The Philosophy of Sleep Token: The Big Trick They Pulled!
**Sleep Token: Unraveling the Mystery Behind Their Rise to Fame**
*By John Barbus, Host of Heavy Metal Philosophy and Writer for Metal Digest*
Welcome, metalheads! In this article, we will delve into the enigmatic world of Sleep Token and explore the reasons behind their sudden rise to fame. As a self-proclaimed super fan, I aim to provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of this intriguing band. So, if you’re ready to uncover the truth, keep reading!
**Who is Sleep Token?**
Before we dive into the reasons behind their popularity, let’s briefly touch upon who Sleep Token actually is. While their real-life identities remain a mystery, it is their music and unique persona that has captivated fans worldwide. With their masked appearances and cryptic lore, Sleep Token has managed to create an aura of intrigue and curiosity.
**The Unexpected Explosion of Sleep Token**
Sleep Token wasn’t entirely unknown before their recent surge in popularity. However, for metalheads like myself, their music didn’t initially catch our attention. As a fan of bands like Cannibal Corpse, Opeth, and Bloodbath, Sleep Token’s atmospheric and moody sound didn’t align with my preferences. But this year, they exploded onto the scene, generating an immense amount of hype and discussion.
**The Curious Case of Sleep Token’s Sound**
Describing Sleep Token’s music is a challenge in itself. While their appearance and lore may give off a metal vibe, their sound is far from what you would expect. Their music is often atmospheric, moody, and even has elements of R&B. Occasionally, they incorporate crushing metalcore breakdowns, but for the most part, their sound is a departure from traditional metal.
**Debunking the Theories**
Now, let’s address the theories surrounding Sleep Token’s sudden popularity. Some argue that their appeal lies in their pop sensibilities and accessibility. However, as standalone pop songs, Sleep Token’s tracks don’t quite hit the mark. Their music tends to be more melancholic and lacks the upbeat structure typically found in pop music.
Others attribute their success to their image and lore. While these elements certainly add intrigue, they only appeal to a niche audience. Sleep Token’s popularity extends beyond this, suggesting that there must be something more at play.
**The Power of Sleep Token’s Lyrics**
Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Sleep Token’s lyrics are the driving force behind their success. While the music itself may not be groundbreaking, the songs themselves are undeniably excellent. Sleep Token seamlessly blends various genres and styles, creating a unique and captivating sound.
However, the standout element is the vocal prowess of lead singer Vessel. His ability to create mesmerizing tones and incorporate breathiness into his delivery is truly remarkable. Sleep Token has often been compared to the Deftones, and it is their sensual and evocative sound that resonates with listeners.
**The Trick Behind the Mask**
While Sleep Token’s lore and imagery may suggest a deeper meaning, it is ultimately a clever trick. The band’s mysterious persona and references to an otherworldly deity, Sleep, create an air of credibility and intrigue. However, at its core, Sleep Token’s music revolves around love, relationships, and the archetype of a tortured psyche.
By presenting their songs as love songs to a divine entity, Sleep Token taps into an underserved market in the metal community. Love songs have been largely absent from the heavy metal genre, and Sleep Token fills this void with their unique blend of heavy music and emotional lyrics.
**The Conclusion: Sex, Love, and Relationships**
In conclusion, Sleep Token’s rise to fame can be attributed to their exploration of sex, love, and relationships within the heavy metal genre. While their image and lore may initially draw attention, it is the emotional depth and relatability of their lyrics that truly captivate listeners.
Sleep Token’s ability to seamlessly blend genres and create atmospheric music sets them apart from other bands. While their music may not be groundbreaking in terms of technicality, it is their focus on creating powerful and evocative songs that resonates with fans.
So, whether you’re a die-hard fan or a curious newcomer, Sleep Token’s music offers a unique and captivating experience that is worth exploring.
**FAQs**
**Q: Who are the members of Sleep Token?**
A: The identities of Sleep Token’s members remain unknown, as they choose to conceal their real-life personas.
**Q: What genre does Sleep Token fall under?**
A: Sleep Token’s music is a fusion of various genres, including atmospheric, moody, and R&B elements, with occasional metalcore influences.
**Q: What is the significance of Sleep Token’s masks and lore?**
A: Sleep Token’s masks and lore add an air of mystery and intrigue to their image. While they may not be the primary reason for their popularity, they contribute to the band’s unique persona.
**Q: Are Sleep Token’s songs primarily about love and relationships?**
A: Yes, Sleep Token’s songs predominantly revolve around themes of love, relationships, and the complexities of the human psyche. While some songs contain religious allegory, they can be interpreted as metaphors for personal desires and obsessions.
**Q: What sets Sleep Token apart from other metal bands?**
A: Sleep Token’s focus on love songs within the heavy metal genre sets them apart from other bands. By exploring the emotional depths of relationships, they cater to an underserved market in the metal community.
**Q: What is the future of Sleep Token?**
A: As Sleep Token continues to gain popularity, their future looks promising. With their unique sound and captivating lyrics, they are likely to further solidify their place in the metal scene.
In conclusion, Sleep Token’s rise to fame can be attributed to their exploration of love, relationships, and the human psyche within the heavy metal genre. While their image and lore add intrigue, it is ultimately their emotional and evocative lyrics that resonate with fans. Sleep Token offers a unique and captivating musical experience that is worth delving into. So, embrace the mystery and immerse yourself in the world of Sleep Token.
I can honestly say I was not prepared. This was amazing to listen to after a long day of training.Dark by October Ends is a challenge, but I know you'd nail it! Please cover it!
This might be the most honest breakdown of Sleep Token I've seen so far. I mean, when I listen to Sleep Token's lyrics I can draw parallels between relationships both romantic and otherwise I had with a number of people in my life, and yeah, most of their songs can easily be thought of as love songs and there's nothing wrong with it. I think the gimmick of writing love songs to an otherwise unknown deity is actually great cause it lets us project our own experiences on it veeeery easily, at least I know I can 😅 sure i find the lore very interesting and all but at the end of the day when I listen to them what I think of when I listen to Sleep Token are more often my own experiences and how similar they can be to the whole fiction Sleep Token are writing through their lyrics and amplifying through their music and gimmicky costumes (which to be fair with them, are all very well done).
I didn't know tf they were about at all when I heard The Summoning on accident. So image, lore.. Didn't even know.
They are a "New to Me" band and the lyrics…. The stories.. The deepness of some of the words like ancient canopies, you kinda have to be a music lover who hears the lyrics and not just the instruments.
Do you wish that you love me is about ONE TAKING TO THEM SELF… Someone looking in the mirror and asking, do YOU (man in the mirror) wish you loved me? He's talking to himself…….
Not a relationship song. Sorry Bro. Not a love song to someone else. That's the magic of SLEEP TOKEN.
Oh here's where people will say it's not about relationships…
DO YOU WISH THAT YOU LOVE ME IS HIM TALKING TO HIMSELF.
Listen to Will Ramos and his band. And Will did Chokehold. This album is epic. Period.
Just watched their first live show….tripping my a** off on shrooms…..fking perfect. Been playing for 30 years and this is the first time ive been mived aince my first concert (Pantera!!!!) Well done full production.
Just got into sleep token after aftershock and this is my first time seeing your vids. Love the vid and love sleep token, cant stop listening to em. Also got some dnd ideas from the lore of him getting a vision from "sleep" and this new album is def a fire album to lay pipe to
I didn't think I'd like them at first but they're very very good at what they do their music is almost perfect the drummer is fucking amazing I honestly believe this drummer,would out drum any of them,and yes even Tools drummer. they say slipknot's drummers is the best drummer in the world i think this kid what absolutely smoke about any drummer on the planet and I'd back that up with money
Plot Twist: Vessel is Machine Gun Kelly.
Wait what?! Maybe the vocalist is Broken Matt Hardy? 😂
I am only about halfway through, but I do wanna say I appreciate this nuanced analysis. Alot of what you said about them is resonating with what I've felt listening to alot of their stuff.
Sleep Token is just Sam Smith if Sam Smith was Metal.
He uses autotune. Dudes terrible live, autotune don't save singers live.
ITS AUTOTUNE MY GOD THIS MAKES ME ANGRY
The question that you have ask yourself is "would you go and pay for a magician show, even if you know all the tricks"?
HELL YEAH ROCKIN' DAT HATH MERCH m/
To those who would say "it's not that deep" or "it's a gimmick", I would say sure, yes, but also…
It can just be a bunch of love songs, but to me it feels like something more.
If you think of a deity as less a supernatural being, and more the personification of an archetype or the culmination of a set of patterns within the psyche, I have no doubt that Vessel has been inspired by such a thing. These lyrics speak so meaningfully to so many people that I don't have a hard time believing that he found connection with some deep, shadowy feelings and desires that exist within his mind but also within all of us.
I had been listening to a lot of this music without being aware of the lore; this is the first I'm hearing of the entity "sleep" to be perfectly honest. But to me it just makes sense. Sure, you can insert a nameless, faceless lover into any sleep token song and it works as a standalone piece perfectly well. But if you lean into the idea that it's about more than that; see that each of these romances are manifestations of a tangle of mental patterns, constructs, impulses, longings, and experiences that we can call "sleep", I think there is the opportunity to have a much richer experience. Is there any logical reason to view things with that lens? Probably not. But if the difference between a gimmick and a religious experience is a matter of perspective, then why shouldn't you allow yourself to go deeper? I say, let's get swallowed whole.
I agree
But I do enjoy their melody and music
Lyrics and his voice are amazing
But I do feel like they do the same for me as deftones and Type O negative=sexy/sex music
It’s Leo Faulkner. We all know lol.
Although I do like Sleep Token, someone said they are "Metalcore Imagine Dragons" and I think they hit the nail on the head lol.
I honestly didn't think about some of the points you have made. I do love me some lore though.
I agree with what you're saying about their slow songs dragging on, but I think there's a intent behind it being that way. I recently uploaded a theory on the subreddit about. I'll try not to get too deep into it because it's long and involves the lore.
Basically, as someone who grew up Christian, their slow somgs, especially on the older 2 albums, remind me of Christian worship music when looking purly at the musical elements (ambiance, repetitive lyrics, song can be dragged out for 30+ minutes if they want).
The purpose of such music is to clear people's heads to make it easier to focus on the sermon and to invoke a strong emotional response. I think their slow songs do this but for "Sleep." The slow songs are like an accessable entry point for their heavier songs, aka the "sermon." And my evidence backing this up are basically the comments under the Sleep Token videos and the subreddit posts where people talk about the intese feelings they get when listening to their music and how they came across one song and was instantly hooked.
To be honest… there can be no figuring this band out… I'm so glad they exist… absolute absolute commonality perfected beyond any the shadow of any doubt… existence… defined… only few will get it… and that's the way it should be…
Love and sex…. love Vessel and ST
👏 dude well done mang
I think the music is good. I tried to hate them but musically they’re very talented. Im classically trained and they’re good
I’m into heavy stuff. At the gates etc. but there’s something about sleep tokens music. Can’t put my finger on it. I’m just appreciating the talent for what it is. I could do without the masks and mystery tbh xx
Pretty much what he’s saying is they’ll never be TOOL
This band has more different T-Shirt than they have songs…
Money plays a big role
Sleep token are alot like TOOL to a degree. They DON'T have a bad song.
Chino has stated in Many videos that he sings the way he sings because he was not confident in his voice. Also he does the breathy thing because he hates writing lyrics so he does the breathy drawn out word thing to write less lyrics. Has nothing to do with sex. Their biggest song is literally about watching someone you know change Into a person you can't stand, which was most Likely about his ex wife who hated their music. And people think it's a sexy love song, nope!!! Alot of their songs you want really understand unless you've done drugs
Not to be captain holistic, but it's a blend of all of it. The Summoning is a perfect example: heavy intro, strange dreamlike transition, r&b ending. But it's all one thing. There's no jarring transition from point a to point b.
Aaaye Aperture Laboratories
They're not metal…. Period
Great theory. I don’t entirely agree. I dont think they are about a woman but rather his journey and struggle with addiction, self harm, and suicidal thoughts. Essentially Sleep is the personification of his addiction. Someone to blame for the “bad”.
In a few songs he is talking to Sleep and then speaks about “she”. Vessel is very particular with his words. He is talking about a women to Sleep. So the women he loves and sleep are different individuals. Not to mention vessel himself said “Him” in an interview. Which means Sleep is a God (male) not a Goddess (female).
LThe reoccurring goal is that he doesn’t want to feel because of all of his bad feelings so he asks Sleep (drugs and alcohol) to take him so he doesn’t have to feel any more. Which of course causes him to do things he’s not proud of. Like alcoholism often causes anger and abuse to others. He does address the women he loves sometimes but it’s usually sappy heart breaking music, not love music. Also I think the addiction caused him to possibly commit adultry because when he mentions it he’s talking to this personification. It is also why his and “Sleeps” lives are parallel. They are exactly the same, he is just putting the blame on his addiction rather than his “good self”. Addiction allows him to go deeper in his subconscious. In granit he mentions Sleep has sulfur on his breath. Sulfur can represent adultery. While vessel has granite in his chest. He’s putting the cheating blame on the addiction and saying that his heart is as durable as granite (very strong material). Basically Sleep is his alter ego, his bad side. And as much as he keeps going back to the drugs he wants out because he knows it will kill him (be his tomb). It also explains why he keeps going back to even when he knows how bad it is for him, but he can’t help himself.
Thats my opinion. I think there is a lot more evidence to support its about his addictions and self harm/suicidal thoughts. But this would be very very very long.