‘Breach’ highlights Twenty One Pilots versatility

Twenty One Pilots are back with their eighth studio album, “Breach,” and they did not disappoint. Lead singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun brought many emotions and different genres to this collection. Since dropping the first single “The Contract” to introduce the new era, the album has come full circle, introducing more techno sounds to their discography.

In May, the band’s highest grossing album, “Blurryface,” had its tenth anniversary. Known for the hits “Ride,” “Tear in My Heart” and “Stressed Out.” This is the most awarded album the band has written to date. The band and fandom have been celebrating this acclaimed  glorified album throughout the year. While “Blurryface” stuck more with pop–centered sounds, “Breach” brought other genres into the mix.

Looking at past albums, working with themes involving depression and anxiety is not new for the group. “RAWFEAR” shows the sides of anxiety with the constant, never-ending fear it gives. Lyrics from the chorus expand on this a bit more, saying “Raw fear moves me, sounds of empty Uzis / Life is just forever nippin’ heels, never slowin’ down.” One of the singles released for promotion of the album, “The Contract,” goes into the message a step further. One specific line truly expresses the issues that Joseph wants to bring light to about dealing with depression: “But now I plead, just take the deal / I promised you a contract.” The music video released in June also shows these ideas visually. Joseph is seen in the video fighting inner demons, running around trying to find the right answers with everything swarming around him.

Acknowledging familiar subjects in previous pieces, religious views come into play in a song on the album, “Downstairs.” In past songs like “Trees,” “Doubt” and “Addict With a Pen,” they touch on personal struggles in relationships with God. This track specifically brings spiritual thoughts back into play on this album, with heavy lyrics specifically in the bridge. Joseph sings, “Oh, what have I become? / Dirty and wretched one / Am I unholy land? / Have I forced your hand?” It is interesting to see this side of the band because Joseph only includes these types of tracks once every album on occasion.

By far, the most outstanding feature on this album is “Drum Show” because of how many musical elements are involved in it. Dun gets decent drum solos in other projects, but this song took it to a new level. His passion and dedication is heard throughout the entire piece in the beat. The song also featured a small part with Dun singing, which is rare. He sings the bridge, “I’ve been this way / I want to change.” At the last line of that bridge, Joseph screams “change” and you can sense all of the raw emotions.

The song “City Walls” is its own story in the album with so many surprising components. Sounds of techno, rock, rap and some pop are sprinkled all throughout this song. While this is not out of the ordinary for the band, the way it is laid out in the song makes for a completely new sound. It seems to bring in components of all of their past projects. An example being in the outro singing, “Entertain my faith,” which seemed to be an ode to the song “Holding on to You” from an earlier album, “Vessel.”

A few of the songs may not have stood out lyrically, but did in their musical progression. Two songs worked together through an outro progression, even though they had completely different vibes to them. “One Way,” which is a pop song to the core, progresses into “Days Lie Dormant” with a voicemail from Dun about the order of the songs. Saying, “Uh, I’m not opposed to ‘One Way’ going into ‘Days Lie Dormant’ / But it does feel like quite a vibe change” and leading to a rock intro which is likely a love song. This is also a common theme on their albums, with a singular ballad on the album. They somehow work very well together. Twenty One Pilots always find a way to find opposing sounds and make them mesh. Not many people can find a way to put together ukulele and techno sounds, but they always find a way to do so.

Overall, “Breach” brought hit after hit. Fans are able to enjoy these songs live as of Sept. 18 with the start of their tour. Based on the way this album was orchestrated, it can be an enjoyable experience, regardless of what specific genre listeners may like — it includes so many. That is one thing Twenty One Pilots never miss: versatility.