History Music / Trench

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a {{dystopia}}n city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]All of whom have names derived from clipped lyrics of ''Blurryface'' songs (detailed [[https://www.twentyonepilots.wiki/assets/files/albumcover_bishops-c0d7701bb21a1312267f0555a0fc8e25.png here]] and [[https://i.imgur.com/y3Sucmi.png here]]), except for the leading bishop known as "Nico" (short for [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]]), which was determined to be the real name of the character of Blurryface introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being the wider continent in which Dema is located. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema, through which he enters affiliation with a [[LaResistance rebel group]] called the Banditos who aim to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been interpreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings. The album's storyline has also been interpreted as a CrisisOfFaith due to comments made by Tyler about the album being influenced by a shift in his Christian beliefs.

----

The Dema storyline was continued in the band's sixth album, 2021's ''Scaled and Icy'', and is slated to be concluded by their forthcoming next album.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a {{dystopia}}n city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]All of whom have names derived from clipped lyrics of ''Blurryface'' songs (detailed [[https://www.twentyonepilots.wiki/assets/files/albumcover_bishops-c0d7701bb21a1312267f0555a0fc8e25.png here]] and [[https://i.imgur.com/y3Sucmi.png here]]), except for the bishop known as "Nico" (short for [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]]), which was determined to be the real name of the character of Blurryface introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being the wider continent in which Dema is located. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema, through which he enters affiliation with a [[LaResistance rebel group]] called the Banditos who aim to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been interpreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings. The album's storyline has also been interpreted as a CrisisOfFaith due to comments made by Tyler about the album being influenced by a shift in his Christian beliefs.

The Dema storyline was continued in the band's sixth album, 2021's ''Scaled and Icy'', and is slated to be concluded by their forthcoming next release.

The Dema storyline was continued in the band's sixth album, 2021's ''Scaled and Icy'', and is slated to be concluded by their forthcoming next album.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a {{dystopia}}n city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]All of whom have names derived from clipped lyrics of ''Blurryface'' songs (detailed [[https://www.twentyonepilots.wiki/assets/files/albumcover_bishops-c0d7701bb21a1312267f0555a0fc8e25.png here]] and [[https://i.imgur.com/y3Sucmi.png here]]), except for the bishop known as "Nico" (short for [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]]), which was determined to be the real name of the character of Blurryface introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being the wider continent in which Dema is located. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a [[LaResistance rebel group]] called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been interpreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings. The album's storyline has also been interpreted as a CrisisOfFaith due to comments made by Tyler about the album being influenced by a shift in his Christian beliefs.

The majority of information about the album's concept was first disseminated through an AlternateRealityGame centered around the website "dmaorg.info", which served as an introduction to the album cycle for the band's fans when it was discovered in April 2018. [[AllThereInTheManual Trying to fully understand the album without this background knowledge is difficult if not impossible]], as the songs and music videos make reference to and depict parts of the lore but rarely outright explain it, and other parts of the lore have been left up to fan interpretation. (A rough timeline of the ARG can be found [[https://www.reddit.com/r/twentyonepilots/comments/8dyoqk/twenty_one_pilots_2018_return_megathread/?st=JGACCT83&sh=987349f2&rdt=46062 here]], and an official summary of the lore from the band [[https://youtu.be/ozlHHR_eSxc?si=BTuRM_mO0-xMnqzh was eventually released in 2024]].)

The majority of information about the album's concept was first disseminated through an AlternateRealityGame centered around the website "dmaorg.info", which served as an introduction to the album cycle for the band's fans when it was discovered in April 2018. [[AllThereInTheManual Trying to fully understand the album without this background knowledge is difficult if not impossible]], as the songs and music videos make reference to and depict parts of the lore but rarely outright explain it, and other parts of the lore have been left up to fan interpretation. (A rough timeline of the ARG can be found [[https://www.reddit.com/r/twentyonepilots/comments/8dyoqk/twenty_one_pilots_2018_return_megathread/?st=JGACCT83&sh=987349f2&rdt=46062 here]].)

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a {{dystopia}}n city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]All of whom have names derived from clipped lyrics of ''Blurryface'' songs (detailed [[https://www.twentyonepilots.wiki/assets/files/albumcover_bishops-c0d7701bb21a1312267f0555a0fc8e25.png here]] and [[https://i.imgur.com/y3Sucmi.png here]]), except for the bishop known as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the character of Blurryface introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being the wider continent in which Dema is located. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a [[LaResistance rebel group]] called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been interpreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings. The album's storyline has also been interpreted as a CrisisOfFaith due to comments made by Tyler about the album being influenced by a shift in his Christian beliefs.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]All of whom have names derived from clippings of previous lyrics of the band, except for the bishop known as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the character of Blurryface introduced in the previous album[[/note]], with "Trench" being the wider continent in which Dema is located. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been interpreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings. The album's storyline has also been interpreted as a CrisisOfFaith due to comments made by Tyler about the album being influenced by a shift in his Christian beliefs.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]one of them having the name of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the character of Blurryface introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being a no man's land existing outside of Dema. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been interpreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings. The album's storyline has also been interpreted as a CrisisOfFaith due to comments made by Tyler about the album being influenced by a shift in his Christian beliefs.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]one of them being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the character of Blurryface introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being a no man's land existing outside of Dema. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been interpreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings.

''Trench'' is the fifth studio album by American musical duo Music/TwentyOnePilots. It was released on October 5th, 2018 through Creator/FueledByRamen, and was the band's first album in three years following the breakthrough success of their fourth album, ''Music/{{Blurryface}}'' (2015), in addition to being the first release of [[Creator/ElektraRecords Elektra Music Group]] after its revival.

The band embarked on their sixth tour, the Bandito Tour, to support the album; it began under two weeks after the album's release in Nashville, Tennessee and concluded on December 13, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]one of them being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the character of Blurryface introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being a no man's land existing outside of Dema. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been intepreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Though I'm far from home,\\
in Trench, I'm not alone."'']]

''Trench'' is the fifth studio album by American musical duo Music/TwentyOnePilots. It was released on October 5th, 2018 through Creator/FueledByRamen, and was the band's first album in three years following the breakthrough success of their fourth album, ''Music/{{Blurryface}}'' (2015), as well as the first release of [[Creator/ElektraRecords Elektra Music Group]] after its revival.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]one of them being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the Blurryface character introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being a no man's land existing outside of Dema. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been intepreted as symbolic of the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]one of them being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the Blurryface character introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being a no man's land existing outside of Dema. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]],[[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]] which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been read as symbolic for the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops,[[note]]one of them being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the Blurryface character introduced in the previous album[[/note]] with "Trench" being a no man's land existing outside of Dema. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]][[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]], which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been read as symbolic for the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on [[ConceptAlbum a large, elaborately plotted conceptual world]]. This world primarily revolves around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops[[note]]one of them being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the Blurryface character introduced in the previous album[[/note]], with "Trench" being a no man's land existing outside of Dema. The album additionally follows the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]][[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]], which the bishops cannot see). In continuing the band's thematic focus on subjects like mental health, faith, and self-image, Dema has been read as symbolic for the oppressive feeling of insecurity or mental illness, with the journey out of Dema and through Trench representing the ongoing struggle to overcome such feelings.

The album was made during a year-long break from public appearances that the band took starting on July 6, 2017 in order to rest and focus on new music. Much of the album was co-written and co-produced by Paul Meany, frontman and keyboardist for the rock band MUTEMATH, with whom the band had previously worked in 2016 to recreate five of their songs live. The album was reportedly recorded in secret; Meany was the only person involved in the album's songwriting outside of band members Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, and Tyler stated that he only showed people the album when it was finished.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on a conceptual world primarily revolving around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by a theocratic government of nine bishops[[note]]one of them being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]] (or "Nico" for short), which was determined to be the real name of the Blurryface character introduced in the previous album[[/note]], as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]][[note]]specifically #[=0xFCE300=][[/note]], which the bishops cannot see) and the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema. The majority of information about the album's concept was first disseminated through an AlternateRealityGame centered around the website "dmaorg.info", which served as an introduction to the album cycle for the band's fans when it was discovered in April 2018. [[AllThereInTheManual Trying to fully understand the album without this background knowledge is difficult if not impossible]], as the songs and music videos make reference to and depict parts of the lore but rarely outright explain it, and other parts of the lore have been left up to fan interpretation. (A rough timeline of the ARG can be found [[https://www.reddit.com/r/twentyonepilots/comments/8dyoqk/twenty_one_pilots_2018_return_megathread/?st=JGACCT83&sh=987349f2&rdt=46062 here]].)

'''Trench''' is the fifth studio album by American musical duo Music/TwentyOnePilots. It was released on October 5th, 2018 through Creator/FueledByRamen, and was the band's first album in three years following the breakthrough success of their fourth album, ''Music/{{Blurryface}}'' (2015), as well as the first release of [[Creator/ElektraRecords Elektra Music Group]] after its revival.

In a first for the band, the story for ''Trench'' was created before the songs, as the album is based on a conceptual world primarily revolving around a dystopian city named Dema ruled by nine bishops[[note]]one of them being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Bourbaki Nicolas Bourbaki]], which was determined to be the real name of the Blurryface character introduced in the previous album[[/note]], as well as the efforts of a group called the Banditos to liberate the people of Dema (notably with [[ColorMotifs the use of the color yellow]][[note]]specifically #[= 0xFCE300=][[/note]], which the bishops cannot see) and the efforts of a fictional protagonist named Clancy to escape Dema.

[[caption-width-right:350:''Stay with me, no, you don't need to run, stay with me, my blood'']]

'''Trench''' is the fith studio album by Music/TwentyOnePilots. It was released on October 5th 2018.

This album is around a dystopian city named Dema, managed by nine bishops and the protagonist Clancy trying to escape it.

Six singles were released with this album: "Jumpsuit", "Nico and the Niners", "Levitate", "My Blood", "Chlorine" and "The Hype".

* "Jumpsuit" (3:58)
* "Levitate" (2:25)
* "Morph" (4:19)
* "My Blood" (3:49)
* "Chlorine " (5:24)
* "Smithereens" (2:57)
* "Neon Gravestones" (4:00)
* "The Hype" (4:25)
* "Nico And The Niners" (3:45)
* "Cut My Lip" (4:43)
* "Bandito" (5:31)
* "Pet Cheetah" (3:18)
* "Legend" (2:53)
* "Leave The City" (4:40)