Themed Albums in Music
Band Origins
Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo formed in Columbus, Ohio, in 2009 by Tyler Joseph, later joined by Josh Dun in 2011. The band built an early following through energetic live shows and a genre-blending sound that mixes alternative rock, hip-hop, pop, and electronic elements. Their breakthrough came with the 2015 album Blurryface, which produced global hits like “Stressed Out” and “Ride,” earning them widespread recognition and a Grammy Award. Over the years, they’ve continued to evolve with albums such as Trench and Scaled and Icy, each expanding their narrative-driven worldbuilding and sonic experimentation. Renowned for their creative storytelling, loyal fanbase, and distinctive aesthetic, the band remains one of the most innovative acts in modern alternative music. Most recently, they've concluded their story started in Blurryface with dual albums Clancy and Breach.
Theming
The albums Trench, Clancy, and Breach form an interconnected narrative exploring identity, control, resistance, and personal renewal through the fictional world of Dema and its oppressive rulers, the Bishops. Trench introduces Clancy’s (the fictional character Joseph plays) escape from Dema, blending themes of mental struggle, survival, and the pull between captivity and freedom. Clancy continues this journey with a more mature and reflective tone, showing the character, along with the band’s real-world audience, grappling with relapse, doubt, and the ongoing fight against internal and external forces. Breach deepens the mythology by depicting the instability between worlds, emphasizing that liberation comes in cycles rather than a clean break. Across the three albums, the storytelling mixes symbolism, coded messages, and emotional honesty, presenting a layered exploration of what it means to confront fear, seek help, and push toward self-defined hope.
My Feelings
Twenty One Pilots is my all-time favorite band. I've been listening them since 2015 and I have never resonated with an artist more in my life. Through some of the toughest times in my life, I've had their music always with me. I've always been a huge fan of their storytelling and interactivity, and they've always remained faithful to creating music that they want and giving it their all for every new release. With Breach releasing a couple of months ago, they're taking a well-deserved, long break from touring and producing, which they've been doing non-stop since 2013 (but I'm selfishly hoping for more soon). I tried to keep everything on this site short and not too wordy, as I have so much to say about every piece of media they've ever released. Thank you for taking the time to read this!