Grammy-winning alternative duo Twenty One Pilots returns with “My Blood,” the fourth single from their highly-anticipated fifth album, ‘Trench.’

Just when it seemed like a new Twenty One Pilots album might not be a reality, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun began dropping singles for their third major label (fifth album overall), Trench.  The songs up to this point have been characteristic of the duo’s stylistic adventurousness.  Fourth single “My Blood” is also characteristic of such adventurousness, but also sound starkly different.  How so? There’s ample falsetto from Tyler Joseph, and more of a pop-infused sound.  It’s certainly quite the departure from the hip-hop oriented “Levitate” that precedes it.

Lyrically, on the first verse, Tyler Joseph essentially asserts he’ll be your champion.  “When everyone you though you knew / Deserts your fight, I’ll go with you.”  His willingness continues on the pre-chorus, while he expands more on the second verse.  “Surrounded and up against a wall / I’ll shed ‘em all and go with you.” Eventually, the ‘blood’ gets involved during the chorus of the song.  Again, the key is leaning on to Tyler J – falsetto and all.

“Stay with me, no, you don’t need to run / Stay with me, my blood, you don’t need to run.”

Following all that excitement, there’s also a third verse, patterned similarly to the first two, save for more of a pop-rap approach.  A chorus and bridge separate a brief fourth verse, if that’s how you wish to characterize it. “If you find yourself in a lion’s den / I’ll jump right in and pull my pin.”

Final Thoughts 

As has been the case throughout the Trench promo campaign, sometimes, you wonder what Tyler Joseph is thinking exactly.  Clearly, “My Blood” is directed towards someone he cares about, or he wouldn’t be so willing to fight for them.  Musically, it sounds different from previous singles, while maintaining the band’s knack for groove. Respectable by all means, if a bit of a ‘grower’ in my humble opinion.

Twenty One Pilots • Trench • Fueled by Ramen • Release: 10.5.18

Photo Credit: Fueled by Ramen