Twenty One Pilots has had an absolutely massive run over the last two years. With the May 2024 release of their masterful album Clancy, the completion of their global arena tour, and the drop of Breach in late 2025, the duo has been busy. These two albums serve as the finale to the Dema lore, a storyline played throughout the lyrics and music videos of the past decade of music, starting with Blurryface. After the release of Breach, many fans asked the question: “Which was better? Clancy or Breach?” Now, after the two-year anniversary of Clancy, it is time to answer that question once and for all.

Clancy is Twenty One Pilots’ seventh studio album, following their 2021 album, Scaled and Icy. It continues the narrative of the previous albums, with the main character Clancy trying to break away from the psychological prison of Dema. The album pairs incredible lyrics with massive alt-pop/rock hooks. To bring the story to life, the band dropped a music video for every single track, creating a fully immersive visual experience. From the explosive, rap-rock energy of the opener “Overcompensate” to the emotional weight of the deeper cuts, every single song highlights Tyler Joseph’s incredible writing that has emotional depth and airtight production. There isn’t a single weak track.

The absolute pinnacle of Clancy’s top-tier writing shines brightest through three standout tracks:

• “Next Semester”: A lively, high-energy anthem driven by an awesome, unforgettable bassline. It delivers one of the best messages on the album, continuing the vital tradition of songs that urge people to stay alive and keep fighting through their darkest moments.
• “At the Risk of Feeling Dumb”: Easily the most underrated track on the album or even in their discography, offering a powerful, relatable message about the importance of swallowing your pride to check in on your friends.
• “Vignette”: Another heavily underrated gem that perfectly displays the record’s pristine lyricism and flawless production.

Fun Fact: Clancy was released on Lenape’s World Voices Day 2024!

Breach was released a little over a year after Clancy, breaking the band’s traditional three-year album drop cycle. The energy for most of these tracks is a bit darker than that on Clancy, returning a lot more to their previous, experimental sounds from earlier eras. While the album fluctuates a bit between mind-blowing masterpieces and more good-but-not-great tracks, its high points feature some of the best songs and production in the duo’s discography. 

The peak moments that define the thrilling landscape of Breach are anchored by these heavy hitters:

• “Tally”: A sick, super hype track that balances its massive sound with incredibly sharp, relatable writing.
• “Center Mass”: A lyrically strong track with a unique experimental sound that paid off big time.
• “City Walls”: A cinematic powerhouse that showcases the sheer scale and ambition of the band’s heavier, experimental side.

While Breach arguably has higher peaks scattered throughout its tracklist, Clancy has to be the overall winner with its incredible writing and consistent bangers from front to back. While it is sad that the lore is finally over, we are left with two incredible albums as the ultimate finale.

What do you think? Be sure to comment on your opinion.