With the release of Twenty One Pilots’ eighth studio album, “Breach,” the Ohio duo is comprised of singer and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun, have concluded the story they have been telling in their music that has spanned across 10 years and five albums. They tell a story about the battles of mental health, obtaining a Grammy win with tracks like “Stressed Out,” “Ride” and “Heathens,” all accumulating over 2 billion streams each.
Twenty One Pilots continued to push the boundaries of what they create with their fusion of alternative-rock, pop and hip-hop, with atmospheric production packed into 47 minutes and 13 songs. From high-energy rock tracks like ‘Drum Show’ and “Tally” to slower, introspective tracks like “RAWFEAR” and “Cottonwood.” Their use of guitars is slowly being integrated more into their sound, with tracks like “Robot Voices” having some of the best guitar work in the band’s discography. Another high point is Josh Dun’s drumming ability, with hypnotic beats that make you come back again and again. He also has his own vocal session, featuring a light, airy bridge on the song ‘Drum Show’, which contrasts with the soaring chorus and screams found throughout the rest of the song.
Another sonic inclusion they have is the wide variety of style changes within songs. With examples of this evident in the intro track, “City Walls,” which features a rock influence with heavy basslines and hard-hitting drums. From the rap verses to a soaring chorus, with a slowed-down bridge with a soft piano, to the nearly minute-long outro with the intensity building up until it reaches its climax, then a subsequent fall into a soft synthesizer all put into one track. This can give an insight into what the listener can expect in the rest of the album, with all of these elements getting their own spotlight in subsequent tracks.
While further pushing their sound forward into uncharted territory for the band, they also harken back to their previous work with instrumentation and production choices. This is best shown on the sixth track, “Downstairs,” which was created from an old demo tape the duo made in 2011. This is also shown through the heightened inclusion of synths, with dark pianos and heavy autotune, which the band heavily included in their 2011 album “Regional at Best” and 2013’s “Vessel.” However, they modernize these elements with stronger production and better consistency with Joseph’s range and tone. Another example is the final song, “Intentions,” with the instruments being the exact same as the final song on Vessel’s last song, “Truce,” but the instruments and background vocals in reverse, to create a surreal, ambient sound.
Thematically, the band sticks to the usual themes of mental health, overcoming loss and fighting back. Two that stand out are the songs “Cottonwood” and “Garbage,” with “Cottonwood” being about Joseph’s late grandfather, with lyrics like “I don’t remember, last we spoke” and “Can’t believe you’re gone for good,” combined with the soft piano and drums. Emotional lines like these capture the emotional weight the song contains. Meanwhile, “Garbage” is about his struggles with mental health, feeling lost and lashing out at the ones he loves, but holding onto hope that those said people won’t give up on saving him.
While “Breach” has many moments that rival moments from their most critically acclaimed projects, like 2018’s “Trench.” There are a few missteps that prevent “Breach” from achieving a perfect score. Tracks like “Days Lie Dormant” and “One Way” don’t provide the level of creative production, writing and instrumentation that the rest of the album has to offer, which makes the songs feel underwhelming when included in the rest of the album.
Overall, “Breach” further pushes the duo’s artistic boundaries with their sound, while also staying grounded in their roots of themes of mental health. With fresh ideas coinciding with existing sound structures, Breach is a great album for people who want to begin listening to Twenty One Pilots, while also giving current and old fans a sound they are familiar with and enjoy.
