Concert Review: Sleep Token concludes their European Tour with 2 sold-out shows at the 02 Arena, London
Photos by Mariah Senecal-Reilly
When a friend had an extra ticket for Night 2 of Sleep Token’s shows at the 02 Arena in London, it only took a split second for me to agree to fly over to join the fun. On top of that, I ended up attending their show in Cardiff as well. While both shows were excellent, the London date was on another level. On their North American tour this spring, I was able to catch them three times, and while they lived up to every expectation I had, it was abundantly clear that since that time, Sleep Token has really stepped into their own, made evident in the triumphant finale of their European tour at the O2 in London December 3rd.
The evening opened with Bilmuri, whose emo-pop anthems, complete with sax solos, provided a stark yet entertaining contrast to Sleep Token's atmospheric grandeur. With song titles like, “ABSOLUTELYCRANKINGMYMF’INHOG” and FLUORIDEINTHEHARDSELTZERWATER,” you might think that they would be a hard sell to the Sleep Token adherents, but frontman Johnny Franck’s beaming frat boy energy combined with his thoughts on failed relationships and social anxiety, and a final topper of sugary upbeat pop hooks were received well. The sax solos, played by multi-instrumentalist Gabi Rose, definitely helped.
Photos by Mariah Senecal-Reilly
When the lights were killed for Sleep Token, an expectant hush fell over the crowd, anxiously awaiting Vessel’s appearance for the opening song, “The Night Does Not Belong to God,” off of their first full-length, Sundowning. This initiated a chronological progression through Sleep Token's discography, with each section representing a full-length release interspersed with an interlude ruminating on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. While some might not enjoy this set structure, it fits perfectly with the narrative of the three albums being a journey, with Take Me Back to Eden as the culmination of a story. Tracks from Sundowning continued with chaotic intensity, with songs like "The Offering" igniting the crowd, while songs from This Place Will Become Your Tomb, such as "Hypnosis" and "Alkaline," introduced an all-encompassing, sensual edge. The final section of tracks took up the lion’s share of the setlist, with seven of the sixteen songs performed hailing from Take Me Back to Eden. It’s evident that in this release, the formula has been perfected, a combination of all the best qualities of each of the previous releases present in each song. Tracks included “Chokehold,” the ever-crowd-pleasing "The Summoning", genre-bending “Ascensionism” and “Take Me Back to Eden” and the tear-jerking closer "Euclid," leaving frontman Vessel (and much of the audience) visibly moved.
Photos by Mariah Senecal-Reilly
This performance being the last of the tour clearly affected the band, appearing truly relaxed in a way that I had previously not witnessed. To the crowd’s delight, there were several humorous moments including drummer II joining Vessel as he ascended through the stage for “Chokehold” and then sharing a Christmas Cracker, a masked crew member using the same entrance through the stage during “The Summoning” for assistance with a video game, and more Christmas cracker shenanigans between bassist III, guitarist IV, and vocal supports, the Espera.
The production was as striking as the music, with dazzling light shows timed perfectly to the music, dense fog, and Vessel’s magnetic stage presence creating an almost otherworldly experience. Every element of the stage production is as deliberate as the performance itself. The inclusion of the vocal group, Espera, adds an otherworldly choir of angels effect that rounds out the sound perfectly. Vessel’s penchant for oscillating between spell-binding dramatics, and chaotic, seemingly uncontrollable movement has come to define the band’s live performance. The band’s ability to engage the audience without speaking—a hallmark of Sleep Token’s enigmatic persona—added to the mystique, while their growing mythos were underscored by their ability to captivate a massive arena crowd.
Photos by Mariah Senecal-Reilly
For an hour and forty-five minutes, the immersive experience and emotional depth of their performance make it clear why the band and fans alike have dubbed them “rituals,” and why the band has inspired a devoted and continuously expanding fanbase (including me). When you look around mid-set, it's easy to see that this is just the beginning for Sleep Token. Up next: Download Festival and… The World.
For more photos of the show, check out the full gallery.