I literally cannot be more excited for Sleep Token in 2023. They just claimed my "most listened artist of 2022" spot and they're already coming back for more. Dropping two songs in two days is ridiculous enough, but the absolute subversive masterpiece that is The Summoning has honestly caught me completely off guard.
A six-and-a-half minute song is already a good sign, and the song starting with some good old chunky riffing is an even better sign. Throughout the verse and chorus, the instrumentals take on a heavier sound than usual, and only continues to do so with that absolute brutality of a scream section. Vessel has definitely done harsh vocals before, but never like that, and not to mention doing it over a literal metalcore staple chug breakdown.
To continue the chain of subversion, they follow up the heaviest breakdown they've ever done with a guitar solo of all things. Of course, nothing they've never done before, but they've never put a guitar solo in with so much pizzazz and tastefulness, and definitely not for this long.
They go back to the chorus again, which I must point out, is one of their better choruses. Vessel throwing in some high notes is something I never thought about, but it is so blissfully beautiful to hear. Alongside some shoegaze-esque instrumentation and the subsequent distant screams, the whole soundscape becomes very ethereal and intense.
Doubling down on ethereal, they follow it up with a seriously long ambient section, long enough for you to start floating into musicalness. The synthwork is great, it's simultaneously elegant and calming. It also does a great job at transitioning out of the heaviest thing they ever written into the next section, which is the most unexpected yet unbelievably awesome thing I've ever heard.
I never thought about how Sleep Token would sound if they were funky and lowkey sexy, but the final one and a half minutes of The Summoning features an absolutely seductive variation of their verse. For an alternative metal band that's constantly pushing their sound and already so distinctive in the first place, this is just divine. Not only do they pull off so many unexpected musical choices in one song, they do it so well, like they've been doing it forever. The chunk is absolutely chunky, the funk is absolutely funky.
Sleep Token has a chokehold on me right now, and even though I found the first single great but not outstanding, they are both quality singles and have gotten me so unbelievably hyped for their third record that's coming out. I was late to the party on Sundowning and This Place Will Become Your Tomb, but I will be ready to catch Take Me Back To Eden when it drops. Worship.
Rating: 4.5/5
"Take Me Back To Eden" Album Cover