Breach is a Bittersweet Good-Bye
Yesterday, on September 12, Twenty One Pilots released Breach, the final chapter in the hefty book of lore they have written cumulatively over the past 12 years: what a day of reckoning! This album is an excellent blend of all the classic genres TØP carved out into its niche while still pushing boundaries with newer, more experimental production themes. The lyrics remain Tyler Joseph’s greatest strength; each song is painstakingly honest and poetic in message, whether or not it is exclusive to the lore.
TØP carved out their niche sound over the past decade by combining dramatic instrumentation (particularly with piano) and rap-rock thematic undercurrents. With fantastically freaky and melodic synths and a sample of Heavydirtysoul, TØP begins this conclusive record with a bang by flaunting their classic sound with a newer sonic weight. Tyler Joseph notes that this song will be accompanied by a million-dollar music video–one of the highest budgets for the production of a music video ever. This song's cinematic lyrics, vocals, and production are explained by its purpose: Tyler himself explained upon release that this song is supposed to be one of the tracks that concludes the decade-old storyline. Besides the phonetic throwback to Blurryface, Joseph smartly recycles lyrics from Holding Onto You (“Entertain my faith”) to indicate that this story canonically stretches before Blurryface’s release, which has been heavily disputed in the past within the Clique (name for TØP fans).
RAWFEAR is stylised by an all-caps title and anxious lyrical themes to promise urgency. This track is loaded with a tense rhythmic pulse and layered production. Creating a panic attack in musical form is something Tyler Joseph has perfected into his trademark. A sweet ode to the stress behind parenthood is expressed subtly through the use of Joseph’s daughter's vocals. This song focuses on real fear while remaining relevant to the lore. Living in a constant state of nervous motion, the lyrics paint the picture of someone desperately running from a predator spraying bullets from an Uzi, though they also parallelize “nipping heels” and “gripping feels”, posing the question of whether the character is just running from himself. Tyler makes this track stand by beautifully, explaining the purpose of life’s recurring pain: “slow and painful lessons” that are “poisonous progressions” intended to “microdose immunity”.
This track features vocals from beloved drummer Josh Dun as co-lead in parts of the song. Drum Show is more raw and personal, straying away from the polished pop elements from the previous two tracks, and is loaded with emotional grit. Intimate, vulnerable yet mighty, this song functions as a pause for reflection amid a larger narrative brunt. This song was a single off Breach, and Josh Dun told BBC Radio 1 that the lyrics were inspired by taking drives the long way if a song you have on during the trip is yet to reach its conclusion. The sentiment is a gorgeous way to include Josh in the passion behind this 10-year project and display his cautious dedication to the band over the years. Dun, who, despite often describing symptoms of crippling anxiety, remained a good sport and has persevered through all his hardships and always put on fierce and elegant drum shows, both in the studio and on tour.
Garbage is anything but garbage. This song juxtaposes a fluffy and light production over bleak and wholly tumultuous lyrics, invoking a hushed inner monologue plastered over a presentable yet deceptive facade. This song seems to be an ode to overstimulation. Lyrics describe coping methods, like biting on your sleeve, and also emptiness that explodes into aggression upon being triggered. The outro hints at true personality lying underneath a mass of turmoil that we all experience when our surroundings are just too much: I’ll lash out/Don’t give up on me.
This single fuses nu-metal riffs with emo intensity and a hip-hop cadence to brew up a flourishing sound of aggressive and eclectic hyperpop. Screams and muffled raps give this track a forceful feeling of assured purpose and lift a black veil in front of the doorway to the dark and desperate corners of Dema. As aforementioned, this song is a single, namely the first, off of Breach, and its launch announced the release of the September album on verified social media in May. The Contract is the beginning of the true end, and references Tyler’s late-night home studio sessions. Joseph has expressed a venomous obsession with his work in the past, particularly tying its origins both to his own often insurmountable perfectionism but also to his anxiety of disappointing die-hard fans. The pre-chorus also clearly emphasizes the double meaning behind the lyrics, referencing Nico, the “necromancer”. Currently, the song is theorized as a dialogue between protagonist Clancy and antagonist Nico. If the theory that Clancy possesses Nico is accurate, then it is highly likely that these two characters are the reflection of the “good” and strong side of a soul, whereas Nico represents the dark and “bad” side, which presents as consuming anxiety and expectations of constant impending doom.
Downstairs is one of the most vulnerable tracks Tyler has ever released. It is built upon a quiet space and emotional exposition. This song is rooted in earlier demos, giving fans a kick of nostalgia while remaining true to Joseph’s newer, more mature feel in more polished production. The track takes it slow and is introspective in lyrics. Sonically, this song feels like home, a creative sanctuary, and fear altogether. The lyrics are surely a reference to Tyler’s home studio, which in records has been referred to as “the basement”. This song is also lyrically loaded with religious imagery; Tyler has always used his music to navigate his own Christian experience over the years and intertwined his beliefs and doubts with his faith and his personal struggles. This song could be directed towards fans, towards God, towards family, or perhaps towards all three. Fans can definitely be glad that this teenage demo made it out of the cellar of Josh Dun’s laptop and was included in the final album of the lore. It is an elegant mix of the past and present.
This track is experimental and electronic. It embraces synthetic layers, processed vocals, and a generally lighter mood than its predecessors. The texture and tone of Robot Voices reflect on external identity and internal monologue. This song is a rare collaborative track and was originally made by the group Blanket Approval. Tyler explained that he loved the original song but thought the bridge of the track would sound better as the chorus. He got in contact with the band, and they both worked together to create this particular version that is on Breach.
Center Mass is a busy track, carved by a fast-paced drumbeat and layered vocals. Urgency remains a focal point for the sound of Breach. The lyrics are set up as a dialogue and clearly discuss how Tyler feels during shows. Overly rambunctious fans exasperate Tyler, who already copes with anxiety on stage. This track also notably samples the sound of a viral clip of a fan telling off a concert-goer who stole Josh Dun’s drum from the Trees performance earlier this year in Manchester.
This track is stripped back, appropriate for making space on behalf of themes like grief, regret, and reflection. The sound is haunting and elegiac, where acoustic touches and organic instrumentation take the foreground for one of the more unfiltered emotional high points of Breach. Cotton Wood is dedicated to Tyler's late grandfather, who passed away only a few months ago. The title, Tyler shared, was one of his grandfather’s favorite trees on account of the “little white things” the tree sheds annually.
This song returns to the album's focus on the lore Tyler is wrapping up within Breach. The infectious bass line picks up the mood from the ground alongside a pop-leaning chorus. After the weight of Cotton Wood, One Way acts as a palette refresher and is one of the highest points of the album.
Days Lie Dormant picks up the pace and an octave. Still relatively upbeat, the song is a perfect piece of alternative rock. There's less grand drama and more of a subtle production with a loud sound overall. This song is perfect for a late-night drive with the windows down and the wind blowing in your face. Days Lie Dormant is a moody, contemplative, and restlessly explosive track, fitting the profile perfectly. Lyrically, this song is dedicated to Tyler's longing for Jenna, his wife, while away on tour and “in a city where no one knows your name.” For Joseph, it all feels like a “waste of time.”
This record leans into a heavier blend of rock sounds. The vocals are deliciously raw: a few screams here and there accompany a snappy rap verse. The sound encapsulates the narrator’s conflict with an intense and commanding tone. This song feels like the theme song during the final moments of a dramatic story before its melancholic conclusion. There are two parallels in this song again lyrically: one side is Tyler's fears of disappointing fans who have been waiting for the end with their breath held patiently. From a lore perspective, we can theorize that the song insinuates Clancy’s apology to the Torchbearer, whom he feels he has betrayed. This song is effortlessly agonizing with guilt and remorse as its main theme.
Reversing this song will land you back in 2013, with Tyler's sad eyes sitting behind a piano outside, singing Truce. For longtime fans, listening to this eerily familiar sound will send electric chills down their spines. This song really allows you to realize that, not only is Breach ending, but, after over a decade, Twenty One Pilots as we know it is concluding. Canonically, it sets Truce opens the story, and Intentions closes the final chapter. Intentions is dedicated to catharsis, clarity, and resolution.
You can't finish listening to Breach cover to back without feeling like you just got off of an emotional rollercoaster of an exciting and emotional story. This final act is a gorgeous ending to the iconic era this band built throughout their career. After all the thrills and tears, listeners walk away with a new strength. Though this is the end of this particular story, it is unclear what lies on the road ahead, and one can only hope Tyler and Josh will return with something entirely new in the future.
WRITTEN BY
Giulia
As the world seems to hurl past me, I find myself compelled to catch up. A way to stay present for me is by appreciating art, from fashion to cinema to music. This means making art accessible and thus engaging readers, as sharing my love for culture is one of my greatest passions in life.
