Three long years. Twenty One Pilots fans were in near ecstasy on the Friday that “Trench” was officially released. The end of the “Blurryface” era in 2015 left many listeners with an intense desire for the niche sound that the band had achieved over the last 9 years.

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“Trench’ simultaneously takes the band in a direction that not many had expected and allows fans to retain the intimacy with the band that they have come to expect. While the content of their music is nothing new, the sound takes fans farther from the nostalgia that older songs had inspired, and instead creates an entirely new adventure for fans.

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In many ways, “Trench” has stayed the same. The upbeat songs with melodramatic lyrics are a crux of the band’s style, and this has remained the case in the newest album. Suicide and mental health are topics held near to the hearts of many fans, and “Trench” has addressed this in plain words and more than ever before. The album has granted fans with an entirely new family as well. “Blurryface” had given a name to the fears and doubts that fans had dealt with themselves and allowed them to find one another as well. “Trench” finds solidarity with these same fans. Many of the songs address the simple relationship that the band has with its followers, and the overwhelming support that they have felt from them over their journey into fame. Several days after the album’s release there was a live stream with the fans, highlighting their dedication to remaining the band they were when they started.

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A favorite of many fans has been “Smithereens,” a song detailing Tyler Joseph’s willingness to get beat to smithereens for his wife, Jenna Joseph. The song “Tear in my Heart” from “Blurryface” was stated to be about Joseph’s mother, but many first-time listeners were surprised to learn that it was not about their relationship. The appearance of these songs, sickly sweet in the midst of the entirely depressing content that fans are accustomed to, is a welcome connection between the two albums.

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However, the ways in which “Trench” surprised fans is one of its most gripping aspects. While in the past Pilots’ sound has been almost entirely incongruous, with a happy tune that held thoughtful messages and forced listeners to dissect and pour over every word to find new meaning within songs, “Trench” has taken a new approach. The lyricism remains skilled, but their messages have been delivered with a brutal assertiveness that differs from the original style. While it is not a complete shock that the band has evolved a small amount — the term era has a significant connotation within the fandom of the band — it seems to be the case that many fans welcome the change in their style. It is unclear whether the change will still appeal to outsiders in the same way that “Blurryface” attracted millions of new fans, but it certainly struck a chord in many of the longtime listeners.

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The two-man band had been hard at work creating their new album over their hiatus, often releasing hints of what was to come, in their usual, cryptic style. Several of the tour dates were sold out in a matter of minutes, showing their continued fame with both old and new fans. They show no indication of slowing down now, and the fans refuse to give up on the little hometown band from Columbus, Ohio.