Twenty One Pilots have never been afraid to reinvent themselves. With each new project, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun push at the edges of their sound, sometimes to great effect, sometimes less so. Breach, the duo’s latest release, is an ambitious record that delivers flashes of brilliance but struggles under the weight of its own experimentation.
The most successful track here is “Drum Show,” one of the two singles released before the album dropped. Built on tight percussion and urgent synths, it’s a track that demands attention from the first second. It’s energetic, immediate and, unusually for Twenty One Pilots, driven more by music than lyrics. “Drum Show” is the clearest reminder of why the band earned such a dedicated following in the first place.
Elsewhere, though, Breach is weighed down by long, unnecessary intros that slow the pacing without adding much substance. “Robot Voices” and “City Walls” are personal ally the clearest offenders, opening with extended instrumental passages that meander before the songs really begin. It feels less like world-building and more like padding, leaving the listener tempted to skip forward rather than sit in the build-up.
That’s not to say the album is without merit. “One Way” offers a stripped-back approach that cuts through the clutter, while “Intentions” stands out for its connection to the band’s earlier work. With echoes of Blurryface in both tone and delivery, it carries the same mix of urgency and emotional punch that made that album a fan favourite. For long-time listeners, it’s a welcome return to form, if only briefly. In the end, Breach is an uneven listen. Twenty One Pilots remain skilled at crafting moments that feel distinctive and memorable, but too often those moments are buried under drawn-out intros and ideas stretched further than they need to be.
For casual listeners, the highs may not outweigh the lows. For fans, there’s just enough here to keep them hooked, but it won’t replace the band’s best work any time soon.
6/10
