If I had to create a list of the most sonically interesting metal bands I’ve discovered over the last few years, Sleep Token would easily be in the top five. I first heard the band in 2021 through their biggest hit “The Offering” which appeared on a random rotation of Spotify songs. I was instantly hooked by the beautiful vocals mixed with grimy guitars tuned to the lowest note imaginable.  Since then, I’ve listened to most of the band’s albums and was incredibly excited when the band debuted the single “The Summoning” at the beginning of this year, hinting a new album would be on the horizon.

Finally, after weeks of releasing singles, the newest project Take Me Back to Eden released this weekend. Like most of Sleep Token’s previous work, this album blends many different genres together across the 12 songs. There are elements of pop, hip-hop, and funk mixed in with traditional metal riffs. Each track boasts an impressive array of performances from the main vocalist, Vessel, and never leaves you feeling bored.

The album starts off strong with “Chokehold” a raw vocal ballad that hits hard with an exceptional use of sparse instrumentals. The instrumentals accentuate the major emotional battle which comprises the core theme of the song.

Next is the epic lead single, “The Summoning.” The first half of this song is perfect for me with great vocal hooks, crushing low riffs, and breakdowns. It all comes together to convey an emotional story of love. The second half, however, transitions into a funk-style interlude that doesn’t quite hit the mark. It feels slightly tacked on and I think would have worked better if it was placed at the beginning of the track. This would have allowed for a more gradual escalation to the more extreme sections.

The album shifts next to a much softer indie-pop style sound with the songs “Granite” and “Aqua Regia.” Though I’m not well versed in the genre at all, I still found the songs decently performed with “Aqua Regia” being my favorite of the two. It has a nice hook and some soothing piano sections that I am always a sucker for.

Moving on, you can expect another dramatic tonal shift with the song “Vore.” Easily the heaviest song on the album, Vessel belts out ear-splitting death metal vocals accompanied by pounding drums. It feels a little out of place considering the two previous songs. However, if listened to in a vacuum this is probably my favorite song on the album. It contains so much emotion and captures all the aspects I want within a good metal song. It’s all here, with sharp contrasting vocals, ambiguous themes, and interesting production.

The second half of the album kicks off with “Ascensionism.” Diversity is the main theme once again here as the opening half of the song contains subtle hip-hop and R&B influences before transitioning towards a dramatic and extremely powerful second half. The second half showcases great production and performances from the entire band. Following this is “Are You Really Okay?” another slow vocal ballad that again builds beautifully towards a dramatic conclusion.

Both “The Apparition,” and “DYWTYLM” turns back towards the realm of electro-pop with prominent synths and programmed sample beats that guide the main tempo. I don’t hate these songs, but found “DYWTYLM” to be the weakest song here. It’s the only pure pop song and though it is much better than most of today’s hits, it didn’t do much for me. I gravitated much more towards the pop-fusion-focused “Apparition” and the following song “Rain” which is another of my favorite songs. I love the chorus as well as the use of live guitars to play a trap beat. It’s creative and works seamlessly with the style of the band.

Finally, we come to the title track itself. It is a suitably epic eight-minute song that certainly doesn’t disappoint. I loved the storytelling and constant tempo switches on display here. It is a wonderful song from beginning to end. It’s a shame that this wasn’t the final song on the album as the closing track “Euclid” is a little bit weak. It excels in all of the band’s usual areas but feels like it retreads some of the same ideas as earlier songs.

Overall, this is certainly the best album I have heard this year. If you are looking for a metal album that sounds different from everything else in the genre this is the band for you. Additionally, even if you aren’t a fan of the genre, I think you may find a song you enjoy here as well. There are a lot of elements here that push boundaries and try to deliver something fresh, while other songs perfect the band’s metal fusion sound explored through previous work.

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Take Me Back to Eden

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9.5

Score

9.5/10

Pros

• Diverse blend of genres
• Fantastic vocals
• Great mixing and production

Cons

• Some awkward song placement