Is musicuqual of this sleep token? A review of ‘Even in Arcadia’

Since it came up in 2016, the English band Sleep token It has become one of the most enigmatic success stories of rock. Acting under complete anonymity – its main members are known only as Vessel and IIand present themselves with elaborate and detailed costumes – the group built a broad and deeply marked musical universe by the spirit of the 21st century.

Using the heavy riffs and the aggressive beats of the metal as a starting point, his music is full of unexpected deviations and abrupt change of Tom. A band as difficult to label as to identify.

Even in Arcadiathe group’s fourth album does not totally reveal this mystery, but adds even more layers of intrigue – and one dose of existential depth – to the already dense mythological book of the band. “Will you Halt This eclipse in me?” (“Are you going to stop this eclipse inside me?”), Shouts Vessel in the opening track, “Look to Windward” – A mutant song that, throughout your minutes, involves the vocalist with synths that resemble dialing, intense strings, trap beats and imposing piano chords, all eventually swallowed by heavy guitars and explosive batteries. As a declaration of opening, it is a clear warning that nothing to follow will be predictable – neither sound nor emotionally.

From there, the fierce “Emergence” It oscillates between a ghostly beauty and arpejada madness, first, finding refuge in guitars like storm clouds forming – cut by the suddenly angelic voice of Vessel – and then on a saxophone soil that evokes a lonely night. “Provider” It is a love song in conflict, where Vocals overlapping Vessel add hope to their statement worthy of wedding votes – “I can Give You What You Want” (“I can give you whatever you want”) – Although this promise is surrounded by a chaos driven by riffs.

At other times, the songs dive even deeper into the contradictions of notoriety in the 21st century. “Caramel” He walks with hesitant steps over a slowly growing groove, while Vessel deals with the complexities of existing in public keeping his identity secret. “So I’m Kep Dancin ‘Along to the Rhythm / The Stage Is a Prison, the Beautiful Nightmare” (“So I’m going to keep dancing at the rhythm / The stage is a prison, a beautiful nightmare”), sings it in music boxes of music, revealing a tiredness of the world as explicit as possible.

If moments like this reveal something about the mythology of the Sleep token, it is that Vessel is, in the background, a ballad singer. Your voice is a firm and hoarse mix that vibrates with intensity in songs such as the title track ethereal and reaches high notes when needed in songs like “Damocles”a sparkling and troubled treaty on creative anxiety. Sometimes remembering the treble Dan Smithvocalist of BastilleVessel helps incorporate other influences into the band’s sound, such as the Victure “Past Self”driven by trap beats.

The final track, “Infinite Baths”It is equally raw: the increasingly lucid view of Vessel over the world is reflected in the icy layers of electronics. “I have fought so long to be Here / I Am Never Going Back” (“I fought so much to get here / I will never come back”), he declares – a mantra that could well serve as a motto of constantly transformation of the Sleep token: a huge rock, both sound and emotionally.

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