SLEEP TOKEN – Brisbane, Australia 28th April 2023
The highly anticipated ‘Sleep Token‘ returned to Australian shores, headlining and selling out five of their very own mystifying shows, in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
In recent times the band have gained a significant rise in popularity. This UK band dabbles in heavy tracks, prog metal, synth, and jazz, to name a few, giving them a unique and diverse sound, that leaves you wanting more.
Sleep Token has already been in Australia once before, but as a support band, rather than a headliner. Northlane featured Sleep Token, along with Plini and Alt. as special guests in June 2022, and due to popular demand, they decided to return not even a year later, in April 2023; which is more than we can say for most bands when it comes to Australian tours.
Even after upgrading the Brisbane venue, the show sold out promptly, and in Brisbane’s ‘The Tivoli’, the max capacity of 1560 people showed up to view the masterpiece that was their set.
The stage set up, with cloaked band members, and followers dressed to match. The masks they donned were not just for hiding, they created a story for those who cared to listen; you don’t have to know about them to enjoy the music.
They opened with ‘Chokehold’, one of the most popular tracks across the board, for good reason. It depicts emotional lyrics, and gentle melodies, with heavy riffs to entice the listeners. ‘The Summoning’ was the second track to be played, a fan favorite and their most popular song to date, it carried through a similar tone to the first, with both songs featuring heavy and melodic instrumentation.
The lighting conveyed the different tones in their pieces perfectly. Enshrouding the stage in an array of colors, from neon purple to bold fuchsia to calming turquoise. It entranced you; only for harsh reds to radiate and dusty yellows to shine with the breakdowns and heavy riffs, creating surges of anticipation and exhilaration.
The sound was loud, something you’d want from any alternative concert, and Vessel’s vocals were on-point, transitioning to his falsetto flawlessly and nailing every scream. The bass was bone-rattling and it reverberated throughout the venue. Every riff was clear and each song was a hit for the crowd.
Vessel was mysterious throughout the show, he moved as if he were a puppet, and never verbally addressed the crowd. The bassist followed suit, and without words, he initiated clapping and hand swaying from the audience as everyone mimicked what he did. They controlled the crowd effortlessly, all the while jumping around, never missing a note.
Throughout the evening, they played songs from across all three albums; some of my personal favorites included ‘Atlantic’, ‘Aqua Regia’, and of course, ‘The Summoning’. The range of what they performed was extensive and hypnotizing, and it left the masses craving whatever’s in store for their upcoming album: ‘Take Me Back To Eden’.
Overall, Sleep Token proved to be intriguing at ‘The Tivoli’ show in Brisbane. Their versatility and musical skill were portrayed immaculately to all those that came to witness. Although vocal and instrumentation variety and poetic lyrics are not new concepts, Sleep Token’s take on such is a welcomed breath of fresh air. This group, with newfound popularity, has been given a bigger platform that will hopefully reach the ears and hearts of many more new fans to embrace them in 2023.
Review: Sage Rintala
Photos: Davey Rintala @fastlanephoto
