Review: DYWTYLM Sleep Token

by Nicholas Gaudet
in Reviews

The last single from the new album of UK's masked group, Sleep Token, is a surprise to say the least, and an excellent offering for those willing to make room for something different.

Sleep Token are known for their blend of genres. In fact, it's become increasingly difficult to pinpoint what kind of music they've been releasing for the last six years. Trends and styles can be found, but they've arguably grown out of comparison and become the band to be compared to, which is something very few bands can claim for themselves. Even with their musical ambiguity, patterns can often be found within their songs. Take 'Granite' off the same record; it teases the listeners with a very R&B tone, only to switch it up to a metal breakdown by the end of the second chorus.

So, upon first listening to DYWTYLM, the poppy arpeggiator that opens the track gives off the same vibe. Is this just another version of 'Granite,' with different lyrical content? Such expectations will surely affect your first listen, waiting for the drop to come. The catchy verse leading into a slow electronic beat droning the song forward section-after-section, until the song comes to a close, with no electric guitar riff in sight. I remember feeling confused after the song was over; could it really be it? Coming straight off songs like 'Chokehold' and 'The Summoning,' 'DYWTYLM' felt underwhelming. Then, I played the song once again, knowing what to expect. And what I found was Sleep Token's excellence: the element of surprise, paired with beautiful melodies and harmonies. The element of surprise is very temporary, but that feeling that you get when you invest in the music never leaves on repeats. That disappointment I first felt became a deeper appreciation of the musical range this band has showcased time and time again, and even after three albums, they're still able to pull off something as different as 'DYWTYLM.'

With how infectiously catchy 'DYWTYLM' can get, it's no wonder they picked this song to be the final offering before the full release of the album. It's another showcase of the band's talent and musicianship, and a nice change of pace from the singles they released in anticipation for 'Take me Back to Eden's' release.

Nicholas Gaudet
Author: Nicholas Gaudet
Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.