Sleep Token could be the most well liked commodity in rock proper now. Their music is not like 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 normal idea album.
Think the Rock Musical “Rent” however with a Djent-like orchestra pit backing it up… “Djent-Rent” if you’ll.
Vessel tells complicated tales of poisonous relationships, self-harm, presumably even suicide and psychological sickness – all VERY relatable content material as of late. Couple that with their unusual anonymity, and unimaginable musicianship and you will have an ideal storm of intrigue and curiosity from audiences.
And we have established that there are callbacks all the way in which again to the band’s EPs and earlier albums, and it begs the query… What is all of it about?
There are plenty of 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 of many on the market…)
This is about an individual who has suffered a serious traumatic occasion — presumably 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 individual’s passing.
But it turns poisonous and Vessel should take away himself from the world he almost made into his personal “tomb.” A combat to return to actuality after diving deep into despair and management in his personal thoughts… aka, Sleep.
Obviously, all the things 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, similar to a music theatre manufacturing.
This is the start of Vessel’s relationship with Sleep. Only at night time can he absolutely join with Sleep (in a dream, maybe?). He begs for sleep and the night time, in order that he would possibly flip into Vessel once more, and “tangle” himself with Sleep on this promised “Eden.”
Basically, 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 thought is additional solidified with the primary line of “The Offering…”
“You are a garden / Entwined with All…”
The Garden could possibly be the “Eden” he seeks at first and is once more referenced within the band’s third album Take Me again to Eden.
There are additionally attainable clues in “Levitate” about faintly recalling the traumatic occasion that despatched him into this dream world with Sleep.
There are indications by way of the remainder of the album that appear to reference Vessel telling Sleep about his previous life, and the troubles he needs to go away behind, in order that he would possibly be a part of Sleep in his model of “Eden.”
Repeatedly, he asks Sleep to “Carve me out,” and “Break me apart,” asking Sleep to interrupt him of his earlier life and mildew him into one thing new.
Now that Vessel has been correctly “broken” down, and delivered to his pure and fundamental kind, 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 / Anything to get me to Sleep.”
Vessel is actually giving up all the things 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.”
But because the album progresses, Vessel – who’s begging Sleep to maintain him – begins to peel again the layers of what Sleep is definitely providing.
In the tune “Like That,” we see these first “whispers.”
Vessel learns that Sleep isn’t welcoming him into his paradise, however somewhat trapping him in what’s going to turn into 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 somewhat 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, displaying Sleep’s poisonous traits however Vessel’s lack of ability to flee what they’ve and his concern to return to what he could be with out Sleep. He will do something to NOT return, even mendacity eternally in a tomb ready by Sleep.
“To fall asleep without you lying next to me
To sever my connection with everything
‘Cause it still makes my blood run cold
To remember what I did before…
And I’ll live like I’ve got missing limbs for you.”
This album is the place the magic of Sleep Token begins to return full circle. We have adopted Vessel falling in love with a poisonous deity named Sleep, which now has his “teeth” 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 might 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, go away Sleep and get up.
But, 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 exhibits 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 Really Okay?”
What is seemingly the individual he loves, coping with the consequences of self-harm, finally resulting in their loss of life. This is coincidentally adopted by “The Apparition.”
Finally, within the title monitor, “Take me Back To Eden,” Vessel declares that he’s prepared to go away, demanding that whereas he’s grateful for the love that Sleep confirmed him, he should take him “Back to Eden” — which Vessel initially THOUGHT was the paradise that Sleep provided, 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.
(Note the sounds within the background that SOUND like birds chirping… however are NOT! More like, what birds would possibly sound like if simulated in a dream world.)
Vessel has been destroyed. The individual on this story is “Euclid,” which is outlined as “a copy of the same.” Still the identical individual bodily and mentally, however on the identical time, utterly completely different from who they have been earlier than.
“This bough has broken through / I must be someone 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 this actually what Vessel and Sleep Token envisioned whereas they wrote their opus of fabric? It’s attainable.
The good thing is, in the event you speak 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 non secular upbringing, or the story of an individual leaving an abusive relationship, utilizing the story of Vessel and Sleep as a parallel to their views.
Maybe sooner or later Vessel will fill us in on what they actually meant with the tales they advised, or — most certainly — they received’t, and can go away it fully as much as followers to take it how they need.
Regardless of how you’re taking it, although, all of us have one factor in widespread… we Worship.
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