New album ‘Trench’ plays with the emotions
BY: LAUREN JOHNS
Art & Life Editor
Calling all members of the ‘Skeleton Clique,’ you were asleep; it’s time to wake up.
After almost three years of ‘sitting in silence,’ Twenty One Pilots has finally released their fifth studio album, “Trench,” which plays with the notion of “BlurryFace,” (Representative of Tyler Joseph, the lead singer’s insecurities).
“Trench” tells the tale of a dystopian society where its people are trapped in a walled city, Dema, ruled by nine totalitarian bishops presided over by Nicolas Bourbaki (whom Tyler refers to as Nico). The use of yellow on the album cover is representative of hope and light. Each song hatches an escape plan of sorts from the crippling depression the singer has lived with (the dark, walled city).
“Trench” in particular, plays with your emotions and creates something you can interpret in your own way (using generalized versions of Tyler’s life). A lot of experimenting is done, such as more falsetto singing and Tyler learning bass guitar. The only real downside to the album is that several of the songs are five minutes long. As a result, the pieces are most enjoyed when you are in the mood for them; otherwise, they are seemingly endless and overly repetitive. Even so, the 56 minutes (album) duration seems to fly by.
The first song on the record, “Jumpsuit” is perfect for pumping up the listener. In fact, it is the only rock song on the album (sorry Rock’n’ Roll fans). The rumbling electric guitar prepping you for the whirlwind journey to come. Unfortunately, this song can tire you out quickly after just a few listens (like an over-hyped radio hit).
In “Levitate,” the choruses and verses seem to melt together. Since I’m not super inclined to songs that are solely rap-based, it took a few listens to get into. The song discusses the struggles of being a celebrity and uses the vulture (featured on the album cover) as a symbol of being picked apart and exposed.
“My Blood” is one of my least favorites. Despite the fact that it has a disco vibe to it (fun) and discusses Tyler’s devotion to helping others and staying by their side (to escape “Dema” perhaps?), there was much to be desired. It takes 1 and ½ minutes to reach the chorus. Twenty One Pilots has a way of redefining song structure by changing the tempo or tune halfway through and it was much needed here.
“Chlorine,” was an automatic favorite of mine. I love the whimsical vibe and the driving beat. Tyler speaks of sipping chlorine (figuratively) to cleanse himself of his depressing thoughts. And the song throws a definite curveball at the listener. The chorus flows into a soulful ballad.
In “Neon Gravestones,” Tyler speaks of society’s constant glorification of suicide. He strays from fancy metaphors and just says exactly what he means. And to conclude, he leaves us with some food for thought: “find your grandparents or someone of age. To life, they were dedicated and that should be celebrated.” Despite being a little slow, the melancholic instrumentals and studio effects add a whole new level of depth and beauty.
“Legend,” draws off of the message in “Neon Gravestones,” in how Tyler celebrates the life of his grandfather who died of Alzheimer’s, rather than centering the song around his grief. It has a jazzy and upbeat vibe, helping to add more style variety to the album as a whole.
“The Hype,” is not worth the hype. The choruses are overly redundant, very anti-climatic and it was 5 minutes long. The bridge was a must needed break from the redundant choruses. The style of singing is similar to “Wonderwall” by the Oasis.
“Bandito” is powerful and makes way to a chilling instrumental section. There are a few false buildups, making it very similar in style and theme to “Goner” from the group’s previous album: “BlurryFace.” The line about Dema that never fails to give me chills: “I created this world, to feel some control. Destroy it if I want to.” His voice is light and almost eerie.
“Pet Cheetah” should come with a warning. Tyler speaks of a metaphorical pet cheetah that lives in his basement. While the song has a few slow portions that are quite redundant, once the ‘in-your-face’ style of rap kicks in, you can’t help but like the song (and attempt to sing along). My favorite part is when the rap plays with the sound centering and you hear it on the right side of you (similar to an 8D track, this song is best enjoyed with headphones).
The last song is my favorite overall. “Leave the City” is an intense and sorrowful ballad that perfectly wraps up the album. Everything comes back full circle, as Tyler recaps his time spent in “Trench.” The harmonies are light and flowy and the song builds up and then fades away. Unfortunately, this occurs before any true climax is reached. In a sense, it could only mean that the fight with depression is not yet over, despite what the song says.
