Mental Health Goes Musical: Twenty One Pilots Drop Fifth Studio Album, Trench

The few, the proud, and the emotional: come one, come all.

Right on track with Mental Health Awareness month, alternative rock group Twenty One Pilots released their fifth studio album, Trench, on October 5. You may have seen me cartwheeling down Forbes Avenue at midnight when the album hit Spotify, and if that is the case, you're welcome. Known for making waves on the grounds of the mental health discussion, Twenty One Pilots propels the conversation forward, drawing on personal struggles including anxiety and depression from group members, Tyler Joseph and Joshua Dun, for lyrical and musical inspiration.

While the duo excels musically, whether it be Joshua’s ability to play the drums and the trumpet at the same time or Tyler’s haunting vocals laced with incredible passion yet undeniable grace, the standout player in Twenty One Pilots’ act is the duo’s willingness to tap into dark, repressed emotions and be completely candid about them. The group explores topics such as depression, anxiety, paranoia, suicide, pressures from self and from others, and more in each of their carefully curated indie-electro-pop-rock hits.

Twenty One Pilots are no strangers to producing hits that bring truths about mental health often shielded in darkness into the light. Hits such as “Addict with a Pen,” “Migraine,” “Guns for Hands,” “Holding On To You,” “Truce,” “Car Radio,” “Goner,” and more from previous albums precede latest works in the Twenty One Pilots’ deeply moving, raw lyrical canon. These newest and most noteworthy additions on Trench include “Neon Gravestones,” “Jumpsuit,” and “Leave The City.”

“Don't get me wrong The rise in awareness Is beating a stigma that no longer scares us But for sake of discussion In spirit of fairness Could we give this some room for a new point of view?”

- “Neon Gravestones”

Characterized by a somber, minor key, Tyler Joseph takes fans on a four-minute musical journey that stares the contemplation of suicide directly in the face in “Neon Gravestones.” This song is one of my personal favorites on the album because of how raw the lyrics and musicality are in conjunction with the topic being discussed. For me, the proof of good artistry lies in the message more than anything else. Joseph acknowledges his darkness but highlights the way he overcame and pleads with fans to choose, love, and celebrate life.

Like many out there, music is my preferred escape from the chaos of my own realities. Twenty One Pilots has contributed to my journey of healing from the very beginning. Quite truly, if you were to listen really closely to my heartbeat, you’d find it’s actually just a compilation of Tyler Joseph screaming Twenty One Pilots lyrics. How wonderful it is to live in a world where musicians use their power for good and not greed, not only identifying with the intricacies of our hearts and minds, but living through them as well.

If you’ve listened to Twenty One Pilots before, you surely don’t need me to tell you how hard they friggin’ slap. If you haven’t listened to Twenty One Pilots before, Trench is the perfect place to start. Music is one of the strongest unifying forces we have. Sometimes it can save us from ourselves, and with the pressures we all face in this day and age, giving Twenty One Pilots a listen might be worth the try.