Last year my youngest son surprised me with a Slipknot concert in Amsterdam. See the Posthere. We were both surprised by the supporting act, which was Sleep Token. This band really impressed us both. My son already said to me then "When they come to the Netherlands for their own performance, we'll go there".
We were therefore delighted when it was announced last summer that Sleep Token was coming to the Netherlands for a solo performance. The concert was in AFAS live, a not too big concert hall. Of course we bought tickets immediately and last Monday it was time.
Sleep Token is a London band that is shrouded in mystery. The musicians and backing vocalists are all dressed in masks. I did some research into the band and was surprised, they have been around since 2016 but have been releasing their music anonymously and are therefore also anonymous on stage. Nobody knows who they are. And I find that so special and it also tells me that the men are not interested in their fame but really in the music, the experience that they bring.
They appear to have their own "mythology" that says that Vessel (the singer) was visited in his dream in 2016 by the deity "Sleep", an entity that draws power from faith and devotion, resulting in great music. The songs they play are a so-called tribute to the mysterious force.
The story alone makes it something mystical and asks to be listened to, right?
The music style can't really be captured in one style, which maybe makes it a style in itself. There's progressive metal, pop, indie, ballads in it. In any case, something I've never heard together in such a way. The vocals are absolutely brilliant, the singer sounds exactly the same live as on the record, the drummer is an absolute beast and the guitars are heavier than heavy. My son and I already said to each other that this guitar was probably tuned down 2 or 3 notes.
As you can see, I'm super-enthusiastic, but that's because this really was a concert that you won't experience very often... The show, the mystique, the music... everything was right. It wasn't just watching a band, it was an experience in itself. You were completely sucked into a story that you didn't know where it would end. This is really something I've never seen before but that definitely tastes like more. It's a unique concept that has been thought through so well.
The songs alternated well, steaming guitars alternating with beautiful ballads in which the singer's voice is so typical of the sound...
Yes, I am a fan.....big fan....And this was a night to remember, made a precious musical memory with my son (again:) )
Take care,
Peter