twenty one pilots Breach
Released Sep 12, 2025 Fueled By Ramen
Established consensus 6 professional reviews Updated Sep 4, 2026
Broadly positive consensus
twenty one pilots's Breach lands as a theatrical, lore-rich closing chapter that doubles as both farewell and continuation of the Dema saga.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
City Walls
1 critic mention
“Opener City Walls spares no expense in amping up the storyline and atmosphere” — Classic Rock Magazine
Intentions
1 critic mention
“culminating in the moving conclusion of Intentions” — Classic Rock Magazine
Drum Show
1 critic mention
“Compelling and emotional, there’s a whole lot of passion and power behind this track” — Classic Rock Magazine
Full critic consensus
twenty one pilots's Breach lands as a theatrical, lore-rich closing chapter that doubles as both farewell and continuation of the Dema saga. Critics consistently point to the record's narrative ambition and emotional potency, with several reviewers highlighting how opener “City Walls” and closer “Intentions” function as the album's most affecting moments while mid-record tracks like “Cottonwood” and “Center Mass” supply tenderness and textural oddity.
Across six professional reviews the consensus score sits at 75.33/100, reflecting a broadly favorable critical reception that values cohesion over reinvention. Reviewers note recurring themes - dystopian mythology, mental health, industry critique and theatricality - and many praise the album for reinforcing twenty one pilots' long-running mythmaking rather than abandoning it. Where some critics celebrate the record's showstopping storytelling and emotional payoff, others describe Breach as an appended chapter, admirable for continuity but short on breakthrough risks.
Taken together the professional reviews answer common queries like "is Breach good" and "what are the best songs on Breach" with a nuanced yes: Breach is worth hearing for its narrative closure and standout moments such as “City Walls” and “Intentions”, even if its greatest strength is the conceptual cohesion that will resonate most with established fans. Below, the full reviews unpack how the record balances spectacle, intimacy and the ongoing Dema mythology.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
City Walls
RAWFEAR
Drum Show
Garbage
The Contract
Downstairs
Robot Voices
Center Mass
Cottonwood
One Way
Days Lie Dormant
Tally
Intentions
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 6 critics who reviewed this album
Th
Critic's Take
twenty one pilots return with Breach, a continuation of the decade-long Dema saga that feels more like an appended chapter than a fresh breakthrough. Tom Carr writes in a measured, explanatory tone about the band’s obsession with mythmaking and its persistent themes - mental health, dystopia and industry critique - which dominate the record. Carr’s voice is analytical and slightly weary, noting the yarn’s persistence across albums rather than heralding any singular triumphant moment.
Key Points
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The best aspect of the album is its sustained continuation of the Dema narrative rather than individual songs.
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The album’s core strengths are conceptual cohesion and recurring themes of dystopia and mental-health introspection.
Themes
Cl
Critic's Take
twenty one pilots deliver a theatrical farewell on Breach, where the best songs - notably “City Walls” and “Intentions” - carry the album's emotional and narrative weight. Vicky Greer writes with affectionate authority, noting how opener “City Walls” spares no expense and sprawls across styles, while the finale “Intentions” provides a moving conclusion. Mid-album turns like “Cottonwood” remind listeners of the duo's knack for tenderness, and the oddities such as “Center Mass” and “Days Lie Dormant” add mood and texture. The result answers searches for the best songs on Breach with a clear, fan-facing shortlist rooted in the record's storytelling and showstopping moments.
Key Points
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Opener “City Walls” is best for amping up the story, scope and stylistic shifts.
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The album's core strength is its theatrical, emotional storytelling that rewards fans and newcomers alike.
Themes
