sleep token
Sundowning
SPINEFARM
Mystery-steeped post-metallers make an enthralling statement of intent
When many first discovered the mysterious world of Sleep Token in 2017, they weren’t quite sure what to make of it. Their music defied classification: a blend of labyrinthine metal and tender postrock, where tension ebbed and flowed, and ethereal soundscapes erupted into fits of violence. Coupled with mournful, overenunciated, Bon Iveresque vocals, it made for an intriguing and polarising listen. Secretive, masked bandleader Vessel would only communicate via email and, instead of answering questions directly, he solemnly repeated the band’s devotion to an ancient deity called Sleep, whom he had encountered in a dream. It’s easy to see why some people initially dismissed the band as a pretentious gimmick.
The reference points were easy enough to recognise: the technical ferocity of Meshuggah, Explosions In The Sky’s emotive shimmer and Leprous’s penchant for histrionics. But when all the parts were assembled, Sleep Token sounded like no one else. Now two years later, the band’s much-hyped debut handles its divisive nature as deftly as a walker on a high rope. By the time Sundowning is released, fans will have heard the whole thing already; every two weeks at sundown, the band have released a new track, each accompanied by its own rune and video. It’s a clever approach that has whipped up a real buzz and got fans talking online about thematical concepts and racing to decipher the lyrics.
Even in their early days, Sleep Token wielded their quiet/loud dynamic in refreshing and captivating ways, but now there’s a much denser, varied sound palette at play. Dark Signs is laced with chilly, clipped atmospherics,
ghostly vocals and dark trap beats.
Album highlight Sugar stutters and pulses, incorporating gossamer-light atmospherics before detonating in a brutally spectacular finish.
Vessel, too, has developed massively as a singer. His poignant, distinctive vocals still come in two oppsing shades, going for the jugular on savage tracks like The Offering and Gods
– the latter having an excellent Deftones
Diamond Eyes vibe
– but elsewhere otherworldly, remarkably beautiful and capable of conjuring the most visceral, heartbreaking imagery. ‘Your body is mostly blood,’ he murmurs on
Levitate. ‘Will you levitate? Up where the angels inhabit?’ Sacrificial closer Blood Sport, with its skeletal keys and yearning choir, comes closest to capturing the ritualistic vibe of their live shows: nearreligious experiences that often provoke tears from the crowd.
It sounds like a cliché, but by retaining their shadowy presence Sleep Token are a band who have let their music do the talking. They rarely do any kind of press and much about them remains shrouded in mystery. Are they a collective, or is Vessel a one-man show? And as the band get bigger, how long will it be until they’re forced to lift the veil? We may never get answers but one thing is certain: if there’s any justice in the world, Sundowning
will make Sleep Token huge. This is a stunning, gorgeous record that presents a truly unique take on heavy music, a perfect balance of emotion, power and ambience. Go forth and worship.
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FOR FANS OF: Leprous, Deftones, Cult Of Luna
DANNII LEIVERS
“This is a Truly unique Take on heavy music”