The release of ‘Breach’ concludes Twenty One Pilots’ lore

By Madison Dyer

With the release of “Breach” on September 12th, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dunn wrap up at least a decade of mysterious storytelling.

Casual listeners may not be aware that since “Blurryface” released in 2015, Twenty One Pilots has slowly woven a deep and symbolic story through their music. Some sources insist that they can see themes and characters in “Vessel” (2013) and “Twenty One Pilots” (2009) as well, but it explicitly began in “Blurryface.” 

The lore is expansive and convoluted, with individuals all across the internet delving into the smallest of details to discover new angles and meanings. At its most basic level, the story explains the circular, walled city of Dema, which represents a state of being trapped in mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. 

Through the tracks on “Blurryface,” “Trench” (2018), “Scaled and Icy” (2021), “Clancy” (2024), and now “Breach,” the story begins to feature an enigmatic character named Clancy, who allies with the people outside the city and stages an attack against Dema. That is essentially where the lore left off in “Clancy”; Clancy facing down the vile ruler of the city in an epic final battle, as seen in the music video for “Paladin Strait.” Fans eagerly awaited the resolution to this cliffhanger.

“Breach” contains thirteen tracks, with “The Contract” and “Drum Show” preceding it as single releases. As with all Twenty One Pilots albums, it covers a wide range of moods and cannot necessarily be contained within a single genre. “Breach” sticks mostly to rock elements, with the notable exception of “Intentions.” The general mood of the album is musically upbeat with contrastingly downer lyrics, matching perfectly with a lyric from “Not Today,” which says, “Listen, I know this one’s a contradiction because of how happy it sounds, but the lyrics are so down.”

After listening through the whole album a dozen times, here is an unofficial, subjective ranking list: 

1. City Walls
2. The Contract
3. Drum Show
4. Days Lie Dormant
5. RAWFEAR
6. Garbage
7. Robot Voices
8. Tally
9. Downstairs
10. Center Mass 
11. Intentions
12. Cottonwood
13. One Way

The story being told throughout the band’s albums concludes in the first track, “City Walls.” The elaborate music video for this song shows an apparent victory over the evil rulers of the city, but ends with Clancy replacing them and becoming one himself.  In the final scene, two characters reveal that this is not the first time they have tried to take the city, and this is not the first person named Clancy to escape and rise to power, only to fall again. The characters commit to trying again and guiding another Clancy to attack Dema. 

In this way, the story that Twenty One Pilots formed is an endless loop. The last moments of “City Walls” even repeat an auditory motif found at the beginning of “Heavydirtysoul,” the first track of their original album. Additionally, the final track of “Breach” opens with the words “I am starting it all over once again.” The fight against the walled city and the mental illness it represents begins anew, as it apparently has before. The circle is closed. 

This raises a few questions about the message the band lead, Tyler Joseph, means to communicate. His story has always been about the struggle with mental illness. Does he mean to imply that it can never be fully conquered? That it will always come back and people will continue to fight a vicious, endless cycle? That does not sound particularly uplifting. 

However, because it is a circle and not a definitive end, hope remains. Perhaps the most important aspect of the tale is the journey and the fight. Twenty One Pilots never meant to fashion an idealistic scene, guaranteeing victory at every conclusion. Real life, real struggle with fear and anxiety, will never truly end on earth. The battle is what matters. As the characters imply in the music video, another Clancy will appear to fight again.

With “Breach,” the lore does not end; it continues for as long as needed. Getting back in the fight is more important than winning it. Twenty One Pilots masterfully wrapped up a thought-provoking story, prompting listeners to ponder impactful life questions.

“Breach” is available on all music streaming platforms.

Madison Dyer is a Sophomore Professional Writing and Information Design student, who grew up nearby Cedarville University. She likes to draw, play guitar and engage in general shenanigans.

Images courtesy of Spotify and YouTube.