SONG REVIEW: Sleep Token - “Emergence”
by Jesse James Smith
Sleep Token is back with a slew of new offerings that have everyone in an emotional frenzy. 6 days ago they put out a post with the simple caption “Prepare for a new offering” which in Sleep Token talk means, something of importance will be announced. Speculation started as the online FBI agents that is their fanbase started to deep dive into what the offering is. New song? New tour? As we sat in excitement and pondered, major arena’s changed their profile pictures to symbols of Sleep Token's first marketing move which sorted people into Harry Potter like houses, House Veridian & Feathered Host. This led to believe a new tour was on the horizon but also thanks to the FBI informants, a couple of lyric sights showed the name of Sleep Token’s new album set to be released sometime this year. Turns out it was both, plus a single from the album titled “Emergence” which we’re going to dive into, and after we’ll talk about what this means for Sleep Token.
In true Sleep Token fashion, Emergence is a true enigma of a song, breaking every rule and boundary of genres and the music industry. Clocking in at a crazy 6:21, this track changes genres at least 4 times. Starting off with a beautiful and soft vocal display from the frontman Vessel accompanied with a sweet piano composition. The first transition is where the tone shifts. One of the top moments for me of this song comes with the coolest synth arpeggio that kicks in to transition into a trap beat. Now the darker and heavier side of Sleep Token is shown in a masterclass of musicianship. Complex vocal melodies mixed with an ever changing genre landscape is just brilliant. As the song comes to end, they leave off with a last little treat with the last switch being a calming saxophone outro to leave us wanting more.
For Sleep Token, this is obviously a step into a new era after having RAPID success and becoming arguably one of the biggest bands in the world, but where is this going? TMBTE was the end of that story and to me, it was the perfect ending. How ‘Euclid’ wrapped right back into ‘The Night Does Not Belong To God’ actually gave me goosebumps. So what will this be? Whatever the lore, I am on board the Sleep Token train and it’s full steam ahead.