Sleep Token is on a tear across the UK at the moment, selling out gigs left and right, playing their biggest headlining shows to date, and putting themselves on the map as the next big thing in metal—but is the hype real?
If you’ve been living under a proverbial heavy metal rock for the past year, it may seem that Sleep Token have seemingly come out of nowhere, but that’s not the case. They’ve been around since 2016 and have two critically acclaimed albums under their belt. You could say they’ve paid their dues and played the game exactly right, sticking to their guns, consistently releasing songs that one up the other, and patiently waiting for the moment when it all comes together. That moment is 2023.
Their music is often described as a blend of heavy metal and ethereal vocals, but that’s taking the easy way out. There’s much more to unpack here, starting with a vocalist who can hit some serious notes, taking his range in places that only a handful of other metal, or even pop, singers can go. Simply known as Vessel, his real identity is not publicly known. Of course, a ton of speculation and several Reddit threads go down this rabbit hole, which can be a fun read.
But the fact that he’s still “unknown” in this day and age may just be because the fans want and need that bit of mystery across a space where every single detail of everyday life is shared and amplified via social media. I would argue it also provides much more musical freedom in creativity and experimentation, as there is no face or excessive image for one to judge. (The band generally doesn’t do interviews or talk to the press.) That must be gratifying in itself.
The songs are complex, the lyrics are thought-provoking, and even though they focus on themes surrounding the occult, it doesn’t feel dangerous or dark. With that being said, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a strategy quite like what these guys are doing for their much anticipated new album, tentatively titled Take Me Back to Eden.
They’ve released four songs only days apart since the start of the new year, taking the media and fans by surprise and simultaneously showcasing some of their heaviest and most mainstream songs. New singles “Aqua Regia” and “Granite” could easily be played on the radio alongside Billie Eilish or Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, while “The Summoning” and “Chokehold” fall on the other end of the spectrum as crushing epic metal masterpieces on another scale altogether.
But what about the live show? The band is known for their elaborate stage shows, and use of visual effects and have been praised for their intense and mesmerizing nature. The band perform with masks and hoods to conceal their faces, but that doesn’t take away from the connection with the audience.
Atmospheric and emotive combined with dynamic instrumentation including blistering guitar riffs and electronic elements, it’s all led by the insanely capable pipes of frontman Vessel. There’s zero doubt that this guy can rule the stage, elevate his voice, and write some massive hooks. The result is a mashup of industrial, post-rock, electronica, and a touch of trip-hop all wrapped in a package that, depending on what time you open it, can be either a beautiful or face-melting experience.
The setlist leaned heavily on 2021’s This Place Will Become Your Tomb, but they played all four of the new singles which was the absolute highlight. This band is primed to be at the arena level by the fall, and my guess is that they will take the summer to conquer the US market which will eat them up and turn them into a global phenomenon. So to answer the original question, is the hype real? Fuck yeah it is.
