Powerful Metalcore Sounds: My Top Ten Sleep Token Songs

By Seb Gorlov

Sleep Token have been on an upward trajectory ever since their debut album Sundowning (November 21, 2019). Since then, they’ve gone on to release three studio albums, most recently Even In Arcadia. As a proud Sleep Token fan for almost five years, it has been brilliant to see the band on such a meteoric rise.

The quartet from London bring an energy and creativity to their work that is both inspiring and beautiful in equal measure. Fronted by the adroit singer Vessel, their music covers very open topics such as relationships whilst exploring themes of vulnerability whilst telling a story that focuses on deities, adding an otherworldly feel to proceedings.

However, the group shroud their personas behind masks and keep their identities secret which adds to the intrigue and mystical lore (with the other members using Roman numerals for their names, simply known as II, III and IV). With a style that can range from emotionally cathartic and raw to hard-hitting and unabashed, Sleep Token has the power to captivate listeners. Here’s a rundown of their top ten songs.

10 – “Aqua Regia” (Take Me Back To Eden)

“Aqua Regia” might not be at the top of this list, but it still deserves a place. One of the key parts of the Sleep Token lore is the bond between Vessel and the deity Sleep. In “Aqua Regia”, Vessel speaks of the desire he has to love and worship Sleep, even if it’s destructive for him.

Steve Dishon, the author of music blog, One Big Blank, described the title in more detail, explaining the concept behind it. Dishon says “The term Aqua Regia, or Royal Water, refers to a mixture of acids that refines gold, cleans glass, etches, but can also be a destructive element” (Dishon, One Big Blank, 16.03.25)

This helps to perfectly craft a story with a narrative based on unbridled desire, especially in the chorus, using aqua regia as an allegory for the love Vessel has for Sleep –  a love that is polished, strong yet unreciprocated.

“Aqua regia, oxytocin running in the ether/ Silicon ballrooms, subatomic interactions if it’s all good.” (“Aqua Regia”, Take Me Back To Eden, Sleep Token).

9 – “Sugar” (Sundowning)

“Sugar” is one of the coolest tracks on Sundowning and sees Vessel showcasing an angelic voice and the ability to hit various notes with almost surgical precision.

“Sugar” begins with a synthesiser and its sound is consistent throughout. This instrument creates a David Lynch-esque feel to the track, unsettling yet harmonious, aligning impressively with the theme of falling in love with someone who you shouldn’t. The verses make it apparent Vessel is not wishing to lose the relationship he talks about even if it hurts him badly.

“Tonight we’re second guessed again/ Let me wrap the chains/ Addicted to the pain, oh.” (“Sugar”, Sundowning, Sleep Token).

The strong crescendo the song builds up to is marvellous, whilst the repetition of the line in the chorus (“Sugar, I’ve developed a taste for you”) is captivating. In addition to this, the wide range of instruments used, from shredding guitars and synthesisers to II’s drumming, is exhilarating as per usual.

8 – “Caramel” (Even In Arcadia)

The initial announcement for “Caramel” in March 2025 was cryptic in a way that was archetypal of Sleep Token, featuring a flamingo situated on a very cool background and whimsical sounds. Within seconds, fans took to socials, naming the flamingo “Jerry” (adding a touch of humour to proceedings), guessing what the post could mean and whether it could be a teaser for new music. The internet became flooded with excited comments, understandably.

“Caramel” has an entrancing background beat and it is commendable that in just over four minutes, the band manages to fuse many different genres together, from their traditional blend of metal to more rap and pop sounds. It’s testament to their hard work and creative outlook and is one of the things that make them masters of their trade.

Caramel is another emotional song, but this one hits harder because it feels like a confession from Vessel. In this sense, it feels slightly similar to the raw, heartbreaking and powerful ballad “Blood Sport”, with lyrics that convey Vessel’s inner struggles.

“ Right foot in the roses/ left foot on a landmine” (“Caramel”, Even In Arcadia, Sleep Token).

7-  “The Love You Want” (This Place Will Become Your Tomb)

This is a very good song. II’s pounding drum beat combined with background handclaps create an almost chamber-like atmosphere, at times conveying the sound of shackles which acts as a metaphor for the way Vessel feels imprisoned in his own mind as he fights to love and worship Sleep.

The track conveys the sense of being rejected in a relationship. This is prevalent throughout the lyrics, which highlight the sheer desperation Vessel has for the deity he worships, even if it seems out of reach or if the deity turns a blind eye to his feelings.

“Seems your heart is locked up and I still get the combination wrong/ Or are you simply waiting to save your love for someone I am not?”) (“The Love You Want”, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, Sleep Token).

6 – “Dark Signs” (Sundowning)

Dark Signs is one of my favourites. There is something about the cut from Sundowning which is unequivocally Sleep Token. From the maelstrom of different sounds created by a plethora of different instruments to Vessel’s emotion-fuelled vocals, everything works in tandem to create a masterpiece. Vessel’s lyricism is fantastic and here, he utilises it emotively in order to reiterate themes of self-deprecation.

“And I miss the man I was/ The moment we left off/ And I hate who I have become/ Every time I wake up” (“Dark Signs”, Sundowning, Sleep Token).

The band were lauded with praise for Vessel’s vocal performance and the genre-fluidity of the track. Riff Magazine’s Max Heilman says “Vessel’s voice glides over the sub-bass, rattling hi-hats and synthesized vocal samples just as naturally as the song’s more metallic bridge” (Heilman, Riff Magazine, 20.11.19)

5 – “Take Aim” (Sundowning)

Keeping with the themes of self-deprecation and pain in relationships that Sundowning brings to the table, Vessel pours his heart out on “Take Aim”. The track’s lyrics reflect a relationship in which one person is completely in control, yet the one suffocating feels a desire to stay with the one they love. This ideology is explored further in the final few lines of the record.

“ And you know I’ll be yours/ When the moment is perfect/ I will fire and forget till’ we both lay broken” ( “Take Aim”, Sundowning, Sleep Token).

Therefore it refers to what is known as a trauma bond – where someone who is being hurt in a relationship connects with the person who is harming them. It’s a harrowing dynamic and the possibility Vessel is going through this with Sleep is discovered further in “Take Aim”

“And when I see you waking up/ And it sends me shivers/ How you love like weapons kill” ( “Take Aim”, Sundowning, Sleep Token).

4 – “Blood Sport” (Sundowning)

“Blood Sport” is heartbreaking, yet beautiful. Just over four minutes long, the track is a poetic confession of flaws, a desire to be better and desperation for a second chance at love. Sleep Token are a band who know how to tug at the heartstrings spectacularly, as evidenced here.

They can also take metaphors and create beautifully written tracks from them that enhance the sheer power behind their sound. As a result, this gives them the ability to defy modern metalcore industry practices and develop their own unique identity.

The term blood sport refers to a toxic, damaging relationship in which both partners feel bitter towards each other and the emotionally-charged lyrics showcase that the relationship Vessel talks about aligns with the definition, as they describe a progressive breakdown to a love that once burned brightly but no longer does, even if Vessel still wants it to work.

“Somewhere, the atoms stopped fusing/ I’m still your favourite regret/ You’re still my weapon of choosing” ( “Blood Sport”, Sundowning, Sleep Token).

Whilst the song still has a vociferous crescendo towards the end, the soft gentle piano that can also be heard throughout the track offers a very nice contrast. This is especially well suited for the ending, in which the guttural energy Vessel sings with is replaced quickly by a quieter tone for the final line “ You say it doesn’t matter”, followed by the hauntingly beautiful piano notes and soft tears, conveying uninhibited emotion. The beauty of “Blood Sport” – despite the melancholic undertones – can not be understated.

3 – “Look To Windward”(Even In Arcadia)

The opener to Even In Arcadia, “Look To Windward” is a seven minute ballad masquerading as a powerful metal anthem.

The album itself plays with the theme of how fame can be dangerous and the knock-on effects it can have. This theme is especially prominent here, as Vessel sings in a way that evokes an emotional response and underlines the impact fame has had on him.

“ How can I already lose my way like this?/ Drowning in burning brighter bliss…And I, I used to know myself/ Oh, and you, you used to know me well.” ( “Look To Windward”, Even In Arcadia, Sleep Token).

His rap skills before the bridge are one of the coolest parts to this track. It is not something he or the band are unfamiliar with. “Past Self” is another song on the album that has a similar sound and the extremely popular “Take Me Back To Eden” has a verse that also showcases how multitalented Vessel is.

2 – “Take Me Back To Eden” (Take Me Back To Eden)

“Take Me Back To Eden” is most likely to be Sleep Token’s magnum opus. If so, it’s fully deserving of that title and all the subsequent praise. The penultimate track on the 2023 album Take Me Back To Eden clocks in at just over eight minutes. In that time, Vessel manages to take listeners on a journey both lyrically and sonically. The Bible describes Eden as a paradise and in this tune, Eden is where a disillusioned Vessel begs to be.

“ ‘Take Me Back To Eden’ is a masterpiece; through Vessel’s distinctive vocals and candid lyrics, and II, III and IV’s powerful instrumentals, Sleep Token have created a new, shadowy realm for their fans to inhabit.” ( O’Sullivan, When The Horn Blows, 22.06.23)

This is the perfect introductory track for new listeners. It is a great example of Sleep Token’s genre-defying approach to their music, starting with lone vocals from Vessel before II’s shredding guitar solo. This is quickly followed by quickfire rap from Vessel and a bridge that begins with soothing piano notes, a balm to the soul, before the buildup to the final, powerful chorus that never fails to send chills down my spine, the track finishing with carnage – guttural vocals from Vessel and heavy acoustics.

1 – “The Night Does Not Belong To God” (Sundowning)

The opener on Sundowning, “The Night Does Not Belong To God” is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful songs in Sleep Token’s discography, helped mainly due to the addictive synth pattern that kicks things off.

With Sundowning containing themes including unrequited love, toxicity in relationships, desire and dependency, it’s understandable that the lyrics of the first cut on the album have that feel to them

“ Like lovers entwined/ I know for the last time/ You will not be mine/ so give me the night, the night, the night” (“The Night Does Not Belong To God”, Sundowning, Sleep Token).

This line is actually repeated at the end of  “Euclid” – the final track on Take Me Back To Eden, therefore adding depth to the stories told in both songs. At concerts in the past, Sleep Token have opened with “The Night Does Not Belong To God” before finishing with “Euclid”. Everything about this track makes it a masterpiece and if there was ever a record that deserves to be the starting point for an album, it would be this one.

“Sundowning builds on the narrative foregrounded in One and Two that depicts Vessel and Sleep in a toxic struggle rife with conflict, shaped by a damaging power dynamic.” (Wilkes, Kerrang, 13.01.25)

 

Overall, Sleep Token are one of the most incredible bands I have ever had the privilege of listening to and seeing live.  Their blend of metal rock music is absolutely scintillating, they have an undeniable creativity and I hope that they continue to make music for a long time to come. They thoroughly deserve all the recognition, support and praise that comes their way and I highly recommend them for anyone trying to find not just a new metal band, but a new artist to enjoy.