![]() ![]() This confession from Joseph prompts me to consider Trench as a way for Joseph to experiment with a projection of his life without the presence of a Christ figure, an exploration of the question: “If God didn’t exist, where would I be?” The melancholy of “Leave the City” and the ambiguity of Trench‘s music videos suggest Joseph is struggling with the idea of a godless fate. I still want to call myself a Christian-because I am a Christian.” ![]() ![]() Later in the interview, Joseph explained “the process I’ve been on this record is the closest I’ve been to entertaining a world where there isn’t a God.” He clarifies, “I still believe in God. On “Leave the City,” Joseph says “I’m tired of tending to this fire,” “They know that it’s almost over,” and “It’s only time before they show me / Why no one ever comes back / With details from beyond.” The song describes a very real and serious struggle with faith, maybe one that many Christians have experienced themselves during times of spiritual maturation. It’s not because I’m holding on to some secret: You’re looking at someone who is still trying to figure out where that place is.” I’m talking about the world I’m traveling through, but I never really reach the place I’m trying to get to. In an interview with Alternative Press, Joseph explained, “Once I started creating, I knew that I going to name the place I’m going. The songs, likewise, depict a continuous, perhaps eternal struggle, particularly “Leave the City,” a somber, slow track at the end of the album. Instead, the album’s music videos seem to communicate that no matter how many times Joseph escapes his doubt or insecurities, those feelings and fears will always recapture him. No one redeems Joseph, no one sacrifices themselves for him and no guides him toward a hopeful ending. While Christ figures have been present elsewhere in the Twenty One Pilots catalogue, there isn’t one to be found on Trench. Think Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, Obi Wan Kenobi in A New Hope, and, of course, Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia. Sometimes the allusions to Jesus are explicit other times not. In general storytelling, a Christ figure guides, saves and supports other characters. Joseph calls out to Him on Vessel tracks “Holding on to You” and “Trees,” and on Blurryface, he begs to be saved in “The Judge” and “Goner.” But on Trench, the cycle of escape and capture continues with only three characters: Nico the bishop, the resistant banditos (representing Joseph’s fans, friends, and family) and Joseph himself. God has heavily featured on previous Twenty One Pilots albums. However, as I continued exploring the album, I realized if Trench is Narnia, it’s missing a character: Aslan. When unpacking Trench on my YouTube channel, I joked its world was like “the Narnia of depression,” pointing to the somber lyrics and allegorical implications for the real world. The story is reminiscent of past albums Blurryface and Vessel (2013) in which Joseph recounts similar cyclical struggles with doubt, fear and depression. In the music videos for Trench‘s lead singles “Jumpsuit,” “Nico and the Niners” and “Levitate,” we see Joseph try to escape his insecurities only to be captured, try another escape, then be captured again. Both on the album and in the accompanying music videos, Blurryface manifests as Nico, a mysterious bishop who wears red robes and contains people’s spirits within the city of Dema, a geographical manifestation of doubt, darkness and depression. On Trench, Blurryface goes by a new name. On that album, the Blurryface character represents the insecurities of lead singer Tyler Joseph. Let’s catch you up on what has changed since the band’s 2015 album, Blurryface. On Trench, the new concept album from Twenty One Pilots, I found everything I was expecting from the musical duo-reggae beats, powerful lyrics, fast raps and infectious melodies-everything except God. ![]()
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