ALBUM REVIEW: Even In Arcadia, Sleep Token

Since Sleep Token’s Take Me Back to Eden album dropped in 2023, listeners have been patiently waiting for more from the quickly evolving band. 

Whether you’re a fan or not, Sleep Token has taken the metal world in its grasp and given it a shakeup. After going from clubs and supporting slots, to festival headliners and selling out arenas, ultimately becoming one of the most talked about bands in modern rock, we’ve been wondering; what happens next?

Then on May 9th, Even In Arcadia announced itself to the world as Sleep Token’s fourth studio album. A 10 song, 55 minute offering for fans to continue on the journey.

Starting off with opening track Look to Windward a seven and a half minute whirlwind of game-like synths, haunting raw vocals, and after a three minute tantalising buildup, II’s booming drums and the striking riffs break through like a dam under pressure. This track is an illustration of who Sleep Token are, dramatic lyrics and swirling strings, repeating “will you halt this eclipse in me” until screaming, trap beats and seamlessly flowing over the rap like beat, just to throw you off and keep you on your toes.

Going into the main single Emergence with an unexpected saxophone jazz like solo at the end, proving even more that these band members merely see genres as blurring guidelines, unpredictability taking the starring role.

Slipping through Past Self and Dangerous, we see a lighter side of the music, pop-esque. Then Caramel blasted through the charts with its conflicting reggaeton-like beat. Vessel’s lyrics here are quite vulnerable throughout this song, revealing the singer’s struggles with the quick rise in the spotlight “this stage is a prison, a beautiful nightmare”, as well as the difficulty and clash of staying anonymous as the group becoming ever so increasingly popular “Every time they try to shout my real name just to get a rise from me, Acting like I'm never stressed out by the hearsay”. We’re here for calling out the doxxing.

It’s time for the title track, Even In Arcadia. Followers of the band will have already heard the intro for this song being used in teaser trailers online, the repeating chimes. Now this feels cinematic, grand, majestic. It’s an elegant build and decline like a mini movie soundtrack. It swells with grandeur in the pinnacle of the track, and filters out, leaving you ready to jump into the second half of the album.

Provider takes you into an R&B style moment, making some ladies swoon with the flirty playful lyrics (he knows what he’s doing after The Summoning), then sliding into Damocles, another vulnerable moment from the band, this time battling with fame.

Gethsemane (don’t ask me to say it out loud, I’m still not 100% sure) brings a more upbeat tone, flipping between focused  soft falsetto vocals and harmonies, prog-like guitar leads and ending in another trap like section, effortlessly blending these genres together again.

Ending on Infinite Baths, taking its time to unfold, letting you bask in the layers of symphonies. Halfway through the song, IV delivers a quick beautiful homage to what sounds like Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, before breaking down into the last heavy part of the album, fading into silence.

I do personally wish they took a different approach with the end of the album, as we did have the fadeout ending with the previous album.

Other than that, Even In Arcadia did a great job of showcasing the complexity and fluidity of their style. Sleep Token will always be what I consider a “Marmite band”, you’ll either love them or hate them. It will be the same with this album, and probably whatever they release in the future. They graciously blend genres without a care in the world, and I think people can be intimidated by this. Sleep Token have delivered another intricate compilation of fresh, modern rock music, and we are absolutely here for it.