Trench - Twenty One Pilots Review
Twenty One Pilots’ fifth studio album Trench is their most ambitious endeavour to date, darker and bolder than we have seen from them before without reaching pretentious. Following the band’s 2015 release Blurryface, they have hit us with another concept album, dealing again with similar topics of mental health, faith, fame and suicide. Twenty One Pilots are known for concealing deep and heavy themes beneath upbeat pop synths, metaphors and characterisations, and Trench is no different.
The concept this time follows the fictional town of Dema, from which singer Tyler Joseph, drummer Josh Dun and their allies (the ‘Banditos’) aim to liberate and save the people. This dystopian fantasy world advances the storyline of the character of Blurryface from the 2015 album, who stood as a metaphor for Joseph’s fears and insecurities, including depression and anxiety. The character makes a prominent feature for a second time in Trench, as leader of the group against which the Banditos are resisting.
The musical duo took three years to record the album, taking the last year to completely remove their presence from all social media platforms and public appearances. The album was produced by Tyler Joseph and lead singer and keyboardist of alternative rock group Mutemath Paul Meany, following the success of the TOPXMM collaboration EP.
The album is diverse and ever-changing in sound but always remains cohesive. The duo once again blur the lines between genres, combining elements of pop, rock, reggae, RNB, rap and indie with Joseph’s signature ukulele and Josh Dun’s exceptional drumming.
Trench kicks off with two pre-released singles ‘Jumpsuit’ and ‘Levitate’, both of which segue the familiar style we associate with Twenty One Pilots into one that is more reggae and RNB influenced. ‘Chlorine,’ ‘Morph’ and ‘The Hype’ are catchy yet deep numbers with big choruses, the melodies and synths almost distracting you from the complexities of the lyrics. Joseph strays from these poignant lyrics for lighter and playful songs dedicated to his wife; ‘Smithereens’, ‘My Blood’, and a lyrically touching but upbeat tribute to his late grandfather on ‘Legend’. Joseph touches on anxieties surrounding fame and status following the success of Blurryface, of which every track on the album went at least gold.
‘Neon Gravestones’ is a notable standout on Trench, possessing the most introspective and heartfelt lyrics on the record. The song explores suicide, especially in young people, and critiques the media’s glorification of suicide and the flaws in how it is approached. “The rise in awareness /Is beating a stigma that no longer scares us/But for sake of discussion/ In spirit of fairness / Could we give this some room for a new point of view ?” The lyrics are some of the most raw and personal we have ever heard from Joseph, which pack a powerful punch.
‘Nico and the Niners’ and ‘Bandito’ develop the storyline of the album concept in a reggae- rap style, distinct from anything the band has previously released. ‘Pet Cheetah’ feels slightly out of place with its heavy synths, bizarre metaphors and references and is stark in difference to the softer songs that follow. “I've got a pet cheetah down in my basement; I've raised him, and bathed him and named him Jason Statham”
‘Leave the City’ is an emotional and powerful album closer, highlighting struggles with faith and religion and tying the theme of the album to an almost unfinished close, which fades out leaving listeners with the point of mental illness being a continuous and ongoing struggle. “In time I will leave the city, for now I will stay alive.” Trench had a lot to live up to but it overshot the mark, the mature and immersive sounds and lyrics will resonate with those who have been fans since the beginning and new listeners alike.
