Twenty One Pilots ends decade long storyline with Breach
Written by Saanshi Panigrahi
Alternative rock duo Twenty One Pilots (Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun) released their 7th studio album, Breach, on September 12. The record explores what it's like to fall back into cycles and the acceptance of that, as it concludes the storyline that their music portrayed.
The lead single, “The Contract,” was a rather palatable introduction to the record, showcasing their classic alt-rock sound. It was a great introduction to their album, giving a taste without revealing the whole thing. The album itself is full of reminiscent sounds of their past, almost looking back at their career as they pull from decade old demos (“Downstairs” and “Intentions”) and sample other bands similar to their own (“Robot Voices”), going on to even integrate themselves (“One Way”), their families (“RAWFEAR”), and their fans (“Center Mass”) into almost every song. Each song feels so different, like from a different time period of their music. Each song feels distinct, as if it could have been pulled from a different time period of their career. This project, if anything, is a love letter to a decade’s worth of work. To the community they’ve created, to the families and relationships they’ve found along the way, to every piece of work they’ve ever done.
This conclusion is quite bittersweet, the album earning the band the #1 spot on Billboard for the first time since Blurryface. It’s a full circle moment that’s poetically devastating. As they embark on their Breach World Tour and a potential 2026 festival run, fans find themselves migrating from all around the world to see their band for what may be the last time for a long time. It’s an emotional ending, a message to their fans as the album’s themes center on the idea of being okay with not being okay. It’s okay to restart. It’s never too late.
From a fan point of view, it’s sad, it really is. I’ve seen myself fall in and out of love with this band many times through the years, but I always find myself coming back to them as a comfort. That’s what this album is: a comforting goodbye. No one knows when they’ll be back after next year, no one really knows what’s next – I don’t think even the band does – so it’s best to just sit in the moment and take it all in while it’s still here. We are our pasts, presents, and futures. We cannot dwell on our regrets and what ifs; we need to move forward, no matter how terrified we may be of what’s ahead. The next time they return with music, if they do, many fans will be older, and who knows if they'll still be fans. That’s why this album feels so much like one for the community, one for everyone who’s ever supported this band. It’s one big group hug.
Not many bands can cultivate such a strong fanbase, and not many bands stick around for this long. It’s something that should be celebrated. They deserve a break, they deserve their #1, they deserve all the accolades for their hard work. See them on tour while you still can; you don’t want to miss it.
