Clancy (2024)

The Leadup

The buildup to Clancy expanded on the cryptic, world-driven approach the band had refined during the Trench era, picking up the narrative threads left open by Clancy’s uncertain fate. After years of relative quiet and sparse clues, the band reignited the story through subtle social media changes, hidden messages embedded in artwork, and updates to the official lore websites that hinted at shifting power dynamics within Dema. Fans once again became detectives, uncovering coded imagery, fragmented letters, and symbolic visuals that suggested Clancy’s struggle was far from over. The promotional rollout leaned heavily on atmosphere rather than straightforward announcements, reinforcing the sense that this was not just an album release but the continuation of a larger saga. By blending narrative breadcrumbs with stylistic reversals and unexpected creative drops, the band cultivated a sense of tension and return, making the reveal of Clancy feel like the long-awaited last chapter in a story fans had been piecing together for years.

Theming

Where Trench showcased a deeper level of emotional and mental struggles Joseph and his character, Clancy, faced, Clancy, the album, instead comes off more reflective on how he got here and often time speaks to real experiences more than progressing the story. For example, the first song in the album is "Overcompensate", which blends story elements and the real struggle the band was facing to live up to the expectations that the fans now had regarding the story. This album feels a lot like a recap before the "final battle" that Breach would be. "Next Semester" is very literal and is about Joseph recalling a time he almost committed suicide as a teen, but was saved. "Backslide" is about his struggle with religon, which he has been very open about in the past. "Midwest Indigo" is an homage to the sometimes melancholy part of the United States he grew up in. "Oldies Station" is a reflection on growing older and grappling with the speed of life. These songs come off as very personal to the band after three albums in a row that were very story focused (albeit having real life connections), and for that, it stands out compared to most of their other work. The themes of this album are about breaking bad cycles in your life, whether they're mental or physical, and the struggles associated. This stands as one of the most relatable albums they've produced.