Sleep Token

Sleep Token are an English rock band formed in London in 2016. Their line-up centres on the pseudonymous performers Vessel and II, with additional touring members III and IV. The members do not publicly disclose their identities. In performance and promotional imagery, the group uses masks, robes, and body paint, maintaining a consistent visual presentation.

Style and approach

The band’s music draws on multiple genres, including progressive metal, alternative metal, djent, progressive rock, and pop. Their songs often combine shifting musical styles with thematic and narrative ideas, alongside introspective lyrics.

Early releases and first live shows

Sleep Token self-release their debut EP, One, in December 2016. This follows their first single, Thread the Needle, released in September 2016. They then release a cover of OutKast’s Hey Ya! in February 2017. In May 2017 they sign to Basick Records and issue their second EP, Two, after the singles Calcutta and Nazareth. They begin live performances in 2017, including support slots for other artists in London.

Expansion and recordings

In 2018, the band focuses mainly on live work and releases two standalone singles, Jaws and The Way That You Were. These later appear together on vinyl in 2021. During this period, Sleep Token also play broadcast sessions and festival dates in the United Kingdom, and hold their first headline concert in October 2018.

Albums on Spinefarm Records

Sleep Token sign to Spinefarm Records in June 2019 and release their debut studio album, Sundowning, in November that year. The album is promoted through a sequence of singles released at intervals before it appears, and it receives generally positive critical reception. The band supports it with shows in the United Kingdom and North America.

In 2020, planned live appearances are disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and several shows are cancelled. During that period, the band releases an expanded edition of Sundowning with extra piano-based material under the title The Room Below, alongside covers of When the Party's Over and I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).

The second studio album, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, follows in September 2021 after the singles Alkaline, The Love You Want, and Fall for Me. It marks the band’s first chart appearances in the United Kingdom. Promotion includes a headline tour and further live dates. In 2022, they continue touring, including festival performances and support tours with other artists. A solo Vessel performance, A Ritual from the Room Below, is also presented.

Breakthrough and later work

In early 2023, Sleep Token release a series of singles including Chokehold, The Summoning, Granite, and Aqua Regia. These appear on their third studio album, Take Me Back to Eden, released in May 2023. Carl Bown produces the album with Vessel as co-producer. It receives extensive critical attention and commercial success, with chart placements and industry awards. The band also plays international festivals and holds a sold-out headline concert at Wembley Arena in December 2023. By early 2024, the album has sold over 50,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

In February 2024, Sleep Token sign to RCA Records. They also announce Teeth of God, a graphic novel based on themes associated with Take Me Back to Eden.

In 2025, the band begins promoting new material through online media and interactive content. They release Emergence in March and announce their fourth studio album, Even in Arcadia, which appears in May 2025. The single charts in the United States. Later singles include Caramel and Damocles, both of which receive media coverage and chart activity. At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, Emergence is nominated for Best Metal Performance and Caramel for Best Rock Song. In December 2025, the band releases an official colouring book through a UK publisher.