After a 3 year long wait following the release of their 2015 album Blurryface Twenty One Pilots are back with one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year Trench – released today (5th October 2018).
Trench opens with the first released single post hiatus Jumpsuit. A great opening track that sets off the mood for the album perfectly. There are a few songs on this album which stand out immediately on first listen, my personal stand out is Chlorine. This track lends itself to the happy / sad sound which Twenty One Pilots have become known for in previous albums such as Vessel. With upbeat drums and production that hints towards a reggae sound before leading into an ethereal solo vocal section to close the song, showing off Tyler Joseph‘s vocal ability perfectly. This song really does have it all.
One thing that is to be said about Trench is how solid and flawless the production is. Tyler Joseph enlisted the help of Paul Meany of Mutemath to co-produce the album and his influence can be heard throughout. The album has hints of the TOPXMM release the bands put out in 2016. This production can be heard on a track that has great radio potential titled The Hype. With incredibly catchy lyrics and the albums first hearing of the ukelele coming through which the band are so well known for after the previous album release Blurryface, this song will undoubtably be radio hit.
Trench has allowed the band to experiment with different sounds all the while creating an album that flows and can be listened to in full with ease. The range of songs vary from Smithereens – a love song dedicated to Tyler’s wife, to Pet Cheetah in which he raps about a pet cheetah named Jason Statham. Throughout their albums previously and now Twenty One Pilots show that they are experimental in what they do.
A special mention needs to be said about Neon Gravestones. This song in particular is a heavy listen, the track discusses suicide and societies views towards it and the aftermath. The bands lyrics within the breakdown verse ‘the rise in awareness is beating a stigma, that no longer can scare us’ resonate in the track.
The album closes out with Leave This City. A song that has clearly been written for the fans. Joseph‘s wide vocal range is shown in this song as he effortlessly demonstrates his low and high range with the aid of subtle instrumentals and stunning harmonies throughout. This track in particular is reminiscent of the closer Truce from Vessel. Ending very softly and subtly with the lyric ‘they know what I mean’.
If you haven’t listened to Trench yet check it out here –
Follow the band –
Twitter // @twentyonepilots
Website // twentyonepilots.com
