Get ready clique, we are heading back to Trench!

Twenty One Pilots announced their new album Clancy on February 29. This new era will continue the story of Blurryface, Dema, and Trench. This story began on the duo’s 2015 album Blurryface, where the band introduced the character of Blurryface, which is meant to represent all of lead singer Tyler Joseph’s insecurities. The world was expanded upon in 2018’s Trench where the band introduced the world of Dema, Trench, the Bishops, Clancy and the Banditos. In this world, Blurryface is Nico, the leader of the Bishops. Then 2021’s Scaled and Icy, expanded the story. On this album, Joseph is being used to entertain the people of Dema and the album name itself spells out “Clancy Is Dead”.

The album will be released on May 17, very close to the ninth anniversary of when Blurryface was released on May 15, 2015.

In the days leading up to the announcement, the band placed red tape on all their album covers on streaming services. On February 22, the duo uploaded a YouTube video titled “I Am Clancy“.  In the video, Joseph voices over clips from music videos from the previous albums, recounting the story of this world so far. For those needing a refresher of what we have learned so far, this is a great place to start.

Joseph talks about being a citizen of the city of Dema and how he has tried to escape. He describes how Nico and the nine Bishops get their power from a “hijacked religion”. This religion is “called Vialism and all you really need to know is that it teaches that self-destruction is the only way to paradise. It also conveniently allows you to become an available vessel for the bishops to use.” The story continues with him being broken out of Dema by the Banditos, but was eventually recaptured and returned to the city. He was then used by the Bishops for entertainment for the people of Dema.

“They made me entertain the people, lie to them,” he said. “They made me perform for them.”

He goes on to talk about how after Nico was betrayed, he managed to escape to the new place, where he was given a gift thought to be extinct. He now had the same powers as the Bishops. The video concludes with Joseph saying he is returning to Trench and “I am Clancy”, with a clip of him putting on a new mask, we can infer introducing the new era. 

On February 29, the band also released the first single and music video off of the album, “Overcompensate”. The video opens with a shot over the ocean with a fast-paced electronic keyboard beat. As the beat continues, the shot changes to images of the map of Trench and overhead drone shots of an island, before we are dropped into a city as a deep, ominous voice says “Welcome Back To Trench.” The next shot is drummer Joshua Dun in the middle of an empty arena drumming a strong, fast beat over the repetitive electronic effects. Stone-faced young people in gray sweatsuits begin to fill the seats. The video flashes between shots of Joseph standing outside a door waiting to enter and ones of him singing in a room with Dun. Then, he puts on his mask and enters the room and the beat changes to be a bit slower and more groovy. Joseph then erupts into the first verse, featuring the familiar and nostalgic rap cadence fans know and love.

The video ends with Joseph and Dun arriving at what appears to be an island, both dressed in black. Dun is pulling a boat to shore before joining Joseph as they stare off into the distance. This scene, leading us to believe they have arrived in Trench and perhaps, the next video will pick up from this scene and continue the story. 

The Clancy era has begun. 

“Overcompensate” is available to stream on all major streaming platforms. You can preorder the new album Clancy, including several vinyl variants and bundles, now on the band’s official website.