So I’m all for this journey. Sleep Token is one of if not the best out there right now. But if you’re going to do this start from the very beginning and listen to it all. Their three albums are meant to be listened to chronologically. I envy you. What id give to go back and hear these songs again for the first time.
It's especially interesting from a mental health perspective, as the progression shows its own growths and adaptations, chronicling reciprocating toxic behavior, obsession, and with the use of and the move away from unhealthy coping mechanisms.
YES !!! My favorite line in the song. My other favorite clever line is in "Rain" where he says "Refracted in Light, Reflected in Sound"...he's talking about lightning and thunder. Vessel's lyrics are the best. ❤
with so much more gravity though. the insect is just infatuated with the beauty of this giant flame, unaware of the danger to it, unaware of the deep emotions underlying it, its this massive powerful daunting melancholy object of obsession.
So the lead singer of sleep token (vessel) had dreams basically and an old god came and spoke to him, and now he acts as a vessel to spread the word of that old god. They are so good!
it told him to bring more so he (not a real cult) made a cult and is using music to attract people as more vessels "You need someone to be" in one of their other songs
“Life is dark. Life is bright. Life is ugly. Life is beautiful. Don’t get lost in genres, they’ll only disorientate you. Music is for everyone.” -Vessel 2017 Here to Worship" And therapy never hurts. Welcome to the journey.
Please do more Sleep Token, their music carries so much weight and their style is like no other. Almost every song feels different and goes through so many genres of music.
When the guitars kicked in and the Therapist looked at the screen and nodded approvingly, I ocasionaly nodded back at him. This track helps feel people from a distance.
I have long awaited you embarking on your journey with Sleep Token. Favorite band as of late and you are my favorite reactor. Couldn't've wished for more.
This band reset my humanity. I saw them live a couple of months ago. I still haven't come down. Their albums are a triptych. They are chronological as well. You would do yourself a great service by listening to them in order. I for one will stay with you through the entire journey.
I've been watching Sleep Token reactions from various channels for over a year now and these never get old. Please do a deep dive into all of their stuff. Even if you don't go back to the very beginning with all of the EPs, definitely start at Sundowning and work your way through. Just found your channel and will definitely be back!
I discovered sleep token a week ago, and am still trying to understand what their music is doing to me. So far it has been a cleansing feeling for me, as if I have some deposits in my head, blockages that need clearing. I've been listening to music forever, and I can't remember the last time, if ever and certainly not in such quantities, that music gave me something like this.
After saying “I don’t know what’s got its teeth in me but I’m about to bite back in anger” he switches from I will travel far beyond the path of reason to I HAVE traveled far beyond it. Sends me every time
As a side note, it's a popular theory that the gods spoken of through many of their songs are neurotrsmitters, sort of implying chemicaly induced mood swings from imbalances.
Sleep token have a lot of love related songs, and I'd be interested in hearing your reaction to things like "Love you want" , "Fall For me" and "Like that" But most of all, I think me and everyone else would love to hear you react to "Blood Sport" Its one of my favorites, and the singer, Vessel I, cries at the end of it in the song, and also cries whenever he performs it And I really would love a breakdown of what it could mean, and what that might mean to him ❤
I am loving your wisdom of this song. You are spot on with the meaning here. ST have so many songs that correlate to life and its challenges, especially in relationships since Vessel speaks of his relationship with a deity called “Sleep”. Please check out more of their songs cause the imagery and metaphors are unreal!
Oh boy, you're in for a ride. I'd highly recommend starting from the very first song and go chronologically from their EPs through their 3 albums, since it's all connected and whole concept and story unfolding.
Definitely excited for this, you should totally react to them! Vessel has the types of songs that hit deep, and he has some of the best vocals I've ever heard
Yes do more sleep token i love thier music and lyrics. The lyrics get so deep and i would love to hear what you have to say about them. I also love your channel, i want to be a therapist some day and ive also always felt very connected to music and i love the psychology behind lyrics and the way you explain them.
Amazing Review! My all time favorite is "Blood Sport" from the Room Below. Such an incredible song with just him and his piano. One of the best male vocalist on the scene right now. CHILLS!!!
Dark Signs is one of my favorite songs of all time! I found their music when I was going through a very dark period in my life. I felt like Vessel really captured what a nasty combination regret and depression can be.
So interestingly enough, you have begun at the ending. TMBTE, the song, is the culmination of the album and basically coming to terms with whatever toxic relationship/experience the album/series of albums is about. There is the literal interpretation that it is all about an other worldly worship of a deity called Sleep or it could all just be metaphor about actual lived events. Either way, there is truly deep and profound sadness throughout all of STs music that is very relatable in everyone's journey with loss, addiction, and healing. Great reaction, hope to see more soon.
Thank you for what you do Tom. 🙏 SLEEP TOKEN is the greatest band I've found since my teenage years. My GF and I are seeing them live on our Euro Trip in December. Can't wait! 🔥🔥
for me take me back to eden is just the realization of a person who is facing the real world and is forced to give up his dreams in order to acommodate to todays requirements to not be seen as a failure. I pretty much am exactly that person lol. I had a lot of dreams, but none of them would spark and before I knew I was stuck in a 9 to 5 to pay the bills, renting a way too expensive appartment.. 😂
The way you broke the song down makes perfect sense. I heard it a million times already, but never thought of it the way you did. Loved the reaction. Please react to more sleep token! Thanks.
Sleep Token are amazing musically and lyrically, but especially if you're going at it from a therapist's angle - boy, what a journey you have ahead of you! I can only stress what others have said: go through their catalogue (at least the albums) chronologically. There are a lot of thematic throughlines and cross-references you will otherwise miss.
Vessel is a wordsmith with lyrics. His use of imagery and allegory are unlike anything I've come across in music. I'm 58 years old and just listened to their discography yesterday and have become a huge fan. As a Christian, I see their music as a spiritual journey, fighting the demons of life along the way and longing for the youthful innocence that life has taken from them. Great analysis on your part as well. Glad I came across your channel!
YAYY U FINALLY REACTED TO SLEEP TOKEN! I have so many songs to recommend but I feel like the best way is to start from the beginning if you could, they only have three albums (+ two EP's) and they are connected, they talk about vessel (the vocalist, song writer, producer) and his journey through what seems to be an abusive relationship, at first he doesn't realize it and it feels really good when he finally does, when he faces that person for who they truly are and not what they claimed to be
their two EP's were out before their first album "Sundowning" and each EP has three songs, you can start off from there since both EP's are briliant :3
Nice reaction! This band is phenomenal. I saw them live this year and it was incredible, full of emotion, mystery and just exceptional musicianship. Their music takes you through pain, insecurity, longing, anger, desire, heartache and hope. Someone said they share feelings you’ve always had but couldn’t put into words. As others have said it’s worth it to listen to their discography in order but that would be a lot of reactions! But I am here for it if you do!
Start from the start, the 3 albums are a trilogy and tell the story of a toxic relationship between the lead singer (Vessel) and his goddess (Sleep). You can listen to the music and enjoy without the lore but honestly if you like unpicking the lyrics and finding the meaning in the songs Sleep Token are life changing. Almost every song gives me goose bumps and I have openly cried listening to their songs, they hit that hard. Subscribed and I am anxiously awaiting your reaction to the 1st song on Sundowning, The Night Does Not Belong to God.
The beginning forward makes most sense. Just make sure you: - Do "The Night Does Not Belong to God" before "Euclid". - Get to "Atlantic", definitely mental health based.. won't say more so I don't spoil it. - Prob start with "Thread the Needle", "Nazareth", and then "Jaws" as it is the original few that set the tone and explain the start of the journey. - Personally "Rain" is a favorite of mine, I just hope you can bring some psycho-analizarion to that song we well as "Are You Really Okay?", "Atlantic", and possibly "Blood Sport". Lastly "The Summoning" is their biggest recent song. Again, won't spoil but will say a neat take would be to psycho-analyze the music on that one as well as the lyrics!
Definitely do the journey! I love your breakdowns of the lyrics and meanings. It aligns with mine. Go all the way back to the EPs which build the lore and background of the band and music. Then Sundowning (plus extras and covers), This Place Will Become your Tomb, and Take Me Back To Eden albums in order. They're a trilogy of albums that tell a compelling story of love, loss, and trauma that is unlike anything I've heard before in music. Vessel's lyrics are insanely good and extremely deep.
Rain. That song. It feels good. This band has helped me through my dark times. I'm in a great spot now and the song rain is such a great song to express the relief.
For me, this reaction is so on point. As someone who’s had to “bite back” at my post-traumatic stress disorder, Sleep Token’s songs really speak to me. Indeed, this song convinces me that Vessel’s thinking has become disordered as a result of his trauma-“beyond the path of reason”. He experiences a profound dissonance between two selves: the pre-traumatic, innocent self he longs to become again (“take me back to Eden”); and the post-traumatic self which is drowning the other self in darkness. The pre-traumatic self is located in "Eden", a place of genesis and innocence. But there is no going back to Eden-"No amount of self-sought fury will bring back the glory of innocence". And so, as he exclaims in the following track, Euclid, he must wrench ownership of the darkness away from his fate (“the night belongs to you”) and “be someone new”. It is the only way to accept and move past his trauma. That’s my (very) personal interpretation anyway. Thank you so much for this brilliant reaction, and for highlighting the importance of mental health. You should 100% do more Sleep Token songs. I’d love to know if you share my interpretation of Euclid.
Thanks for posting this. My interpretation of “path of reason” is a bit different, but I definitely appreciate this point of view. It brought me right to the Tool lyric in Lateralus, “drawn beyond the lines of reason”, which is, to me, moving beyond the ego, and following intuition. So it’s like Vessel is going on some kind of vision quest, to try to suppress the ego, in the hopes of regaining his innocence. But then the lesson he learns at the end, even though he’s gone through this journey, and now realizes that human bonds are the most precious things, he becomes melancholy, then eventually frustrated, that that journey and realization never brings him peace, and never restores his innocence. At the end of the song it’s like he’s banging at the windows of a home he’ll never be let back into.
Here is a list of Sleep Token songs. EP One, EP Two, a few covers and singles, then the three albums - Sundowning, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, then the latest, Take Me Back To Eden. The albums are a trilogy. All of the music is based on the Goddess of Sleep, which appeared to Vessel (the singer, who writes all music and plays all instruments in studio except drums) in his dreams. All of the music is a token for the goddess, but the relationship is toxic. The drummer, known as II, writes the songs with Vessel. III is the touring bassist, and IV is the touring guitarist. The tour includes Espera, a three person group, who provides backing vocals, which are all done by Vessel on the recordings. I hope this helps you with your journey, there isn’t a bad song in their entire discography.❤️
I really recommend you start with the beginning for your personal edification. This is a trilogy of albums that tells one story of love of toxicity and abuse and then ends with the most beautiful goodbye ever written in Euclid. Highly recommend. Take me back to Eden is the end of the relationship at it's most toxic. And him begging for it to go back to when they first met. To take him back to that paradise. Ending with his rage that they never will.
It's the fall... from paradise to hell... from where now that he lost, seemed to be paradise, to the deepest pain down. That's is one of few musics that don't end, just fade away
I'm so glad you want to listen to Sleep Token! I love how insightful your reactions are, and this is the perfect band for that. You almost can't go wrong with a song, but for context, their most recent three albums are a trilogy that, from my interpretation, are about a toxic relationship and how it gradually broke down over time. There's a lot of thematic callbacks and story that you can get from listening in order, so I would LOVE to see you go through all of them, but it's obviously a lot of content. Either way, looking forward to it!
Being in my thirties, I've wised up enough to know history happening when I see it... I've been following these guys since thirty-four thousand followers and I have regretted NOTHING. I'm so excited to see the future unfold for these guys
Very inspiring! Your take on the lyrics really resonate with me! Know that there is a concept with the band, there is lore and a story that drives his songwriting but everything song is meant to be relatabale even when taken out of context and that’s where, I believe, the genius of this band lies…
Really interesting perspectives and I love listening to everyone interpretations of the lyrics, really appreciate the depth you go into! Personally I interpret the the “no amount of self-sought fury will bring back the glory of innocence” as ‘no matter how justified in my anger and betrayal I feel about what happened, it will never undo what is done, living in that anger will not bring back who I was before this’
I think some of the essentials to check out on ur Sleep Token journey would be Chokehold, The Summoning, The Apparition and Granite. Then i think some slightly more under appreciated ones that id recommend checking out is Alkaline, Rain, The Offering and Higher
If this is a journey... the perfect place to start. "The night does not belong to god" They have 3 albums. Sundowing This place will become your tomb Take me back to eden. When put together they form a twisting story of Sleep and Vessel. As far as faith goes they seem to follow a polytheistic mix of influence. They frequently reference themes of biblical God and stories but additionally have other influences and a devition to a deity known simply as "Sleep"
I am subscribed and ready to go on a Sleep Token journey with you. They are my favorite band. I personally think that you should do the "Take me Back to Eden" album first in order and then go back to the beginning of the trilogy which is "Sundowning" and then "This Place Will Become Your Tomb". The reason I say that is because I tried to go back early on in my journey and listen to older stuff and I wasn't ready to appreciate or understand it. After the "Take me Back to Eden Album" I was hooked and more familiar with their style. Then after the trilogy, (Sundowning, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, Take Me Back to Eden), I would listen to the first 2 albums..."One" and "Two". There are also covers, singles and "room below" versions that aren't on the albums as well. Vessel's lyrics are amazing so make sure to have the lyrics pulled up off to the side. They are so clever. I loved this reaction ! I can't wait to see more ! ❤
This whole album is a modern masterpiece, Tom. They kind of remind me of a metal version of TOP cuz of the lore in their music and all the genre blending. They're called Sleep Token cuz they worship a mythological goddess called Sleep and every song is an offering or Token to her and in their live performances and music videos they wear cloaks and masks to conceal their identities along with using aliases.
your interpretation of the "told me not to breathe" line was interesting i always took it as noone told him not to breathe because he would drown "diving in crystal waters"
I think you're really going to like this band, I watched a reaction to the summoning a month ago and spent hours binge watching reactions because of how good that song was. made me do a deep dive into their catalog and their albums all got added to the spotify list I listen to. Band has a lot of different song feels to it, deep messages and the lead singer (vessel) has covers like Hey ya (outkast), Dance with somebody (whitney houston) and a live performance of Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley/Leonard Cohen) that is very powerful. I'm sure someone is going to lore dump you about the band way better than I could but from what I gathered the members are Vessel (lead singer) II [pronounced TWO] (drummer) then during live stuff they have III (bass) and IV (guitar) join them. they all wear masks and their identity is "secret", although of course people have spoiled who they are so be careful if you google them, I've been lucky to avoid seeing who they really are.
Are You Really Okay? or DYWTYLM should be top of the list for a therapist to react to. Every song is unique and incredible, can’t go wrong. I have a few over favorites, but I basically listened to Alkaline and then the newest album over and over
What I really like about Sleep Token is the way in which the lyrics are written. You can interpret the lyrics in so many different ways. I think this is really unique and I really that 😊
I think it's so worth while to listen to the trilogy of albums in order. Their lyrics are so incredibly beautiful and meaningful. In order the tell a story. The Lyrica and rhythms tie into together, referring directly to the start of the albums, Sundowning. The order is; Sundowning, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, and Take Me Back To Eden. I promise the ending will be much more meaningful if you experience the journey. Additionally, I promise I'll watch every video 😂
I have been waiting for you to react to Sleep Token for so long now. The excitement when I saw this was uploaded four days ago was overwhelming. I would love to see you react to all three albums in chronicle order. (Sundowning is my favorite)
sleep token have their own ~lore~ in a similar way to twenty one pilots, you won’t regret going down this rabbit hole, i promise you (sleep token fans are obsessed with watching people react to them for the first time, too - it’s as close as we can get to reliving what it felt like the first time we heard their songs! so if you react to more, the people will come 😂) in terms of listening order, as most people have said, you could start from the very beginning, though i think if you’re just aiming to look at lyrics through a mental health lens and not wanting to deep dive into the lore, that it doesn’t really matter where you start. as long as euclid is the last song you listen to, the rest can be kinda whatever keeping my fingers and toes crossed to see more sleep token from you on the channel! this just made MY day so thank you!!! 💖💖💖💖
9:55 *exhales thc and finishes twisted tea* "huh?" seriously though, hearing your words about those 4 lines flipped a switch in me in some way. i woke up this morning feeling different after watching this last night and had to come back to thank you.
Highly recommend you run through the whole Sleep Token series. Read the original Metal Hammer interview with Vessel, then the EPs in order, and all three albums in order. You’ll love this journey as a therapist!
Yayyyyyy so excited to see another person react to the best band everrrr. Your input regarding the song and mental health brought me to tears!!! I would start at the beginning of this album and react to “chokehold” and then “the summoning” etc and then when you finish their most current album you can cycle back 🎉
Tool in my opinion is the greatest band but these guys are getting up there. TMBTE as an album but most of all the song is rarified air. Excellent album and i have the song as my #2 all time behind TOOL's Pushit (Salival Version). Im truly in awe of this band and dont know how they can top this but as a fan im eager to see.
Hey Man! I’m very eager for you to start this journey! Sleep Token has became a huge part of my life in the last two years. You asked how should you go about this journey with them so I really suggest you go back to their first ep One and continue through track to track til you get to their latest album Take Me Back to Eden. You’ll get to witness his growth that way.
So this album is the last of the trilogy. But it you really want to dive deep you gotta start with the EPs, then the trilogy starts with Sundowning, then TPWBYT, then this one. Worship 🖤
It’s a giant story and it’s a trilogy. You have to start from the beginning album. There is a couple of songs about the birth of Vessel (the lead singer) that came out on EPs
Like others have said, their 2 eps, and 3 albums are a story. If you want full context, and the answers to the questions you asked in this video, youd have to start at the beginning.
I am curious to see your interpretation-or what it means to you. Vessel, when asked what particular songs mean, has always said its whatever you ascribe to it. It has its meaning to him obviously, but he wrote the songs in a way that allows the listener to take the overall concept and see how they apply it to themselves. The albums he wrote lyrically and musically and recorded each part except for drums on the first 2, which is insane when you really listen and hear all the different things as well as the instruments there are. There is the ‘lore’ designed to go along with their work revolving around a deity “Sleep” that visited in a dream. There are a lot of metaphors throughout that have a religious reference, but it’s not necessary to really ascribe to that to understand the aspects of relationships he writes about. They wanted to remain anonymous (hints the masks, painting their skin, camouflaging their hair, and not usually speaking) but it hasn’t stayed that way unfortunately; but people still try to respect their wishes and use the names that have given as a part of the band. Vessel (lead, writer, musician, vocalist), II (drummer), III (base player), IV(guitar & harsh Vocals, & when performed live vessel is backed by a trio called Espera (trio of 3 female vocalists). Can’t wait to see what you think!
So I’m all for this journey. Sleep Token is one of if not the best out there right now. But if you’re going to do this start from the very beginning and listen to it all. Their three albums are meant to be listened to chronologically. I envy you. What id give to go back and hear these songs again for the first time.
ep one
@@AUmica01 honestly I’m not big on one. Two was solid tho. I prefer the previous bands songs over one tho
Let this man discover Sleep token the way the universe intended lol
It's especially interesting from a mental health perspective, as the progression shows its own growths and adaptations, chronicling reciprocating toxic behavior, obsession, and with the use of and the move away from unhealthy coping mechanisms.
I completely agree
"I'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre" beautiful way to say Like a moth to a flame
YES !!! My favorite line in the song. My other favorite clever line is in "Rain" where he says "Refracted in Light, Reflected in Sound"...he's talking about lightning and thunder. Vessel's lyrics are the best. ❤
with so much more gravity though. the insect is just infatuated with the beauty of this giant flame, unaware of the danger to it, unaware of the deep emotions underlying it, its this massive powerful daunting melancholy object of obsession.
So the lead singer of sleep token (vessel) had dreams basically and an old god came and spoke to him, and now he acts as a vessel to spread the word of that old god. They are so good!
it told him to bring more so he (not a real cult) made a cult and is using music to attract people as more vessels
"You need someone to be" in one of their other songs
Love most of ST songs but 💯 the stans are a cult.
“Life is dark. Life is bright. Life is ugly. Life is beautiful. Don’t get lost in genres, they’ll only disorientate you. Music is for everyone.” -Vessel 2017
Here to Worship"
And therapy never hurts.
Welcome to the journey.
And so begins the long awaited sleep token series!
Yes, do more Sleep Token please! There's a lot you can unpack from their music from a mental health perspective.
Worship!
Please do more Sleep Token, their music carries so much weight and their style is like no other. Almost every song feels different and goes through so many genres of music.
Oh LETS GO. If you want a therapy journey, start from the beginning. You’ll thrive in this journey 😭
Amen
One of the few songs that actually gives me chills
this! honestly, even though I listen to it quite often, yet it still makes me almost feel the same way as I did when I first listened to it
When the guitars kicked in and the Therapist looked at the screen and nodded approvingly, I ocasionaly nodded back at him. This track helps feel people from a distance.
I have long awaited you embarking on your journey with Sleep Token. Favorite band as of late and you are my favorite reactor. Couldn't've wished for more.
This band reset my humanity. I saw them live a couple of months ago. I still haven't come down.
Their albums are a triptych. They are chronological as well. You would do yourself a great service by listening to them in order. I for one will stay with you through the entire journey.
seen them live 5 months ago and i still can’t believe it. i totally understand. it was actual life changing.
I've been watching Sleep Token reactions from various channels for over a year now and these never get old. Please do a deep dive into all of their stuff. Even if you don't go back to the very beginning with all of the EPs, definitely start at Sundowning and work your way through. Just found your channel and will definitely be back!
I discovered sleep token a week ago, and am still trying to understand what their music is doing to me. So far it has been a cleansing feeling for me, as if I have some deposits in my head, blockages that need clearing. I've been listening to music forever, and I can't remember the last time, if ever and certainly not in such quantities, that music gave me something like this.
After saying “I don’t know what’s got its teeth in me but I’m about to bite back in anger” he switches from I will travel far beyond the path of reason to I HAVE traveled far beyond it. Sends me every time
Omfg you are for real. I didn't notice this. I'm new to ST. And FUCK ME.
THE SQUEAL I JUST SQUEALED SEEING THAT YOURE REACTING TO SLEEP TOKEN
EEEEEEEE IM SO EXCITED TO WATCH!!
Oh man, I wish I could experience Sleep Token for the first time again! The best word I can think of to describe finding this band is "magical."
As a side note, it's a popular theory that the gods spoken of through many of their songs are neurotrsmitters, sort of implying chemicaly induced mood swings from imbalances.
I am SOOOOO excited for more Sleep Token reactions!!!
Sleep token have a lot of love related songs, and I'd be interested in hearing your reaction to things like "Love you want" , "Fall For me" and "Like that"
But most of all, I think me and everyone else would love to hear you react to "Blood Sport"
Its one of my favorites, and the singer, Vessel I, cries at the end of it in the song, and also cries whenever he performs it
And I really would love a breakdown of what it could mean, and what that might mean to him ❤
so fucking real best comment best song best artist
Долбанные спойлеры...
a Christian therapist appreciating Sleep Token and saying such insightful things about their lyrics? Immediate subscribe.
Oh man.. strap in my guy, it only gets crazier from here. Worship!
I am loving your wisdom of this song. You are spot on with the meaning here. ST have so many songs that correlate to life and its challenges, especially in relationships since Vessel speaks of his relationship with a deity called “Sleep”. Please check out more of their songs cause the imagery and metaphors are unreal!
Oh boy, you're in for a ride. I'd highly recommend starting from the very first song and go chronologically from their EPs through their 3 albums, since it's all connected and whole concept and story unfolding.
Definitely excited for this, you should totally react to them! Vessel has the types of songs that hit deep, and he has some of the best vocals I've ever heard
Yes do more sleep token i love thier music and lyrics. The lyrics get so deep and i would love to hear what you have to say about them. I also love your channel, i want to be a therapist some day and ive also always felt very connected to music and i love the psychology behind lyrics and the way you explain them.
Amazing Review! My all time favorite is "Blood Sport" from the Room Below. Such an incredible song with just him and his piano. One of the best male vocalist on the scene right now. CHILLS!!!
THE SUMMONING PLEASEEEEEE
Dark Signs is one of my favorite songs of all time! I found their music when I was going through a very dark period in my life. I felt like Vessel really captured what a nasty combination regret and depression can be.
AAHH!!! I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE DOING SLEEP TOKEN!! THEM AND TWENTY ONE PILOTS ARE MY 2 FAVORITE BANDS!!
I'll be there for Sleep Token as well, I can't wait, November seems so far away!
Yes sleep token my favorite band, full of beautiful music and deep lyricism, id love to hear your thoughts on more of their songs
So interestingly enough, you have begun at the ending. TMBTE, the song, is the culmination of the album and basically coming to terms with whatever toxic relationship/experience the album/series of albums is about. There is the literal interpretation that it is all about an other worldly worship of a deity called Sleep or it could all just be metaphor about actual lived events. Either way, there is truly deep and profound sadness throughout all of STs music that is very relatable in everyone's journey with loss, addiction, and healing. Great reaction, hope to see more soon.
Thank you for what you do Tom. 🙏 SLEEP TOKEN is the greatest band I've found since my teenage years. My GF and I are seeing them live on our Euro Trip in December. Can't wait! 🔥🔥
About time .... The entire trilogy is worth exploring start to finish ....
for me take me back to eden is just the realization of a person who is facing the real world and is forced to give up his dreams in order to acommodate to todays requirements to not be seen as a failure. I pretty much am exactly that person lol. I had a lot of dreams, but none of them would spark and before I knew I was stuck in a 9 to 5 to pay the bills, renting a way too expensive appartment.. 😂
I'm all in for the journey, start to finish. Let's go!
The way you broke the song down makes perfect sense. I heard it a million times already, but never thought of it the way you did. Loved the reaction. Please react to more sleep token! Thanks.
Best analysis of this song I’ve seen, and I’ve watched many. Thank you!
Sleep Token are amazing musically and lyrically, but especially if you're going at it from a therapist's angle - boy, what a journey you have ahead of you! I can only stress what others have said: go through their catalogue (at least the albums) chronologically. There are a lot of thematic throughlines and cross-references you will otherwise miss.
"Sleep Token - The Summoning" is by far my favorite song by them. Hyped you are checking them out!
They are an amazing band
Vessel is a wordsmith with lyrics. His use of imagery and allegory are unlike anything I've come across in music. I'm 58 years old and just listened to their discography yesterday and have become a huge fan. As a Christian, I see their music as a spiritual journey, fighting the demons of life along the way and longing for the youthful innocence that life has taken from them. Great analysis on your part as well. Glad I came across your channel!
This song references the first song of the album “chokehold” that is a great place to go next and work your way down the album! Enjoy the ride!
YAYY U FINALLY REACTED TO SLEEP TOKEN! I have so many songs to recommend but I feel like the best way is to start from the beginning if you could, they only have three albums (+ two EP's) and they are connected, they talk about vessel (the vocalist, song writer, producer) and his journey through what seems to be an abusive relationship, at first he doesn't realize it and it feels really good when he finally does, when he faces that person for who they truly are and not what they claimed to be
their two EP's were out before their first album "Sundowning" and each EP has three songs, you can start off from there since both EP's are briliant :3
Nice reaction! This band is phenomenal. I saw them live this year and it was incredible, full of emotion, mystery and just exceptional musicianship. Their music takes you through pain, insecurity, longing, anger, desire, heartache and hope. Someone said they share feelings you’ve always had but couldn’t put into words. As others have said it’s worth it to listen to their discography in order but that would be a lot of reactions! But I am here for it if you do!
Start from the start, the 3 albums are a trilogy and tell the story of a toxic relationship between the lead singer (Vessel) and his goddess (Sleep). You can listen to the music and enjoy without the lore but honestly if you like unpicking the lyrics and finding the meaning in the songs Sleep Token are life changing. Almost every song gives me goose bumps and I have openly cried listening to their songs, they hit that hard. Subscribed and I am anxiously awaiting your reaction to the 1st song on Sundowning, The Night Does Not Belong to God.
I definitely think going front to back is a good idea but some of my favorites are Ascensionism and Are You Really Okay? Those two are amazing.
The beginning forward makes most sense. Just make sure you:
- Do "The Night Does Not Belong to God" before "Euclid".
- Get to "Atlantic", definitely mental health based.. won't say more so I don't spoil it.
- Prob start with "Thread the Needle", "Nazareth", and then "Jaws" as it is the original few that set the tone and explain the start of the journey.
- Personally "Rain" is a favorite of mine, I just hope you can bring some psycho-analizarion to that song we well as "Are You Really Okay?", "Atlantic", and possibly "Blood Sport".
Lastly "The Summoning" is their biggest recent song. Again, won't spoil but will say a neat take would be to psycho-analyze the music on that one as well as the lyrics!
Definitely do the journey! I love your breakdowns of the lyrics and meanings. It aligns with mine. Go all the way back to the EPs which build the lore and background of the band and music. Then Sundowning (plus extras and covers), This Place Will Become your Tomb, and Take Me Back To Eden albums in order. They're a trilogy of albums that tell a compelling story of love, loss, and trauma that is unlike anything I've heard before in music. Vessel's lyrics are insanely good and extremely deep.
Rain. That song. It feels good. This band has helped me through my dark times. I'm in a great spot now and the song rain is such a great song to express the relief.
Yes let's go!!! Here for this❤
Yesss im so excited for this journey
For me, this reaction is so on point. As someone who’s had to “bite back” at my post-traumatic stress disorder, Sleep Token’s songs really speak to me. Indeed, this song convinces me that Vessel’s thinking has become disordered as a result of his trauma-“beyond the path of reason”. He experiences a profound dissonance between two selves: the pre-traumatic, innocent self he longs to become again (“take me back to Eden”); and the post-traumatic self which is drowning the other self in darkness.
The pre-traumatic self is located in "Eden", a place of genesis and innocence. But there is no going back to Eden-"No amount of self-sought fury will bring back the glory of innocence". And so, as he exclaims in the following track, Euclid, he must wrench ownership of the darkness away from his fate (“the night belongs to you”) and “be someone new”. It is the only way to accept and move past his trauma.
That’s my (very) personal interpretation anyway. Thank you so much for this brilliant reaction, and for highlighting the importance of mental health. You should 100% do more Sleep Token songs. I’d love to know if you share my interpretation of Euclid.
Than you! Appreciate your interpretation😊🙏
Thanks for posting this. My interpretation of “path of reason” is a bit different, but I definitely appreciate this point of view. It brought me right to the Tool lyric in Lateralus, “drawn beyond the lines of reason”, which is, to me, moving beyond the ego, and following intuition. So it’s like Vessel is going on some kind of vision quest, to try to suppress the ego, in the hopes of regaining his innocence. But then the lesson he learns at the end, even though he’s gone through this journey, and now realizes that human bonds are the most precious things, he becomes melancholy, then eventually frustrated, that that journey and realization never brings him peace, and never restores his innocence. At the end of the song it’s like he’s banging at the windows of a home he’ll never be let back into.
if you want the full experience of the story, start at their first EP and go through chronologically !!!! i love this band more than words
Here is a list of Sleep Token songs. EP One, EP Two, a few covers and singles, then the three albums - Sundowning, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, then the latest, Take Me Back To Eden. The albums are a trilogy. All of the music is based on the Goddess of Sleep, which appeared to Vessel (the singer, who writes all music and plays all instruments in studio except drums) in his dreams. All of the music is a token for the goddess, but the relationship is toxic. The drummer, known as II, writes the songs with Vessel. III is the touring bassist, and IV is the touring guitarist. The tour includes Espera, a three person group, who provides backing vocals, which are all done by Vessel on the recordings. I hope this helps you with your journey, there isn’t a bad song in their entire discography.❤️
Not sure I’m ready for this but I’m ready 😳😳😳
I feel this song is someone begging and pleading to go back when life was good. He realizes he can’t ever go back. This song is about letting go.
I really recommend you start with the beginning for your personal edification. This is a trilogy of albums that tells one story of love of toxicity and abuse and then ends with the most beautiful goodbye ever written in Euclid. Highly recommend. Take me back to Eden is the end of the relationship at it's most toxic. And him begging for it to go back to when they first met. To take him back to that paradise. Ending with his rage that they never will.
It's the fall... from paradise to hell... from where now that he lost, seemed to be paradise, to the deepest pain down. That's is one of few musics that don't end, just fade away
I will always stop what I'm doing to watch people appreciate the absolute genius that is Sleep Token.
PLEASE react to Sleep Token, Bloodsport live from the red room!!
I'm so glad you want to listen to Sleep Token! I love how insightful your reactions are, and this is the perfect band for that. You almost can't go wrong with a song, but for context, their most recent three albums are a trilogy that, from my interpretation, are about a toxic relationship and how it gradually broke down over time. There's a lot of thematic callbacks and story that you can get from listening in order, so I would LOVE to see you go through all of them, but it's obviously a lot of content. Either way, looking forward to it!
This is such a great breakdown of the song that I shared it with my pastor friend to introduce him to Sleep Token 😊
Being in my thirties, I've wised up enough to know history happening when I see it... I've been following these guys since thirty-four thousand followers and I have regretted NOTHING.
I'm so excited to see the future unfold for these guys
Very inspiring! Your take on the lyrics really resonate with me! Know that there is a concept with the band, there is lore and a story that drives his songwriting but everything song is meant to be relatabale even when taken out of context and that’s where, I believe, the genius of this band lies…
Really interesting perspectives and I love listening to everyone interpretations of the lyrics, really appreciate the depth you go into!
Personally I interpret the the “no amount of self-sought fury will bring back the glory of innocence” as ‘no matter how justified in my anger and betrayal I feel about what happened, it will never undo what is done, living in that anger will not bring back who I was before this’
There is a reason this is my favourite song of all time. Chills everytime.
I think some of the essentials to check out on ur Sleep Token journey would be Chokehold, The Summoning, The Apparition and Granite. Then i think some slightly more under appreciated ones that id recommend checking out is Alkaline, Rain, The Offering and Higher
Please do the summoning!!! Great Sleep Token song!
If this is a journey... the perfect place to start. "The night does not belong to god"
They have 3 albums.
Sundowing
This place will become your tomb
Take me back to eden.
When put together they form a twisting story of Sleep and Vessel.
As far as faith goes they seem to follow a polytheistic mix of influence. They frequently reference themes of biblical God and stories but additionally have other influences and a devition to a deity known simply as "Sleep"
I am subscribed and ready to go on a Sleep Token journey with you. They are my favorite band. I personally think that you should do the "Take me Back to Eden" album first in order and then go back to the beginning of the trilogy which is "Sundowning" and then "This Place Will Become Your Tomb". The reason I say that is because I tried to go back early on in my journey and listen to older stuff and I wasn't ready to appreciate or understand it. After the "Take me Back to Eden Album" I was hooked and more familiar with their style. Then after the trilogy, (Sundowning, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, Take Me Back to Eden), I would listen to the first 2 albums..."One" and "Two". There are also covers, singles and "room below" versions that aren't on the albums as well. Vessel's lyrics are amazing so make sure to have the lyrics pulled up off to the side. They are so clever. I loved this reaction ! I can't wait to see more ! ❤
This whole album is a modern masterpiece, Tom. They kind of remind me of a metal version of TOP cuz of the lore in their music and all the genre blending. They're called Sleep Token cuz they worship a mythological goddess called Sleep and every song is an offering or Token to her and in their live performances and music videos they wear cloaks and masks to conceal their identities along with using aliases.
your interpretation of the "told me not to breathe" line was interesting i always took it as noone told him not to breathe because he would drown "diving in crystal waters"
I think you're really going to like this band, I watched a reaction to the summoning a month ago and spent hours binge watching reactions because of how good that song was. made me do a deep dive into their catalog and their albums all got added to the spotify list I listen to.
Band has a lot of different song feels to it, deep messages and the lead singer (vessel) has covers like Hey ya (outkast), Dance with somebody (whitney houston) and a live performance of Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley/Leonard Cohen) that is very powerful.
I'm sure someone is going to lore dump you about the band way better than I could but from what I gathered the members are Vessel (lead singer) II [pronounced TWO] (drummer) then during live stuff they have III (bass) and IV (guitar) join them. they all wear masks and their identity is "secret", although of course people have spoiled who they are so be careful if you google them, I've been lucky to avoid seeing who they really are.
This is a beautiful breakdown of this song, your understanding of the lyrics perfectly resonates with mine (And I'm sure many others')
Loved it! Hope you do more from them! My suggestion would to start from the Chokehold and work your way through.
Are You Really Okay? or DYWTYLM should be top of the list for a therapist to react to. Every song is unique and incredible, can’t go wrong. I have a few over favorites, but I basically listened to Alkaline and then the newest album over and over
What I really like about Sleep Token is the way in which the lyrics are written. You can interpret the lyrics in so many different ways. I think this is really unique and I really that 😊
I love people's expressions during their first Sleep Token listen 🖤
I think it's so worth while to listen to the trilogy of albums in order. Their lyrics are so incredibly beautiful and meaningful. In order the tell a story. The Lyrica and rhythms tie into together, referring directly to the start of the albums, Sundowning.
The order is; Sundowning, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, and Take Me Back To Eden.
I promise the ending will be much more meaningful if you experience the journey. Additionally, I promise I'll watch every video 😂
I have been waiting for you to start the sleep token journey, it's truly amazing ❤❤
I have been waiting for you to react to Sleep Token for so long now. The excitement when I saw this was uploaded four days ago was overwhelming. I would love to see you react to all three albums in chronicle order. (Sundowning is my favorite)
Yes, Sleep Token. Any of them. All of them.
sleep token have their own ~lore~ in a similar way to twenty one pilots, you won’t regret going down this rabbit hole, i promise you
(sleep token fans are obsessed with watching people react to them for the first time, too - it’s as close as we can get to reliving what it felt like the first time we heard their songs! so if you react to more, the people will come 😂)
in terms of listening order, as most people have said, you could start from the very beginning, though i think if you’re just aiming to look at lyrics through a mental health lens and not wanting to deep dive into the lore, that it doesn’t really matter where you start. as long as euclid is the last song you listen to, the rest can be kinda whatever
keeping my fingers and toes crossed to see more sleep token from you on the channel! this just made MY day so thank you!!! 💖💖💖💖
9:55
*exhales thc and finishes twisted tea*
"huh?"
seriously though, hearing your words about those 4 lines flipped a switch in me in some way. i woke up this morning feeling different after watching this last night and had to come back to thank you.
Highly recommend you run through the whole Sleep Token series.
Read the original Metal Hammer interview with Vessel, then the EPs in order, and all three albums in order. You’ll love this journey as a therapist!
I am so in love with Sleep Token. Cannot get enough
Enjoy the journey. Worship
Yayyyyyy so excited to see another person react to the best band everrrr. Your input regarding the song and mental health brought me to tears!!! I would start at the beginning of this album and react to “chokehold” and then “the summoning” etc and then when you finish their most current album you can cycle back 🎉
Tool in my opinion is the greatest band but these guys are getting up there. TMBTE as an album but most of all the song is rarified air. Excellent album and i have the song as my #2 all time behind TOOL's Pushit (Salival Version). Im truly in awe of this band and dont know how they can top this but as a fan im eager to see.
The Apparition would be an excellent song for Tom to react to as well for Mental Health reasons, in my opinion.
Hey Man! I’m very eager for you to start this journey! Sleep Token has became a huge part of my life in the last two years. You asked how should you go about this journey with them so I really suggest you go back to their first ep One and continue through track to track til you get to their latest album Take Me Back to Eden. You’ll get to witness his growth that way.
love him saying „im about to bite back in anger“ kinda teasing the ending breakdown
I liked your reaction so much!!! Thank you very much for reacting to Sleep Token🖤
Atlantic is a gorgeous Sleep Token song dealing with the topic of self harm/suicide and living past and dealing with the attempt.
What a fine day to Worship ❤
So this album is the last of the trilogy. But it you really want to dive deep you gotta start with the EPs, then the trilogy starts with Sundowning, then TPWBYT, then this one. Worship 🖤
It’s a giant story and it’s a trilogy. You have to start from the beginning album. There is a couple of songs about the birth of Vessel (the lead singer) that came out on EPs
Like others have said, their 2 eps, and 3 albums are a story. If you want full context, and the answers to the questions you asked in this video, youd have to start at the beginning.
High water or Jaws. Great tunes from this phenomenal band!!
Yes, you should listen to ALL of the Sleep Token! No artist quite like them, they're very special. ✨️
I am curious to see your interpretation-or what it means to you.
Vessel, when asked what particular songs mean, has always said its whatever you ascribe to it. It has its meaning to him obviously, but he wrote the songs in a way that allows the listener to take the overall concept and see how they apply it to themselves.
The albums he wrote lyrically and musically and recorded each part except for drums on the first 2, which is insane when you really listen and hear all the different things as well as the instruments there are.
There is the ‘lore’ designed to go along with their work revolving around a deity “Sleep” that visited in a dream. There are a lot of metaphors throughout that have a religious reference, but it’s not necessary to really ascribe to that to understand the aspects of relationships he writes about. They wanted to remain anonymous (hints the masks, painting their skin, camouflaging their hair, and not usually speaking) but it hasn’t stayed that way unfortunately; but people still try to respect their wishes and use the names that have given as a part of the band. Vessel (lead, writer, musician, vocalist), II (drummer), III (base player), IV(guitar & harsh Vocals, & when performed live vessel is backed by a trio called Espera (trio of 3 female vocalists).
Can’t wait to see what you think!
Just recently discovered Sleep Token & now I just listen to them on repeat