Salutations!
I am a recent convert and will now use my witness as a confessional in the hopes to grow in my ritual. Please come and ritual with me!
I originally heard about Sleep Token probably from an article on Twitter. I followed them loosely since I found that article because I dug their sound. I was a fan of their singles as they were always bops. But around the time of Emergence, I realized I didn't know enough about what the band meant. I had asked people before and was always returned with the same answer, "It is different for different people." What the fuck does that mean?! I'd ask myself. Well, I have since dove head first into their discography and I am now a believer in the power of what Sleep Token's message is. It is one of empowerment and self sacrifice and guidance. Beautifully layered in a way that does draw and inspire new interpretations depending on the listener and climate.
So, I started on my journey listening from the One EP all the way until Caramel. And I am upset I waited so long. I have discovered multiple ways the story has spoken to me. I found the linear narrative right away but it became muddy after Tomb. So, I began to look at the songs themselves and try to find what each one meant individually. This is how most people, I feel, listen to this band. The release of Caramel has all but solidified that for me. (Which kudos to the band for releasing a single about the toxicity of their fans and realizing they needed to do things to drive up the toxicity in their own fans. I saw it as soon as I heard the single, even if the discord told me they are smarter than I am. Maybe they are, but I saw it before they did.)
Eventually, I ran out of songs to analyse on their own merits so I put the cultivated themes all together and discovered a cohesive storyline through Sundowning. I LOVED this album on my listen through. That was until I got to Blood Sport. Blood Sport is a great song and one most people list as one of their favorites, but I hated it in that moment. I hated the lack of resolution and the resigning to "sitting in it", which we later realize is a main theme of this group! So, I start listening to Tomb and the narrative feels less coherent, until I get to Alkaline. From that moment on, I'm locked into the concept of Tomb. I then begin to listen to the album I had the most experience in, Take Me Back to Eden, "When we were made, it was no accident." And that was when it clicked. The cycle of abuse and dependence. Then, the next item clicked moments later... the cycle of addiction.
Before long, I was blazing through tracks reliving each stanza as a new lick on my heart. I did more work. I overcame inside of me. I consumed, I digested, I grew.
So, that brings me here. Why am I giving away what I see? Because it is important. This band is one of the most important bands I have ever seen and all you need is a push. That's what I want to do.
Worship the ritual!
I originally heard about Sleep Token probably from an article on Twitter. I followed them loosely since I found that article because I dug their sound. I was a fan of their singles as they were always bops. But around the time of Emergence, I realized I didn't know enough about what the band meant. I had asked people before and was always returned with the same answer, "It is different for different people." What the fuck does that mean?! I'd ask myself. Well, I have since dove head first into their discography and I am now a believer in the power of what Sleep Token's message is. It is one of empowerment and self sacrifice and guidance. Beautifully layered in a way that does draw and inspire new interpretations depending on the listener and climate.
So, I started on my journey listening from the One EP all the way until Caramel. And I am upset I waited so long. I have discovered multiple ways the story has spoken to me. I found the linear narrative right away but it became muddy after Tomb. So, I began to look at the songs themselves and try to find what each one meant individually. This is how most people, I feel, listen to this band. The release of Caramel has all but solidified that for me. (Which kudos to the band for releasing a single about the toxicity of their fans and realizing they needed to do things to drive up the toxicity in their own fans. I saw it as soon as I heard the single, even if the discord told me they are smarter than I am. Maybe they are, but I saw it before they did.)
Eventually, I ran out of songs to analyse on their own merits so I put the cultivated themes all together and discovered a cohesive storyline through Sundowning. I LOVED this album on my listen through. That was until I got to Blood Sport. Blood Sport is a great song and one most people list as one of their favorites, but I hated it in that moment. I hated the lack of resolution and the resigning to "sitting in it", which we later realize is a main theme of this group! So, I start listening to Tomb and the narrative feels less coherent, until I get to Alkaline. From that moment on, I'm locked into the concept of Tomb. I then begin to listen to the album I had the most experience in, Take Me Back to Eden, "When we were made, it was no accident." And that was when it clicked. The cycle of abuse and dependence. Then, the next item clicked moments later... the cycle of addiction.
Before long, I was blazing through tracks reliving each stanza as a new lick on my heart. I did more work. I overcame inside of me. I consumed, I digested, I grew.
So, that brings me here. Why am I giving away what I see? Because it is important. This band is one of the most important bands I have ever seen and all you need is a push. That's what I want to do.
Worship the ritual!