It’s hard to believe that Scaled and Icy is Twenty One Pilots fifth album, with the band only forming in 2009. Having gained worldwide fame with such hits as Heathens & Stressed Out this album takes the band in a new direction. With an almost cleaner sound than previous albums it would be easy to say the band has gone for a more commercial sound, but I think they are just experimenting with their sound.
Recorded remotely during the pandemic with both guys stuck on opposite sides of the country, there is no sign of that disconnect that so easily could have crept into the sound of Scaled and Icy. In fact, the guys sound tighter than ever. Now fans of the band might feel the album is a little soft compared to the sound of previous albums but with the positive message they are singing about I think the sound they’ve decided to go with suits it down to the ground.
Will Twenty One Pilot fans be disappointed with Scaled and Icy? I don’t think so and if you are new to the guys this is a nice gentle entry into their sound. They haven’t lost that intensity they’ve just grown to know where on a record it’s needed.
