REVIEW: Sleep Token - “Even in Arcadia” FULL ALBUM PRE-RELEASE
Starting with the near 8-minute opening track “Look To Windward”, the intro makes me think of the 8-bit music of the Sega era. I really like the slow build leading to Vessel's high notes we often get at live shows. The timing of the build and then the drop just work perfectly to get you excited for the album. Think Atlantic's effect but also completely different styles. This song mixes influences from metal alongside pop and rap as they have done before but it feels even more refined. II's drums continue to be shining moments as they always do. The outro is like a quick version of the song again with the 8-bit, high vocals and back into heaviness. I just really like how that closes the song. Where was this Sleep Token in the singles?!
Image credit: Sleep Token
I've already reviewed “Emergence” on the day of release and it wasn't exactly positive. I've had some time with it and I've grown to enjoy it but I'll keep it short. I really like the vocals, the lyrics are eloquent as usual. The song does take you on a journey but I stand by the sax at the end not being needed and feels like it was thrown in the attempt a vibe like the end of “The Summoning”. II saves this song, his fills really build the track.
“Past Self” currently stands as my lowest song on the album but one that I can see growing for sure. The backing instrumentals give a heavenly vibe. Very chilled but get tiring as it goes on. The lack of guitar and drums are noticeable quickly whereas songs such as “Aqua Regia” are absolutely fine without those elements.
“Dangerous” picks up where “Windward” left off and raises the bar again. There's a mysterious feel throughout the song utilising backing vocals to repeat Vessel's parts. This one experiments a fair bit and gives me the same sort of feeling that “The Apparition” gave me which is simply that it's a great song from the get go but will become one of my favourites in their catalogue after some time. "Won't you show me how to dance forever" will likely be stuck in my head for days.
“Caramel” is the only single I really enjoyed on release. It's the perfect “fuck off” to the incredibly strange side of the Sleep Token fanbase that really put off new fans from getting involved in the magic that is the Sleep Token lore and fandom. Vessel's singing range and ability really shine here and the cross between the soft first half and the heavy second half is delivered perfectly. Whilst completely different in styles, the said perfection between the styles reminds me of Avenged Sevenfold's “Buried Alive”. All the elements from both sides of the spectrum. "Stick to me like Caramel" has been stuck in my head for weeks and my co workers are fully aware. Finally! Finally we have that music from all the teasers and we can hear where it goes. The title track “Even in Arcadia” is one of my favourites on the album.
I feel it does slightly lack a bigger drop into heavy that I was expecting but it's not a massive deal. I adore the piano throughout the whole song. Vessel really sounds like there's emotion in his voice here, there's passion and there's pain and it's what I come to Sleep Token for. "Somehow I knew my fate, turns out the gods we thought were dying were just sharpening their blades" is a fucking incredible lyric and I'll certainly be thinking over what that can mean to them and to myself for some time. "Even in Arcadia you walk beside me still" gave me chills as it feels like one of the few really obvious references to the trilogy that came before; a trilogy that really resonated with me in parts. The song ends calmly and brings a certain peace to the mind and spirit. This is another example where the disappearance of guitars and drums aren't noticed as it doesn't need it.
“Provider” needed a good few listens for me to make a proper judgement. It really makes good use of poppy parts, a great use of bass and yep, the drums shine again. I think this song can grow to be one I really like but either way, they know how to make a catchy tone.
”Damocles” is my least favourite single and remains in the bottom 2 of the album. It's OK, it's fine, it's just a generic song. Nothing really stands out. Some of the lyrics are interesting and feels like a future ‘name redacted' look at the career of Vessel which can hit hard, I guess we all wonder if we'll make a name for ourselves or be forgotten. Might grow more on me with more listens of the album as a whole.
“Gethsemane” is track that, again, utilises many genres of music within. It's the limbo track for me where I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's good, I certainly don't dislike it but I don't get anything massive out of it other than wanting a cigarette.
Lastly, we find ourselves with “Infinite Baths”. Like the opener, we have a long track with 8:23. Anyone that knows me enough, knows I love my long songs. They start slow with an ever gradual yet noticeable build. The use of getting even slower in that mid section, with the speedy cymbal drumming into the end part of the song, which is heavy as fuck, is reminiscent of “Vore”, maybe even heavier, and it’s just wonderful. Some of the screams are visceral as shit too. It feels like Vessel and the rest of the band showing their pure anger whether it be at the crazy fans mentioned above, the world around them or the undying love for Sleep. It ends the album in a way that has me excited for the next album.
Overall, this is a good album that may grow on me more. If, like the majority of fans that came into the fandom with “Take Me Back To Eden”, you wanted a sequel to that album then you may sit here disappointed. I joined with “Sundowning” and I still sit here somewhat disappointed but it's a new side to the band and something I assume will go down very well with a lot of fans, and will sound huge at their Headline set at Download Festival 2025. It sits as my least favourite album of theirs right now, as the heights of “This Place Will Become Your Tomb” are higher than this, even if the lows of TPWBYT do also go lower than this.
7/10
“Even in Arcadia” is out on 9th May 2025.
Reviewed by: Keiran
Image credit: Sleep Token