ALBUM REVIEW: Twenty One Pilots – ‘Breach’

After ten years, the Dema storyline has come to an end with Twenty One Pilots’ seventh studio album. ‘Breach’ was originally intended to be a deluxe edition of Clancy, but it was ultimately released as a full-length album on September 12th. They used this album to end the storyline of Dema that started with the album Blurryface back in 2015.

Breach features catchy heavy basslines, a mix of uptempo and slower drum beats and exceptional vocals, not just from Tyler Joseph, but also from Josh Dun. The album shows excellent mixing and mastering, creating a polished and immersive sound. Lyrically, it’s emotional and relatable, touching on themes that resonate with many listeners. The use of falsettos throughout the album is powerful, delivered with raw emotion and passion. Combined with atmospheric synthesizers and some new elements, give Breach a Twenty One Pilots feel: familiar, yet evolved and something new.

The storyline

In 2015 Twenty One Pilots released Blurryface, the beginning of a decade-long narrative centered around the protagonist Clancy who is an exception, a citizen, an escapee and an exception to the rule. It’s set within a wild and green continent called Trench, with a circular cement capital called Dema. The story explores themes of mental health, control and resistance. The city of Dema is ruled by the Nine Bishops, each representing a form of psychological manipulation or insecurity. Nico is the most famous one; he also is Blurryface, he embodies Tyler Joseph’s personal struggles and is portrayed visually with black paint on his hands and neck. The Bishops are subtly introduced through hidden lyrics across the Blurryface album and each is represented by a unique symbol on the album artwork.

After a brief hiatus in 2017, the band returned in 2018 with Jumpsuit and Nico and the Niners, revealing Clancy’s attempted escape from Dema and introducing the rebel group known as the Banditos, they wear once citizens of this city, but they managed to escape and now fight against the Bishops’ control. They also wear the color yellow to hide themselves from the bishops who cannot see this. It also marked the beginning of the Trench album era, which further expanded the lore. But after the escape from Clancy he got captured by Nico and was brought back to Dema during the music video of Levitate.

In 2021, Scaled and Icy was released, serving as in-universe propaganda created by Dema. Unlike previous albums, it had a brighter, more pop-influenced sound, but despite the happy sound the subjects on the album had darker undertones. The album represents the Bishops’ attempt to suppress rebellion by presenting a manufactured sense of happiness and compliance. The album’s title itself is an anagram for “Clancy is dead,” reinforcing the deception and psychological warfare employed by Dema.

However, in the 2024 album Clancy, the narrative shifts again. Clancy has not only survived and escaped Dema, as seen in the The Outside music video, where he uses his new power ‘seizing’. He has also planned his return to Trench, ready to fight back. In Overcompensate, we see Clancy re-entering Trench, using the seizing technology to navigate through its surveillance systems and begin his mission in secret. In Navigating, Clancy charts a path deeper into Trench, decoding symbols and following signs that lead him closer to Dema’s core where he discovers that the Torchbearer that was with him during the escape wasn’t real. The final song from Clancy was Paladin Strait, it shows him reaching a crucial point, standing on the edge of conflict, prepared for the final confrontation. The album reflects themes of defiance, resilience and reclaiming one’s identity. With this return, Clancy leads a renewed rebellion against the Bishops.

Ten years after Blurryface, the story reaches its conclusion with Breach. At the end of the final confrontation, Clancy is held in a chokehold by Nico, symbolizing tightening grip of the insecurities. In The Contract, we dive deeper in Clancy’s mind, exploring inner confusion and resistance as he fights to break free from this psychological hold. The music video intensifies this journey. At the end Torchbearer appears, offering Clancy a jacket, a symbol of strength and readiness, for the impending battle ahead. The final battle takes place in ‘City Walls’ where Clancy goes through past events, while fighting against Nico. We see him going past the events of Heavydirtysoul, Levitate & jumpsuit, where he discovers that Nico was always watching, no matter where he went. In the end he succeeds in defeating Nico, but in defeating Nico he becomes the thing he feared most: a bishop. He wants to rule Dema together with the other bandits, but Torchbearer refuses and disappears in search of a new Clancy who is willing to fight again and overthrow the new bishops of Dema. He maintains hope: “We will try again, always.”

First Part of the Album

The first song on Breach is the final lore-related track in this storyline. City Walls opens the album and it’s an amazing track. The song kicks off with a strong bassline and with the addition of a catchy guitar riff, the song gets stuck in your head. The verses are fast-paced, with Tyler rapping over them and he ends the first verse by saying the album title for the first time, an impactful moment. The mixing and mastering are incredibly well done, it’s layers in a way that makes it a really satisfying listen, using a lot of different instruments. There are also a few throwbacks in the lyrics: during the second verse, he uses the phrase “island of violence”, a callback to Migraine. It’s a reference to Voldsoy, a location within the continent of Trench. During the bridge we also get a renewed version of the lyric “entertain my faith”, originally from Holding on to You off Vessel, which makes this a full-circle moment for long-time fans. The song closes with the same sound we hear at the beginning of Heavydirtysoul, which marked the start of the Dema storyline, tying everything together in a really powerful way and making the story a never ending cycle.

We then move into the second track: RAWFEAR. This one feels different compared to City Walls. It’s a bit more toned down, with a heavier focus on piano and synthesizer. The overall vibe is more laid-back, but still catchy in its own way. During the bridge, the tempo picks up, adding some energy and creating a nice contrast within the song before going back into the final chorus. The mix of instrumentation and the tempo shift gives RAWFEAR a nostalgic feel.

Next up is Drum Show, the second single released from the album. This track brings a heavier sound and a more aggressive energy compared to the first two songs. It opens with a powerful riff that immediately sets the tone. It’s the first time we hear Jocals on a full-length album, which is a huge moment, not just for the song, but for the band and clique as well. The chorus leans into a more emo-pop-punk vibe, giving the song a high-energy feel.

The fourth track on the album is Garbage, despite the name, the song is anything but trash. It’s catchy, driven by a repetitive yet memorable piano motif that results with the song being stuck in your head. The addition of strings adds an emotional punch and elevates the overall energy of the track. The bridge takes a more somber turn, offering a moment of contrast that fits perfectly before launching back into the infectious rhythm of the main melody adding a guitar.

Despite being a standout track, The Contract feels disconnected from the rest of Breach. As the album’s lead single, it has its own unique style: distorted guitars, layered synths and pounding drums collide in a tense. While the production was overwhelming and cluttered. It may not blend seamlessly with the album’s overall vibe, but it boldly announces a darker, heavier era for the band. This song also came with a fantastic music video that served as a perfect bridge from Paladin Strait to City Walls, but also left fans hanging on the same cliffhanger for the second time.

Downstairs closes the first half of the set, a track that reaches back 14 years to the Regional at Best/Vessel era, a time that clearly resonates in its sound. The song carries an early Twenty One Pilots vibe: lo-fi synths, raw and vulnerable vocals with some amazing screams in the song, piano notes, emotionally charged lyrics and a quiet bridge that builds through powerful vocal delivery into the final of the song. It’s a haunting piece, not just nostalgic for long-time fans, but evocative of something long buried and now suddenly unearthed. It feels less like a throwback and more like a memory calling back from the depths.

Second Part of the Album

The second part of the album kicks off with Robot Voices, a track that grabs your attention with its infectious guitar riff and a simple but uptempo beat. The verses are smooth and atmospheric, leading into a chorus that’s both catchy and emotionally resonant. There’s a raw honesty in the lyrics that makes them deeply relatable, giving the song a surprising emotional weight beneath its cool, electronic sound. The outro is a standout moment, stripped-back piano layered with soft, echoing vocals, bringing the track to a chilled, introspective close that resonates into goosebumps.

Next up is Center Mass, a hip-hop track built on smooth piano and tight drum work. The mix is clean, the lyrics hit hard and the chorus is instantly catchy. Things start taking an interesting turn after the bridge, where a well-placed scream launches the track into a pop-punk-inspired song, complete with a halftime breakdown. It’s a bold shift that adds serious punch, making Center Mass a standout moment that blends genres together.

The next song Cottonwood is a slow, emotional piano ballad with soft drums and really reflective lyrics about loss and regret. It starts off chill and mellow, but builds up in a way that hits hard, especially when the synth comes in during the bridge. It feels personal and honest and the mix of sounds gives it a cool, unexpected depth.

We move into One Way,a synth-pop track with feel-good energy and repeatable lyrics that make it instantly catchy, One Way brings a burst of movement and brightness to the album. Beneath the danceable surface, it touches on the tension between wanting freedom and feeling held back but it’s wrapped in shimmering sounds that invite you to keep moving. The track ends with a voice note from Josh, hinting that Days Lie Dormant is coming next.

This next song is Days Lie Dormant as Josh’s voice note fades out, the first drum fill kicks in, launching into an uptempo rhythm that immediately shifts the energy. Driven by a lively beat and bright piano lines, including a standout piano bridge, moving into an energetic ending the song carries a different vibe from One Way, just as Josh hints. The lyrics are honest and relatable, capturing moments we all feel but don’t always say out loud. Though the mood changes, Days Lie Dormant holds its own with a sound that’s just as unique and compelling.

We move into Tally, this next song sounds incredible. It puts together synths, shifting drum patterns and catchy fills that keep the energy alive throughout the song. The vocals move from delicate to powerful, carrying a raw emotion that takes you into the song. The bridge is unforgettable with falsettos that feel both beautiful and painful. The chorus is catchy yet emotionally charged, making this track memorable for a Twenty One Pilots song. Tally isn’t just a song; it’s an emotional journey you won’t forget soon.

The last song on the album is Intentions. It’s a reflective piece that uses the instrumental of Truce from Vessel played in reverse but it’s layered with new lyrics written by Tyler. It serves as a full-circle moment, the last song before the story began was Truce and now it concludes with Intentions bringing everything back to where it began. Though the song carries a somber tone and slow tempo, Tyler’s lyrics give the ending a sense of closure and quiet hope. It’s a bittersweet farewell, but one that suggests growth, understanding and peace at the end of a long journey.

Conclusion

After a decade of storytelling, Breach brings a powerful and emotional close to the storyline of Dema. What started with Blurryface in 2015, ends with an album that is thematically mature, deeply rewarding for long-time fans, but also welcoming to newer fans. With a seamless mix of energetic tracks, emotional ballads and narrative depth, Breach proves that Twenty One Pilots have evolved their own sound without losing the essence that made their music so impactful in the first place. It’s not just an ending to an amazing storyline, it’s a celebration of everything that’s come before and after. Stay strong, Live on, And power to the local dreamer! |-/