Last week on February 28, 2024, alternative duo Twenty One Pilots announced their new single “Overcompensate” after weeks of teasing fans. Previously on February 15, many listeners were confused when going to listen to the band and seeing that almost all of the album covers were partially covered with a strip of reddish-orange tape and that the band had recently picked up a new red and yellow color theme. Most fans were already expecting a new album coming out soon at this point, and as it turns out those folks are correct.

At noon last Thursday, Twenty-One Pilots premiered the music video for “Overcompensate” and announced their seventh studio album Clancy. Avid listeners were excited beyond belief with the band’s incorporation of easter eggs from 2013’s Vessel onward, as well as new secrets and information for story building. For instance, at the beginning of the song with the lead slowly fading in, the words “Welcome back to Trench” echoed right before the song fully kicked off. This is a reference to 2018’s Trench, the band’s fifth studio album. Clancy is set to be fully released on May 17, while the release of more promotional singles remains uncertain.

Twenty-One Pilots have had a consistent theme with their albums since Blurryface, feeling dark and usually encapsulating singer Tyler Joseph’s personal struggles, specifically similar to Trench‘s gritty nature. However, the band’s most recent album, 2021’s Scaled and Icy, feels like a total 180 from both Trench and the upcoming Clancy. The Scaled and Icy album cover depicts an icy blue dragon against a bright pink background, which encapsulates the vibrant feel-good sound the band was going for, compared to Trench’s gloomy atmosphere and the vulture on the cover almost staring right into your soul.

Does this contrast between these two albums have any important meaning? Who knows, maybe the lyrics could be hiding a story to uncover. Either way, this new release marks a new era for Twenty-One Pilots, and fans are all here for it!