It doesn't take a genius to work out that Sleep Token are a bit different to your regular band. For starters, they’re clandestinely clad, wearing black from head to toe, faces obscured by masks and black body paint doused on all the parts not quite covered by their robes. 

Then there’s the fact that one does not attend a Sleep Token Gig, oh no, instead we are asked to gather in worship at Rituals around the UK. It's all very... Cultish. 

This flamboyant, audacious project is the brainchild of Sleep Token's frontman only known as 'Vessel', whose identity is fiercely guarded by both the band and fans alike. Barring a solitary interview with Vessel that can be found on the web (which actually throws more questions up than answers), not much else is known. However, for all this occult mystery, you had better have the chops to back it up, otherwise the aura of the project falls a bit flat. So I jumped on a train down to Birmingham, more specifically 'The Mill' in Digbeth to find out for myself on Saturday, 25th.

Now, you'd be forgiven for taking one look at the band's image and expecting a relentless chug-fest. Yet Sleep token are so much more, effortlessly gliding between styles, not just song by song, but often from one verse to the next. Offering up influences rooted in everything from Djent to EDM, this genre fluidity has all the markings of an accomplished musician (or is it musicians?), confident enough to pick a genre that best suits the feel and atmosphere of the song, rather than the other way round. 

The set opened with 'The night does not belong to God', which is also Sleep Token's opening track on their debut album 'Sundowning', Vessel's soulful vocals cutting through the air like a hot knife through butter, within a couple of lines, he (for lack of a better pronoun) already has the audience in the palm of his hands, myself included. As the song reaches its final crescendo, we're subjected to absolutely blistering drum fills (a staple of most songs) and a sound that can only be achieved with an 8 string guitar in drop tuning. But the band's opening tune serves merely as an amuse-bouche for what we receive next. 

The Offering is the next tune up, It's an unrelenting onslaught of doomy prog metal, accompanied once again by Vessel's pitch perfect and soaring vocals which seems a juxtaposition stylistically to the music, but works so damn well.

As the band rattles through one song after the other, we're treated to numbers that can only be found on Sleep Token's earliest EP's, as well as those on their recently released debut album, giving something for old fans and new alike. It will probably come as no surprise to you that there are no words spoken between songs, after all, that would ruin the mystery, wouldn't it?

But its not to say the band lacks persona, far from it. Despite being covered from head to toe in black and tight lipped between tunes, the band makes their presence felt in other ways. Whether it be a bassist, giving us high kicks that an Olympic Hurdler would be proud of, the guitarists menacing outbursts towards the audience or Vessels deliberate movement around stage, telescoping his arms towards the crowd, like some deranged evangelical preacher. Overall, you get the feeling that the people beneath the masks revel in playing their alter-egos. It's because of this that makes it so easy for the audience to invest into the concept. 

For an hour and a half, the band gets to be whoever they want to be, adopt any character they wish, whether it be in front of a handful of people or in this case, a packed out venue.  

Maybe anonymity allows Sleep Token to express themselves in ways they maybe wouldn't otherwise feel comfortable. What we're left with is music that is purely unadulterated. Heartfelt lyrics that give an insight to a very human mind and music that refuses to be put in a box, there's no better example of this than the set closer 'Blood Sport' which starts as a brooding piano based number, gradually gathering pace, Vessel's vocals becoming more emotive and raw as the song goes on. As we reach the anthemic climax of the song, the fully invested crowd are chanting the words back at the band until the very last chord rings out. The lights go black and all we hear is Vessel, sobbing through the mic before silence. It's hard to convey through words, but the delivery feels genuine, where it could so easily seem contrived. Through the dim light, the band raise their arms towards the crowd; clasp their hands together in apparent appreciation. And with that, no more.

So the verdict: The concept is fresh and the music is excellent. The only criticism I could possibly level at Sleep Token, is that they generally tend to follow a 'Soft, loud, louder' formula to their songs, but hey, nobody complains about songs having verses and choruses, so to criticise the band for this seems trivial. 

The debut album is well worth a listen for anybody that likes rock music with a bit of a twist, and their live performance of said songs is executed exceptionally. 

Right now being a fan of the band seems to be like being in on a weird and wonderful secret cult that's about to be exposed to the masses, I'm not sure what the exposure will bring, but either way they've made a believer out of me.

 Rock     Post-rock 

Author: Jake Wiggins

Jake Wiggins is an avid music fan from the North-West, whose perfect night out is listening to live music, from the Heaviest of Hardcore Rock to the Sweetest of Saccharine Pop and everything in-between.