Metal is a genre that is certainly out of fashion. Gone are the days of long, flowy Metallica-esque hairstyles, studded gloves, and all too revealing skin-tight leather trousers. For the most part, teenagers no longer dream of shredding on stage and have lost their propensity for all things loud. Bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, and Pantera once dominated rock. Now, they have slipped out of the limelight and been replaced by a new wave of pop, soft rock, and indie music. However, there is a change on the horizon.
Enter Sleep Token: a modern metal band that is fiercely breaking on to the mainstream music scene. The band’s new album Even In Arcadia sits comfortably in the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s ‘Billboard 200’ chart, as well as on the Official Charts top 100 list (as of the week of 24th May, 2025). The question is, how has a band like Sleep Token achieved such a feat? Is it a stroke of luck? Or is it the start of a new musical trend?
Sleep Token is an anonymous British progressive/alternative rock band that formed in 2016. Since then the band has released four full-length studio albums starting with Sundowning (2019), followed by This Place Will Become Your Tomb (2021) and Take Me Back to Eden (2023), with the most recent installment being Even In Arcadia (2025).
These previous albums did enjoy considerable success, particularly with Take Me Back to Eden that peaked at No. 16 in the ‘Billboard 200’. However, the instant acclaim of Even In Arcadia was unmatched by the band’s prior records. More specifically, the band’s song ‘Caramel’ gained considerable traction upon its release, with it winning a spot as No. 34 in the charts at its peak.
But why is this so interesting? Well, to answer that we need only to look at the music that surrounds Sleep Token on the charts. A cursory glance is all it takes to see that Sleep Token’s heavy sound is one of a kind in the mainstream; Even In Arcadia’s closest competition is perhaps Kali Uchis’ Sincerely, or SZA’s SOS, or even Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet. Essentially, Even In Arcadia sticks out like a sore thumb in comparison to the current trends.
But how has Sleep Token achieved success in an age where metal is not mainstream? One could argue that Sleep Token is a prime example of the circular nature of trends: metal went out of fashion, and now it is coming back into fashion. Additionally, some could say that their newfound prominence is a mere quirk of fate, or perhaps the result of a gimmick in the form of the band’s dramatic attire and anonymity.
But, I don’t believe this is the case. Sleep Token offers a profoundly different sound to the current popular artists around the world. But perhaps what is more important is how they compare to metal bands of the past and how they appeal to listeners across the globe.
Sleep Token maintains many traits of the metal bands of the past with their dropped tuning, intense and technically precise drumming, and scream vocals. Yet they also bring a nuance to the genre through their softer melodies and more touching lyrics. Where bands like Metallica and Pantera often sing about aggression and violence, Sleep Token have a different lyrical focus. They raise questions of love, yearning, devotion, and introspection that create a more poetic and earnest connection with listeners. Essentially, Sleep Token aren’t afraid to break the mould and diverge from what is expected of the metal genre.
The lyrics and vocals of the lead singer, allusively named Vessel, in songs like ‘Missing limbs’ and ‘Damocles’ play a key part in this. Additionally, the unique style of the band’s drummer, II (the other band members are similarly named III and IV) make the band distinct. In a rare interview with Drumeo, II gave the world some insight into his drumming style, commenting, “I’ve always personally taken a lot of inspiration from the UK dance music scene.” He added that he draws a lot of influence from “linear style gospel” when asked about his creative inspiration.
With this unique and mesmerising style, the band are providing fully fledged metalheads with a new and interesting sound that differs from classical metal. Meanwhile they simultaneously provide fans of other styles, such as indie or even pop, an accessible route into the world of metal.
However, whether metal as a whole is on the rise is a different matter. Sleep Token are having an amazing effect on the genre by popularising it and positively contributing to the state of current music considerably by diversifying the scope of what popular music can be. Also, it is undeniable that mainstream music is leaning towards a slightly more rock orientated state; bands like Fontaines DC and Wunderhorse have gained a large following in recent years, and bands like Polyphia and Bring Me The Horizon have maintained a large following for many years. Nevertheless, it is hard to look at the current charts and conclude that metal specifically is on a widespread rise.
So, unless bands in a similar vein to Sleep Token defy all odds and take the charts by storm, maybe it’s best to keep the leather jackets and combat boots in the wardrobe, and to stick to a short back and sides for the time being.
