Twenty One Pilots returns to the world of Trench with their finale in a concept album trilogy that is “Clancy.” Officially dropped on May 24 under Fueled by Ramen and Elektra Records, this collection brings to full circle the journey of self-discovery and emotional clarity the band has gone through the years with songs such as “Overcompensate,” “Next Semester,” “Vignette,” and “Navigating.”

Starting with Trench released in 2018, the band has been producing music that explores the themes of insecurity, faith, and mental health, prominent in the band’s earlier collections. This is then followed by Scaled and Icy which debuted in 2021. It was a large departure from the band’s darker tones and leans into more optimistic and upbeat melodies which allude to the idea of propaganda being spread around, covering up the realities of one’s world. 

Tales from the city

“The name of the record is Clancy and that’s actually the protagonist of the story we’ve been telling,” singer-songwriter and Twenty One Pilots frontman Tyler Joseph explained in a Z100 interview alongside the band’s drummer Josh Dun. He added that “Blurryface [referring to the titular character that is also their most popular album released in 2015] is kind of the bad guy, he’s the antagonist. They’ve been at it for a while, and we’re going to have the final battle here.”

Clancy and the band’s Trench universe revolves around the city of “Dema,” a fictional location set within that world. Dema is ruled by nine “bishops” whose names are based on a collective pseudonym of a group of French mathematicians. The chief bishop, Nico, is revealed to be the personification of Joseph’s insecurities.

Other characters involved in the album’s concept universe include the “Banditos,” whose aim is to liberate the people of Dema. Clancy comes into play in this final chapter through the titular character’s return to Trench to free his fellow citizens in Dema after escaping and being granted a “miraculous power.”

In creation of this world

Straight up an introductory song to the character that is Clancy, “Overcompensate” is a sonic offbeat tune that calls back to the prior albums in the Trench trilogy. From its rhythmic verses that personify the character to the bits of lyrics that reference the song “Bandito” seen in Trench with the phrase “Sahlo Folina,” (meaning “to enable expressive creations”), this first track excites listeners for the final adventure in this series.

“Next Semester” follows up with a change of pace. Backed up by a nostalgic rock-like melody, this song delves into the struggles of finding one’s place and identity during the time of youth. Similarly, there’s the theme of the fear of failure. The only solace for the singer is that he can only cling to the fact that they’ll just have to try again later on with the refrain “Can't change what you've done. Start fresh next semester."

Moreover, the synth-rich song, “Midwest Indigo” also plays with some nostalgic inspiration. In the album’s livestream premiere, Joseph spoke about how the song retells his and Dun’s experiences of “growing up in the midwest, and the feeling of driving to school and barely being able to see out the window.” With an array of piano notes scattered throughout the song, listening to it takes one back to the good ‘ol days.

As above to so below

Another prominent track is “Backslide” which is a reflection of Joseph’s career and time in the spotlight. He makes references to previous eras in his musical career, directly naming the song “Saturday” from the band’s album Scaled and Icy wherein he regrets making the song. Blending hip-hop-infused beats and a steady rhythm, the song is thought-provoking with its vulnerable lyrics that trail into a cry in its chorus. 

Taking listeners to a fever dream, “Vignette” is an airy melody with falsettos highlighting its chorus. Despite the animated cadence seen in the song, its lyrics tackle addiction, stressing the experiences one has with it through the repetitive lyrics “No, not me, it's for a friend.” The song in itself is a battle with oneself. 

“Navigating” also brings in the concept of endless turmoil within. Throughout the tune, the singer tells himself “I’m navigating my head” to convey the spiral he goes down with difficult thoughts and fears. The track has a rushed beat that can be compared to raised heartbeats when one is in nerve-wracking situations.

A dreamscape to a new adventure

In “The Craving (Jenna’s version),” listeners are taken back to Joseph’s ukulele-grounded and stripped-down melodies. As a song dedicated to and inspired by his wife, Joseph contemplates if he’s providing enough love in his relationship with his partner. Listeners can also find a “single version” of the song which is more optimistic and a breath of fresh air. 

Upon closing the album, listeners will get to hear the dreamlike tune of “Paladin Strait,” which depicts the final route the narrator makes in the story. The lyrics interplay from the chorus and bridge, “I would swim the Paladin Strait” with “Can't be sure that I'll make it even though I'm past the point of no return.” As the longest song in Clancy, clocking in at 6 minutes and 28 seconds, listeners can also find hints of lore nearing the end of the track. Additionally, with the song’s music video release coming this June, there will hopefully be some closure to Clancy’s story.

Is it truly the end?

Overall, this ending to the longstanding concept album trilogy still leaves a cliffhanger for its listeners. Twenty One Pilots' latest collection is reminiscent of the strangely comforting albums the band has previously put out with its relatable hard-hitting lyrics and catchy offbeat melodies. 

Supplementary Recommendations

• “Routines in the Night” - A song about having trouble falling asleep. This is one of the songs revealed by the band to be almost cut from the album.
• “Lavish” - Criticizing the lavish nature of luxury life. This song conveys the need to build thick skin to survive in the music industry, reflective of the band’s experiences.

Certainly, Clancy transports listeners to the unique and soulful world of Trench, filled with rich stories and themes familiar to the style of Twenty One Pilots. From outlining insecurities to criticizing issues in the music industry, the band doesn’t fail to make its listeners feel several emotions at once. 

Fans are surely thrilled to see what the band comes up with next through their experimental and genre-fluid music. 

For now, relive the story of Clancy, available on various platforms.