Twenty One Pilots Enter a Daring New Phase with "The Contract" - Atwood Magazine

      In a year already filled with significant achievements, Twenty One Pilots are demonstrating that their creative energy is far from diminishing. The GRAMMY-winning alt-rock duo, known for their genre-blending soundscapes and engaging storytelling, has revealed their highly anticipated eighth studio album, ‘Breach,’ set to release in September 2025. To give fans a sneak peek of what’s ahead, the duo has just released their first single, “The Contract,” which meets the expectations of devoted followers and exceeds them.

      Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun have had an impressive start to 2025, coming off an exhilarating career high. With major accolades at the American Music Awards, including Favorite Rock Album and Favorite Rock Artist, as well as the 10-year anniversary of their groundbreaking album Blurryface, Twenty One Pilots are reminding everyone why they are regarded as modern rock legends. "The Contract" signals not just a nostalgic return, but a leap into an exciting new chapter.

      I check the doors, check the windows, and pull the blinds,

      I check the clock, wondering what he’ll do this time,

      I feel like a necromancer's outside,

      And I’m just trying to stay quiet.

      I don’t sleep much, that’s wild, how’d you know that?

      I keep myself awake, that’s probably how you know that,

      Promises and contracts I once upheld,

      I don’t sleep much, that’s wild, how’d you know that?

      I keep myself awake, that’s probably how you know that,

      My hallucinations I used to encounter.

      Breach – Twenty One Pilots

      Released on June 12 through Fueled By Ramen, “The Contract” represents quintessential Twenty One Pilots while also showcasing a notable evolution. Co-written by Joseph with Paul Meany (of Mutemath), genre innovator Yungblud, and experienced producer Matt Schwartz, the track combines layered production, experimental elements, and emotional depth. Meany, a long-time collaborator with the band, shares producing credits with Joseph on this single, and their chemistry shines through. From haunting synth accents to powerful rhythmic builds, “The Contract” is filled with intent.

      Tyler Joseph’s vocals are a study in contrast, oscillating between contemplative murmurs and explosive release. Lyrically, the song balances between obedience and defiance, reflecting the band’s enduring themes of internal struggle and identity. The urgent lines, “now I plead, just take the deal / I promised you a contract,” convey a feeling of entrapment that is both personal and allegorical. The track appears to pick up right where their previous musical journey ended, yet with heightened stakes and darker undertones.

      Wake up and I discover, did it change?

      Wait — Did it change?

      Is it light out yet?

      Better find out. Bet,

      Imma walk around the edge of the room,

      And the bed where I hide my face,

      Pacing around,

      Gotta try to breathe,

      Pacing around, pacing around.

      (Sleep I found)

      I want to make it out there,

      But I don’t try,

      I want to make it out there,

      But I don’t try.

      I used to see, it felt so vivid,

      But now I plead,

      Just take the deal,

      I promised you a contract.

      Twenty One Pilots © Ashley Osborn

      Enhancing the song’s dramatic flair is the surreal, cinematic music video directed by Frédéric De Pontcharra. Fans of the band’s intricate narrative will be excited; this video directly continues the story first introduced in “Paladin Strait.” As Joseph and Dun perform in a nightmarish environment filled with glowing-eyed creatures, a palpable tension builds as Dun solemnly hands Joseph a uniform. This image, mirrored on the Breach album cover, feels significant, symbolically charged, and a bit ominous. It embodies everything that is Twenty One Pilots: cryptic, emotionally charged, and rich in lore.

      This visual symbolism is intentional. With Breach, Twenty One Pilots are not abandoning their past but rather reinterpreting it. This move is fitting as Blurryface, the band’s breakthrough album, celebrates a decade of influence this year. That album transformed the landscape of alternative music, being the first in history to achieve Gold or Platinum certification for every track. Its success (over 15 billion streams and counting) was not just commercial but also cultural.

      However, “The Contract” does not lean on nostalgia. Instead, it channels the fearless spirit that made Blurryface legendary while exploring deeper emotional themes. The songwriting is more acute, the production richer, and the narrative stakes more cinematic than ever. If this single is any indication, Breach promises to be one of the band’s most ambitious undertakings to date.

      Twenty One Pilots © Fabien Kr