Even In Arcadia - Sleep Token (2025)

Along with becoming extremely popular and signing to a major label, Sleep Token is also increasingly divisive among people who like heavy music. As somebody with a long history of contrarian feelings when my favorite bands become popular and grow up, I recognize the pattern. I just don’t buy into it anymore.

There’s a school of thought that music like this is uninspired pastiche, that it isn’t “serious” metal.

There’s the other side of the coin that sees the band as a truly balanced and mature take on the modern everything-goes world of post-genre music, summed up here as “fuck anybody that hates this album, dude.”

It’s true that they aren’t exactly the heaviest or loudest band you’ll ever hear. They aren’t particularly interested in being, I don’t think. The heavy parts are color added to the smart pop, dance, and rock elements that they also excel at.

If you hear it as being hackneyed or amateur or unserious, it probably says more about your steadily aging ideas of what a heavy rock band is. (see also)

Tracks I Liked

Look To Windward - not rocking enough? child, please

Dangerous - a tightly wired and explosive track

Gethsemane - the second-best song called “Gethsemane”