That could sound like false modesty from any other band, given the tidal wave of success thatвЂ™s preceded Trench. It felt good knowing theyвЂ™ve got our backs.вЂќ But I think it didnвЂ™t come to life, for me, until we walked out onstage. вЂњTaking a little over a year off, you hope that people are still around. вЂњWeвЂ™re pretty insecure dudes,вЂќ chuckles Josh in agreement, sprawled comfortably next to his bandmate, half-sitting and half-lying on a large beige sofa. вЂњThe fans accept this вЂ“ this new idea and this new era.

вЂњYou probably caught a very important moment for me, which was, вЂThis is real,вЂ™вЂќ he nods, that very same smile creeping through once more. Nevertheless, Kerrang! bring up TylerвЂ™s curiously poignant pre-show jitters. Their worries have given way to pure elation following the triumph of the gig. Two days later, we meet up with twenty one pilots again вЂ“ this time at one of central LondonвЂ™s most luxurious hotels. But then he turns his back, and the jitters resume once more. His face temporarily breaks into an enormous grin, spreading from cheek to cheek. Tyler gently shuffles over to one of the venueвЂ™s upstairs windows, glancing down at the hundreds of fans in the queue below, all covered head-to-toe in dark green garments and yellow tape. But Tyler, wearing a bright yellow jacket despite the solemn mood, canвЂ™t seem to rid himself of the anxious expression on his face. Dressed in black, save for a dark-blue beanie covering his newly buzzed haircut, Josh is the marginally calmer of the two, spending time away from K!вЂ™s photoshoot in conversation with his girlfriend, Debby. On any other day, the pair would typically be heard finishing each otherвЂ™s sentences, laughing at in-jokes, and generally making the more mundane aspects of being in a band look as fun as playing onstage. ItвЂ™s two hours before showtime at their feverishly anticipated live comeback at LondonвЂ™s O2 Academy Brixton вЂ“ their first gig in some 444 days вЂ“ and they simply canвЂ™t relax. ThereвЂ™s visible tension in their bodies a sense of apprehension in their eyes. When K! first catch up with twenty one pilots to find out about their most ambitious venture yet, the duo are not quite themselves. And though Josh was initially startled by the concept, it wasnвЂ™t long before he found himself on board. Now, the time had finally come to introduce it to the world. Truth be told, Tyler had secretly been thinking up the Trench storyline years before his getaway.

вЂњIt was like he ate a wrong berry or something,вЂќ the drummer jokes to Kerrang! today, as his bandmate bursts out laughing next to him. Josh absorbed this barrage of information and thought, вЂњ What have you gotten yourself into?!вЂќ This far-reaching yet intricate narrative, Tyler explained, was to become twenty one pilotsвЂ™ next album. Josh listened as the 29-year-old detailed Trench: a world where nine dictatorial bishops keep the inhabitants (Tyler included) of a fictional place named Dema from escaping its controlling clutches, with the help of the Banditos вЂ“ a rebel organisation (featuring Josh). Tyler had subsequently gone on a beach holiday with his family, but he couldnвЂ™t resist ringing his best friend to let him know what was on his mind.

It was a few days after twenty one pilots had wrapped up their spectacular five-night Tour De Columbus, the final shows on 2015 LP BlurryfaceвЂ™s touring cycle. Last summer, Tyler Joseph phoned Josh Dun with an unusual topic to discuss.

21 pilots ride 10 hours