ALBUM REVIEW: Sundowning – Sleep Token

One of the most alluring traits a human being can encounter is intrigue, and it is this philosophy upon which SLEEP TOKEN have firmly cemented their foundations. Since their 2017 inception, whispers have spread like a shadow across the alternative scene, and the mystique with which they are synonymous has continued to grow exponentially. Be it resulting from their intense melting pot of sonic attributes or their masked anonymity, it is difficult to look away one you catch a glimpse. Anyone fortunate to have seen them live will appreciate the staggering weight of their music, and now they are set to release their debut album Sundowning, they are prepped to burst from the undergrowth and hurl their cult message as far as possible.

The odd part about Sundowning is that once the final track is released on Thursday, each song will already have been made public and heard by the SLEEP TOKEN fanbase. The band have been shrewdly releasing tracks on a fortnightly basis, (aptly at the exact time of UK sundown) a technique that has held our interest over a period of around six months as opposed to a standard quickfire album release. As well as being an opportunity to offer more exclusive merchandise, it has allowed us to savour each and every track in it’s own right. A unique rune and video was made available with each track, and we were able to decipher lyrical concepts and discuss rumours in real-time depth. Time after time, they have provided a staggering addition to their arsenal, with each track presenting a different viewing angle to the SLEEP TOKEN kaleidoscope. 

It all began with ominous, distorted keys in album opener The Night Does Not Belong To God. Fresh from a string of dazzling EPs that morphed post rock with djent, shoegaze and an air of ritualism, they commence affairs in a similar fashion, as esoteric frontman Vessel quickly remind us of his incredible vocal ability; wrapping lush melody around heavy synth and spellbinding musicianship. As avid worshippers to the ancient deity ‘Sleep’, SLEEP TOKEN pay homage within their music, and their unfathomable secrecy naturally ensues. In the early days, Vessel would only communicate via email. It is easy for such an intense image to be scoffed at and disregarded as another futile gimmick, but the way in which the SLEEP TOKEN repertoire backs up their theatre quickly silences the majority of critics that set their crosshairs on the outfit.

From the swooping vocal beauty of Levitate to the crunching guitar and metallic pinch harmonics of Higher, they have provided a completely new take on heavy music. Unafraid to drift into a post rock coma before blasting into huge djent breakdowns, this is music emotive to the ninth degree. Fans of the aforementioned early releases will recognise that Sundowning continues on the same bearing, but they have raised their own bar sky high and honed every aspect of their sound to create an album that drips with a perfectionist’s touch. Be it a more minimalistic approach (take the majority of Dark Signs) or manic outbursts like the devastatingly heavy Gods, they appear to have an innate ability in knowing exactly when to hold back and when to go right for the jugular.

This black and white approach spans the whole album, along with about every shade of grey. Ghostly keys haunt album-closer Blood Sport and Sugar jolts along carefree before exploding into a meteoric finish. As much as Vessel himself has improved as a singer, the lyrics themselves feel largely ameliorated, painting imagery with every cathartic hook. “I can lift you up, your body is mostly blood; like water a perfect flood, engulfing me again,” he whispers through Levitate, one of many moments that ache with visceral prowess. Each puzzle piece fits neatly alongside the next, allowing us to embark on an emotional journey that terminates in the deepest parts of our own psyche.

At some point, you would imagine that the veil of secrecy will have to be lifted as the band grows, but few can argue that Sundowning is a record that will see SLEEP TOKEN erupt. Already gaining phenomenal listening figures from tracks like The Offering, the album itself is sure to follow a similar trend, and backed by a run of successful tours both in the UK and the States, it certainly feels as though a storm of well deserved success is brewing. For now, we can savour the dense palette that Sundowning provides, and wallow in the sheer beauty with which it associates. Heavy music is being redefined right before our eyes, and as fans of alternative music it doesn’t get much better than that. Worship.

Rating: 10/10

Sundowning is set for release on November 21st via Spinefarm Records.

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