Sleep Token’s entire vibe is a mystery. Their first ever US tour dates in September and October had quite the roll out, with many major venues teasing the release of the dates through social media — most of those dates are now sold out. Their talent is not at all a mystery.
Their fourth album, Even in Arcadia, released last Friday, May 9. Jump started by the release of three singles, “Emergence,” “Caramel,” and “Damocles.” Sleep Token has come to be known for ferocious vocals, delicate melodies and piano runs, but backed with hard rock (almost metal) guitars and drums – Even in Arcadia is another prime example. The group’s ability to capture social media caught “Emergence” at the center of debate of what time signature the song was in. Never fear, it was 4/4 syncopated with an accent on the 3, but they have shown that even being a group with no real identities, that don’t speak on stage, and have only ever sat for a single interview – they bring great music to the table.
Sleep Token really does something brilliant on Even in Arcadia. The tracks mix a sonically pleasing amount of hard rock/metal breakdowns, hip-hop beats, and both melodic and dreamy but also haunting piano runs. Don’t worry, there’s also a saxophone outro on one of the tracks. I was pleasantly surprised in the initial rundown to find tracks that averaged over the four-minute mark, and multiple clocking in at six minutes or more. This track length and a 10-track album clocking in just under an hour really gives you the time and space to feel what Sleep Token is trying to achieve here — a journey through various themes and genres that could find anyone a track, riff, or beat they can get into on this record.
Some standout tracks I’d recommend if you’re dipping your toe into Sleep Token with this album, or are already a fan:
“Past Self” has a drum and bass beat coupled with a piano melody that could jump right out of today’s top pop hits radio. This has the potential for a summer jam for the alt crowd and plays beautifully to the group’s energy. They absolutely know exactly how to twist the knife lyrically: “Are you gonna dance on the line with me? / You know it’s not a game or a fantasy / And I don’t even know who I used to be / But nothing is the same, and something have to change now”
“Caramel”, while one of the pre-released singles prior to the album’s drop, is just a fantastic track. Starting with a marimba melody and going into a fantastic dance beat, this is a love song written in that specific Sleep Token font that fans have come to love. This one lyrically definitely feels lifted from real life as the verses speak to the stage being a prison, a beautiful nightmare, and close on a verse of the deep heavy rock/metal breakdown and screamed backing vocals the band is well known for.
“Getsemane” is the track that will catch you in your feelings about a relationship you haven’t thought about in years and have been way past over. “You were my harlequin bride, I was your undercover lover” / “I’m caught up on the person I tried to turn myself into for you / Someone who didn’t mind the push pull parlour games.” Sonically, the way this group can take you from a delicate primarily vocal led melody into something you could break your neck head banging to will never not surprise me.
I highly recommend Even in Arcadia, for the passing fan that’s heard something by Sleep Token before that interested them or if you’ve never listened to them before. There truly is something for everyone on here — heartbreaking lyrics, fantastically sung, and backed by raw musical talent.
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Check out the Even in Arcadia US Tour Dates
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