The Contract (song)

"The Contract"
Single by Twenty One Pilots
from the album Breach
ReleasedJune 12, 2025 (2025-06-12)
Recorded2025
Length3:48
LabelFueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Tyler Joseph
  • Paul Meany
Twenty One Pilots singles chronology
"Doubt (demo)"
(2025) 		"The Contract"
(2025)
Music video
"The Contract" on YouTube

"The Contract" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released through Fueled by Ramen on June 12, 2025, as the lead single and opening track of their upcoming eighth studio album Breach (2025). It was written by frontman Tyler Joseph, frequent collaborator Paul Meany, Yungblud, and Matt Schwartz, and produced by the former two.[1] The song peaked at number 33 on the UK singles chart, making it their third-highest-charting song there, behind "Stressed Out" and "Heathens".

Background

Twenty One Pilots released their seventh album, Clancy, on May 24, 2024.[2] The visual album was intended to serve as the conclusion to the duo's decade-long conceptual series which began with Blurryface (2015), but its closing track "Paladin Strait" ended on a cliffhanger.[3] During the May 2025 dates of the Clancy World Tour, the band shared a series of cryptic clues and Easter eggs on their social media accounts that hinted at a continuation in the series.[4]

On May 21, 2025, the duo announced their eighth studio album, Breach,[5] to be released in September of that year.[6] Along with the album's announcement, they revealed the title of the lead single, "The Contract", and its release date, June 12.[7]

Composition

Sonically, "The Contract" is a track that combines elements of nu metal, emo, hip-hop and hyperpop, but is not explicitly one or the other.[8][9][10] Lyrically, "The Contract" features seemingly anxious lyrics, in which the narrator fears a "necromancer" outside, and engages in paranoid activities, such as checking doors and windows and being sure to stay quiet.

Music video

An accompanying music video for "The Contract" was directed by Frédéric De Pontcharra and released the same day as the single.[11] The video continues immediately after the ending of "Paladin Strait" and features the duo performing erratically while surrounded by creatures with glowing red eyes.[12] It concludes with drummer Josh Dun handing frontman Tyler Joseph a uniform, a visual echoed on Breach's album cover.[9]

Critical reception

Mix Vale praised "The Contract" as an "expansive" track and a "statement of intent" for Twenty One Pilots' next phase.[13] Rolling Stone's Kory Grow commended the song's eclectic production while describing it as a "total sensory assault."[9] In a less positive review, Paolo Ragusa for Consequence appreciated the band's dedication to their decade-long narrative and compared the song to Linkin Park's album Meteora, citing a "nu metal twist". However, he ultimately found "The Contract" to be "frankly atrocious."[8]

Personnel

All credits are adapted from Tidal, except where noted.[1]

Twenty One Pilots

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "The Contract"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 131
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 51
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[17] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 33
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[19] 4
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[20] 15
US Rock & Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[21] 9

References

  1. ^ a b "The Contract". Tidal. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  2. ^ Kreps, Daniel (February 29, 2024). "Twenty One Pilots Conclude Decade-Long Narrative With New Album Clancy". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Wilson-Taylor, James (May 21, 2025). "Twenty One Pilots Announce New Album Breach". Rock Sound. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  4. ^ Morton, Luke (May 21, 2025). ""Hello Clancy, hello Blurryface, let's finish this": twenty one pilots announce new album, Breach". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  5. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Enter the Breach". Spin. May 21, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  6. ^ Fitzpatrick, Jake (May 22, 2025). "Twenty One Pilots Announce New Album Breach: "Let's Finish This"". Blunt Magazine. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  7. ^ Morton, Luke (May 21, 2025). ""Hello Clancy, hello Blurryface, let's finish this": twenty one pilots announce new album, Breach". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Ragusa, Paolo (June 12, 2025). "Twenty One Pilots' New Song "The Contract" Is, Frankly, Atrocious". Consequence. Archived from the original on June 12, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Grow, Kory (June 12, 2025). "Twenty One Pilots Tease Breach Album With Eclectic Song 'The Contract'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  10. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Unveil the First Single Off Their Upcoming Album Breach". MusicSceneMedia. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Twenty One Pilots - The Contract (Official Video)". YouTube. June 12, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  12. ^ Ragusa, Paolo (June 12, 2025). "Twenty One Pilots Announce 2025 North American Tour, Share New Song "The Contract": Stream". Consequence.net. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  13. ^ Maria (June 12, 2025). "Twenty One Pilots unveils North American tour and drops 'The Contract' for new album 'Breach'". Mix Vale (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  14. ^ "Josh not credited as the drummer for The Contract on Amazon Music". Reddit. June 12, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025. Hello! Unnus here. Josh played drums. I was the drum tech and engineer! Hope that clears it up. My insta for proof: @unnuslatif
  15. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  16. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 25, 2025)". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  17. ^ "Official Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  19. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  20. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  21. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
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