how Breach ends the story.
The lore’s beginning
The Twenty One Pilots’ lore, which spans over 5 albums, begins with their 3rd studio album, Blurryface. We are introduced to the character Blurryface (Nico), who is the leader of the nine Bishops. In the “Heavydirtysoul” music video, Clancy attempts to escape from Dema again by tricking Blurryface into driving him out of the city. His attempt is successful, as the torchbearers help cause a distraction, and Clancy escapes into Trench.
In the ‘Jumpsuit’ music video, Clancy is seen exploring Trench until he is approached by Nico, who attempts to smear him. However, the Banditos shower him with petals, and Clancy runs, but is eventually caught and taken back to Dema. The “Nico and the Niners” video shows that Clancy spends a few weeks in Dema before coordinating with the Banditos for his escape again. While the Bishops are busy with their vialism ceremony, Clancy once again escapes. However, the Bandito camp is attacked and Clancy is quickly recaptured. The entirety of Trench is rebellious music made by Clancy and the Banditos against Dema.
Scaled and Icy and Clancy
Then the Bishops force Clancy to write propaganda music for them, which turns into Scaled and Icy. However, Clancy is once again freed as Keon, Clancy’s bishop, betrays the bishops and uses psychokinesis on Trash to aid in his escape. Due to his betrayal, Keons is killed, while Clancy and Torchbearer wash up on the island of Voldsay. They find strange creatures called Neds that gift Clancy with antlers. With this gift, Clancy is able to control the vessel of Keon’s corpse and start a fire in Dema in the “Outside” music video.
“Overcompensate” shows Clancy possessing a glorious gone and teaching anti-Dema lessons within the city, which starts a rebellion. Then Clancy walks across Trench with the Banditos and Torchbearer and meets the real Torchbearer. The one who was with him since the “Saturday” video was only a projection there to guide him. After they meet, they prepare to go to war with the Bishops.
“Paladin Straight” follows the Bishops preparing for war, as they seize bodies of the glorious gone in order to protect Dema. Meanwhile, Clancy sneaks inside the city and defeats the remaining Bishops. However, he is grabbed by the neck by Nico and briefly succumbs to him. But Clancy finds the strength to fight against Nico for the final time.
The Clancy Tour and Breach
The saga continued during the Clancy tour, as we learned that the Bishops knew of the plan against them and have been intercepting letters between the Banditos. They destroyed their tents and left letters with “Dear Clancy” written in red to taunt him. For the final show of the tour, a letter was found that reveals Clancy’s intentions to rule over Dema after the final battle.
Finally, the story comes to a close with Breach. As Nico attempts to overpower Clancy in his mind, Clancy resists and fights back in “The Contract” video. In “City Walls, ” Clancy finally defeats Nico. As the torchbearers storm the tower, they see Clancy donning a red cape, as he has become the Nova Bishop (the new Blurryface). Eight other banditos join him and are donned in red; however, the Torchbearer refuses and leaves. The Nova Bishop in the tower is no longer Clancy, and the Torchbearer vows to fight Blurryface again and find Clancy. The cycle then begins again.
What’s next for the duo?
The band is planning to head back on the road in 2025 for The Clancy Tour: Breach, which spans 23 stops over North America. The band will also perform at the Innings Festival and Hurricane Festival in 2026.
After playing their tour and a few festivals, the band will be taking a well deserved break, relaxing and spending time with their families. Especially with Josh Dun and wife, Debby Ryan, welcoming a baby soon (a huge congratulations to them!).
Although the future may be uncertain for new Twenty One Pilots music and tour, we will be anxiously awaiting their return.
