IN REVIEW: Twenty One Pilots - "Trench"

The rise of Twenty One Pilots to mainstream popularity (thanks to hit singles from 2015's Blurryface and the Suicide Squad soundtrack smash Heathens) painted the duo in the eyes of some as middle-of-the-road pop rockers, and there was concern among some circles that success would result in a less quirky, more pop-leaning, opportunistic (popportunistic?) fifth album.

Those fears are mostly proven unfounded by Trench, a rich and interesting record that comes out of the gate with perhaps one of the most against-the-grain single choices they could have made; Jumpsuit crackles with nervous energy and packs a host of shifts in style into its four minutes. That this standoff of a single shot to the top of the alternative charts quicker than any song this decade perhaps speaks to just how starved the format is for something more challenging.

Trench has lots of interesting flavours for listeners to sample; there's the rapid-fire rap of Levitate, the off-kilter bounce of Morph, the tender swoon of Smithereens, the morose and death-clouded Neon Gravestones, the wobbly reggae of Nico and the Niners, and most points in between. At first blush, many of these songs don't sound too out of place with what's on the radio, however closer inspection reveals production that steers these songs left of centre, making for a more interesting listen. Perhaps the album's true highlight, however, happens to be its most accessible moment; My Blood, which starts out as a slow ode to solidarity, morphs into a bass-driven, funky earworm. It's the one song on Trench that undeniably deserves to smash, although we all know it's not the only one that will.

That said, this isn't a perfect record by any stretch, and by times gets a little bogged down by filler; the way the album was promoted paints it as a bigger statement than it really is, though the ambition is admirable. Still, trimming a few of the weaker cuts would have resulted in a more concise and far more effective experience. It's of small concern to their fans, of course, who will happily take all they can get and/or remove their least favourites from their playlists.

In a world where "alternative" is another way to say "Imagine Dragons", Twenty One Pilots found themselves on top of the mountain thanks to some well-timed singles; with Trench, they don't seem content to simply plant their flag and kick back, rather tasked with challenging the status quo and setting themselves apart as a band that seeks to evolve and reward their fans instead of simply wake up and make money.

October 5, 2018 • Fueled By Ramen
Highlights Jumpsuit • My Blood • Neon Gravestones