Twenty One Pilots - Breach

“I’ve been this way, I want to change”.

With their eighth studio album, Breach, set to release September 12th via Fueled by Ramen, Twenty One Pilots make a strong statement of intent. While their seventh LP, Clancy, was an unquestionably big improvement over its predecessor, Scaled & Icy, it still felt somewhat messy, like the duo were finding their footing again after their quarantine-era misstep. Breach, on the other hand, feels much more sure of itself. 

The record feels very focused musically and lyrically; it takes on a grittier, darker tone even in comparison to some of the heavier moments in Twenty One Pilots’ previous work, with buzzing bass and hazy guitar tones giving the music a sinister, somewhat unsettling feel. The production is purposely rough at times, but in a way that doesn’t end up feeling abrasive or unpleasant to listen to. The slightly hazy quality is also present when it comes to a lot of the vocal mixing, which makes Tyler Joseph sound almost otherworldly in some instances, contributing greatly to the captivating atmosphere that Twenty One Pilots’ music is famous for. 

A major highlight of the album is the second single, “Drum Show”. Immediately following its release, of course, the main talking point around the track was its feature of the first ever vocal contribution by drummer Josh Dun - a fitting song for this to happen on, as the lyrical content is essentially in reference to Dun himself; however, there is much more to love about this track as well, from the uncharacteristically aggressive segments to the pulsing bass line. It is probably the best song on the project, and could probably be in consideration for one of the best songs in the duo’s discography. Other notable tracks include the opener, “City Walls”, and the lead single, “The Contract”, as well as “Center Mass” and “Downstairs”.

The lyricism on the project is also on a fairly high level, feeling significantly more driven and passionate than on the majority of their last couple of projects. Tyler Joseph’s skill as a narrator only continues to improve, painting the expansive picture of the duo’s musical world and all of its characters and events around the listener more intricately than ever, and with arguably the least ever unnecessarily pretentious or lyrically questionable moments on a Twenty One Pilots project. There’s also a certain amount of foreboding to the way the record feels, too - almost a faint, lingering sense of finality, of the looming end of at least a stage of the story.

Overall, Breach continues the upward trajectory that Twenty One Pilots started with Clancy. Among the duo’s best ever work, this album is a bold move forward, with no significant flaws to point to in any of the major departments. The first ever Josh Dun vocals, or “jocals”, as they have been dubbed by fans, are also a landmark moment for the group, one which adds even more significance to this LP. It’s an enthralling listen, and invites you back again and again to try and catch things you may have missed.

8.0/10