Sleep Token could be the most well liked commodity in rock proper now. Their music is in contrast to something we’ve seen earlier than on this stage, and the band’s complexity for music and storytelling really feel extra like a musical theater manufacturing than a regular idea album.
Assume the Rock Musical “Hire” however with a Djent-like orchestra pit backing it up… “Djent-Hire” if you’ll.
Vessel tells complicated tales of poisonous relationships, self-harm, probably even suicide and psychological sickness – all VERY relatable content material as of late. Couple that with their unusual anonymity, and unbelievable musicianship and you may have an ideal storm of intrigue and curiosity from audiences.
And we have established that there are callbacks all the best way again to the band’s EPs and earlier albums, and it begs the query… What’s all of it about?
There are numerous theories floating across the web about what the over-arching theme or story is for Sleep Token’s opus of labor throughout three albums.
My private view (One among many on the market…)
That is about an individual who has suffered a significant traumatic occasion — probably the lack of a beloved one who had a historical past with self-harm — and they’re utilizing the persona of “Vessel” and a relationship with the deity he calls “Sleep” to fill the void that has been left by this particular person’s passing.
But it surely turns poisonous and Vessel should take away himself from the world he practically made into his personal “tomb.” A combat to return to actuality after diving deep into despair and management in his personal thoughts… aka, Sleep.
Clearly, all the pieces is open to interpretation, however there are some context clues in what we have heard to show that that is an over-arching storyline that spans all three LPs, identical to a music theatre manufacturing.
That is the start of Vessel’s relationship with Sleep. Solely at evening can he absolutely join with Sleep (in a dream, maybe?). He begs for sleep and the evening, in order that he would possibly flip into Vessel once more, and “tangle” himself with Sleep on this promised “Eden.”
Principally, he’s asking Sleep to take him away from this waking world the place he suffered trauma and ship him to a paradise the place he not feels that ache.
This concept is additional solidified with the primary line of “The Providing…”
“You’re a backyard / Entwined with All…”
The Backyard might be the “Eden” he seeks to start with and is once more referenced within the band’s third album Take Me again to Eden.
There are additionally potential clues in “Levitate” about faintly recalling the traumatic occasion that despatched him into this dream world with Sleep.
There are indications by means of the remainder of the album that appear to reference Vessel telling Sleep about his previous life, and the troubles he needs to depart behind, in order that he would possibly be part of Sleep in his model of “Eden.”
Repeatedly, he asks Sleep to “Carve me out,” and “Break me aside,” asking Sleep to interrupt him of his earlier life and mildew him into one thing new.
Now that Vessel has been correctly “damaged” down, and dropped at his pure and fundamental type, he asks Sleep to fill him up along with his love and hold him on this dream world.
“So Flood me like Atlantic / Bandage up the trenches / Something to get me to Sleep.”
Vessel is actually giving up all the pieces he’s to be with Sleep and to be taken away from the waking world the place he could have suffered this traumatic occasion. “Don’t Wake Me.”
However because the album progresses, Vessel – who’s begging Sleep to maintain him – begins to peel again the layers of what Sleep is definitely providing.
Within the tune “Like That,” we see these first “whispers.”
Vessel learns that Sleep isn’t welcoming him into his paradise, however relatively trapping him in what’s going to turn out to be his “tomb.”
At this level, it’s clear Vessel is in a poisonous relationship with Sleep who abuses his unwavering devotion. Vessel is aware of, however would relatively stay on this, than be alone once more along with his trauma in actual life.
From right here, it is a backwards and forwards between Vessel and Sleep, exhibiting Sleep’s poisonous traits however Vessel’s lack of ability to flee what they’ve and his concern to return to what he can be with out Sleep. He’ll do something to NOT return, even mendacity ceaselessly in a tomb ready by Sleep.
“To go to sleep with out you mendacity subsequent to me
To sever my reference to all the pieces
‘Trigger it nonetheless makes my blood run chilly
To recollect what I did earlier than…
And I’ll reside like I’ve obtained lacking limbs for you.”
This album is the place the magic of Sleep Token begins to come back full circle. We have now adopted Vessel falling in love with a poisonous deity named Sleep, which now has his “tooth” sunk deeply into Vessel. Vessel is realizing how deep he’s fallen, and the way tight Sleep has him in his grips.
TMBTE is Vessel’s combat to free himself of Sleep’s poisonous maintain, realizing that is NOT the “Eden” he thought it could be. He now needs to flee the clutches of Sleep and is prepared to do something — together with summoning earlier “conquests” of Sleep — to assist him return, depart Sleep and get up.
However, in doing so, it’ll additionally fire up the ache he was making an attempt to flee. As Vessel fights to take away Sleep’s grip on him, Sleep reveals him the ache and anguish that awaits him if he does return.
We begin to get a glimpse, too, as to what MIGHT have been the traumatic occasion that despatched Vessel into this world of Sleep in “Are you Actually Okay?”
What’s seemingly the particular person he loves, coping with the results of self-harm, ultimately resulting in their demise. That is coincidentally adopted by “The Apparition.”
Lastly, within the title observe, “Take me Again To Eden,” Vessel declares that he’s prepared to depart, demanding that whereas he’s grateful for the love that Sleep confirmed him, he should take him “Again to Eden” — which Vessel initially THOUGHT was the paradise that Sleep supplied, however solely now realizes his “Eden” is again in actuality.
He has gone too far to flee his actuality and should defy Sleep and return.
(Observe the sounds within the background that SOUND like birds chirping… however are NOT! Extra like, what birds would possibly sound like if simulated in a dream world.)
Vessel has been destroyed. The particular person on this story is “Euclid,” which is outlined as “a replica of the identical.” Nonetheless the identical particular person bodily and mentally, however on the similar time, utterly completely different from who they had been earlier than.
“This bough has damaged by means of / I have to be somebody new”
The one who we knew as Vessel has deconstructed their trauma, processed it, and is now prepared to maneuver on with their lives, renewed, leaving solely reminiscences of Vessel and Sleep behind him.
-fin-
Is that this actually what Vessel and Sleep Token envisioned whereas they wrote their opus of fabric? It’s potential.
The good factor is, if you happen to discuss with followers, everybody can interpret particular person songs, albums and embrace the band’s EPs to imply one thing utterly completely different.
I’ve additionally heard folks say it’s somebody’s deconstruction of their spiritual upbringing, or the story of an individual leaving an abusive relationship, utilizing the story of Vessel and Sleep as a parallel to their views.
Possibly at some point Vessel will fill us in on what they actually meant with the tales they informed, or — probably — they received’t, and can depart it solely as much as followers to take it how they need.
No matter how you are taking it, although, all of us have one factor in frequent… we Worship.
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