The first new Twenty One Pilots song since 2018 is here.
The first new Twenty One Pilots song since 2018 is here, and what a hashtag-2020 song it is.
The new track — called “Level of Concern” — heavily references the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in its quarantine-centric music video.
Fortunately, it’s also a bop. Back on April 5, lead vocalist Tyler Joseph revealed he was prepping a new song, the first he’d ever written on electric guitar. “Level of Concern” doesn’t see Twenty One Pilots going full-on shred, but it does pack a nice guitar groove that guides its nimble chorus along. The beat also has song strong “Walking on a Dream” vibes.
As if lyrics like “Would you be my little quarantine?” didn’t give it away, “Level of Concern” was written and recorded amidst over the past few weeks, amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Its video features home-shot footage of Tyler and drummer Josh Dun making the most of quarantining with their loved ones, laying down tracks in separate studios and mailing recordings back and forth flash drives and the postal service. On that note, though, watch ’til the end so you don’t miss a little twist.
Is “Level of Concern” part of a forthcoming project from Twenty One Pilots? They haven’t commented on the topic yet, so fans will have to sit tight with the new video for now. The band’s last LP was 2018’s Trench, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and produced three No. 1s on Billboard‘s Alternative Songs chart.
The band intends to donate a portion of the proceeds from the new song to Crew Nation, a global relief fund for touring and venue personnel effected by the pandemic.
Find the new video below, directed by Twenty One Pilots’ longtime collaborators, Real Bear Media.
