Another day, another Twenty One Pilots announcement eh? Not only have they released a brand new song Next Semester, but they’ve also announced a worldwide tour spanning 2024/25 with two London dates. Best believe I’m going to fight tooth and nail to be there, but I digress. Here’s my breakdown and review of the new song from Clancy, Next Semester.
(Next Semester Music Video - Twenty One Pilots 2024)
This song has a brilliant vibe to it as it opens. It’s almost reminiscent of Brit pop or classic punk rock, with crisp punchy drums and lovely bass. It brings itself back in the chorus section, that really lets those beautiful vocals and insanely impactful lyrics punch you in the gut over some distorted guitar and hidden ukulele in the back of the mix. It hits back into the verse, and has real edges of violence and bite hidden underneath the brighter sounds. It’s a song that lives and adapts and changes, really telling a story with its words and sounds. You can’t change what you’ve done, start fresh again. Those chorus sections are so impactful, switching emotionally from reminiscence to violence and fear. It seems like some sort of rallying call for self forgiveness, realising you can't change the past, but can attempt to start anew. During the bridge you really feel it as it builds and strips itself away again, and brings the sound back to the classic ukulele sounds reminiscent of Vessel. Again, the same with Overcompensate, this song has one foot in the past, the punchy lyrics and ukulele, but also another foot in something more experimental. Their sound is evolving and growing rapidly, and it’s so exciting to see the different avenues the band are taking in finding a new way to tell their stories.
The lyrics bleed emotion. It seems like a recount of a suicide attempt, but perhaps beneath this meaning it could be a deeper narrative note about inhabiting a new body - does Clancy remember how the person he seizes died? Who knows, but it’s a rollercoaster, and honestly gives me goosebumps every time I really listen to those vocals, especially the ones that sit in the background of the track.
Plus, again, Twenty One Pilots are nailing the visual elements too. The music video is all bits violent, edgy, and visually stunning. It hits equally hard as the last, and is another testament to the fact that this band is doing it right this time around. A video for every song, and more and more for fans to sink their teeth into. Switching between the floor of an intimate club performance and the middle of a road, the visuals are just brilliant, and the video is something you need to watch if you haven't.
With this new song, I’m again lead to be insanely excited for Clancy. This album is shaping up to be something really special, and if Next Semester is anything to go by, we’re in for an emotional rollercoaster, and an epic conclusion to this nine year storyline.
Rating: 4/5
Clancy is available to pre order now, and releases on all good platforms May 17th.
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