There’s no denying that the band has a remarkable vocal presence and a strong lyrical base to match. Where it’s hard to do any disservice to Sleep Token is upon consideration of their vocal element. Where the band are capable of creating an immaculate blend of post-hardcore, pop and post-rock (“The Love You Want,” “Alkaline”), the moments in which Sleep Token shine are blotted out by a maelstrom of disproportionate mediocrity. Even the instrumentally lack-luster follow-up track, “Fall For Me”-which is really more of an interlude than anything else-sees Sleep Token in rare form, using pitched vocal effects and a subtle electronic backdrop to wow the listener. The song builds at a nigh perfect rate, finally piquing in a groovy, cinematic closing sequence with a chorus that is bound to dwell on in the listener’s head for weeks. Periodically, the band gets everything right sophomore single and underdog for anthem-of-the-year in “The Love You Want” is an excellent example of that. However, despite the questionable choices in song structure, the band’s percussion remains top-notch-best heard in lead single “Alkaline,” as well as “Like That” or “Hypnosis.” Melancholic fretwork plays along, building-occasionally-into a blistering lead or a bombastic breakdown. “Atlantic,” for example, is a dreamy-yet-bleak introductory cut that spend the better part of its duration dragging the listener along until the brief-but-bright climactic sequence-all before dropping off abruptly into “Hypnosis,” which treads an all-too-similar path. So many of the band’s songs either start strong but lead nowhere (“Distraction” or “Like That”), or build to a climax that feels either woefully out of place or…well, isn’t really a climax.
As a collection of independent elements, Sleep Token is a juggernaut, but as a collective piece, the band sounds like a slightly more dissonant and occasionally-chuggy Coldplay. On paper, This Place Will Be Your Tomb has incredible percussion, moments of jaw-dropping atmosphere and breath-taking ethereality-it’s even got some pretty fun heavier segments. If you’re still reading, I want to make it abundantly clear before proceeding-I’m not just bagging on a band because they’re popular, or because their sound is different, and I’ll be the first to agree that the individual components of Sleep Token are incredibly talented. The result is a lethargic record with some extreme highs but a low, hum-drum baseline that leaves little lasting impact.
The question at hand was how the record would land following Sundowning-would it lend the diversity and energy that Sundowning was short on? Or would it see the band move in a different direction altogether? The answer is-well, not so black-and-white This Place Will Be Your Tomb is a more focused release than Sundowning, but ultimately one that still sees the band dragging their feet, demonstrating extreme talent yet exercising it to a capacity far beyond that which they’re capable of.
After Sundowning became a sleeper hit record, the underground heavy music community at large focused their attention on the act, as If to ask “ okay, so what’s next?” Sleep Token-not ones to shy down from pressure, it would seem-responded in record time with the ambitious, sprawling and cinematic record This Place Will Be Your Tomb. Combining melancholic elements of pop, post-rock, post-hardcore and whimsical splashes of metalcore, Sleep Token are…well, different, and in their difference, somewhat polarizing. Sleep Token are a band enshrouded in mystery-and one who have rapidly gathered a cult following of sorts following the explosive success of their record Sundowning.
0 kommentar(er)
