Here we are again people, a brand new Twenty One Pilots track from their upcoming record Clancy. After getting tickets to see them live next year, and pre-ordering this record on two formats, I’m pretty invested in this record cycle and what this band have to say. So safe to say when I saw this song was coming out today, and with a video directed by Josh Dun I was very excited. The band seem to have really revitalised their sound so far, and are coming back out of the woodworks with some brilliant tracks all parts new and perfectly familiar. So, without further stalling gushing about my love for this powerhouse of a band, here’s my breakdown of the brand new track Backslide.
I’ll say from the start that this song is so reminiscent of Blurryface. Not only from the more electric drums and punchy delivery, but also from the vocal flow and introspective lyrics. It seems like another track that’s really holding the mirror up to Tyler Joseph and his choices and motivations when it comes to making music, which is a really interesting look into him as a person. It really swells with this truthfulness, and that seems to be a theme with these tracks, which is really good to be hearing.
Sonically, it’s actually really brilliantly complex. Not only is there some really heavy hitting drum sections in there, there’s a bassline that weaves alongside the bass drum in this really awesome synergy that adds a brilliant layer. Below that, there are humming synths and buzzing sounds added which in turn produce a really nice coarseness and depth. Plus, the gang vocals in the chorus sections hit so perfectly, adding that vocal impact that really rounds out those parts, and really brilliantly enhances that final chorus.
There are a lot of references again in this song to water, drowning and feeling like your being pulled under. It’s a real cry for help it feels, but also reflects on Blurryface’s role in Tyler’s life. That sometimes his insecurities drive him back to write and make music, and that sometimes it’s easier to let him create. This could also be a reference to Ned from the Chlorine music video, and his potential significance in the whole Dema narrative. A lot of other things are called into question, about his body paint, about his want for help, but also about whether he should have written ‘Saturday’ - one of the singles from the heavily flamed 'Scaled and Icy'. It’s a real reflection, led in some way by the low pitched vocals of his insecurities in the background.
Can we also, again, talk about this music video. The call backs to Stressed Out, the references to the universe they’ve created, Ned on the burger buns, and Josh’s hilarious final cameo just flipping a burger absent minded. It creates a really awesome loop as well, that adds another question - is this a conversation Tyler is consistently coming back to?
Who knows, but this as a track is brilliant. I like how the rapping is becoming the thing that sort of connects the tracks together. From being something Joseph claimed would get him zero radio play it’s become a way for him to throw out his thoughts. Sonically it’s dense, and although a little less of a grand spectacle of the last two, it’s really in its lyrics where it flourishes. It’s definitely getting me excited for Clancy, and even though it’s been pushed back seven days since its original release date, it means it has room to breathe apart from the other May 17th releases, especially like the new Billie Eilish record - and if it means more music videos that look as cool at these, I probably won’t argue.
Rating: 4/5
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