Another flawless Sleep Token offering. My review of "Even in Arcadia."
The fourth studio offering is divisive among critics. Here's my take.
Once again, Sleep Token has given us an offering that is nearly impossible to categorize genre-wise and connects with me on a deep, spiritual level.
“Even in Arcadia” is their fourth studio album (or “offering”) and is another round of ground-breaking, genre-bending compositions that give me chills. From the moment I hit play, it was clear that I was about to be sucked back into their world, full of jarring dynamic shifts, poetic lyrics, and buttery smooth vocal runs.
The Elephant in the Room: ST Hate Abounds
Sleep Token has, for better or worse, become a lightning rod of debate for music critics. In particular, the metal community seems to have ostracized Sleep Token and their fans, spewing harsh criticism because Sleep Token doesn’t adhere to traditional genre boundaries. They say they’re not “metal enough,” and they push too far into pop, R&B, or electronic-sounding production. They have a preconceived notion of what metal “should” be, and that’s fine. They’re entitled to that conclusion.
However, for me and tons of others, Sleep Token goes beyond rigid musical categorization. Their appeal doesn’t come from fitting neatly into a safe box, but in their fearless genre-bending style that allows us to unplug from traditional genre commitments.
Genre labels can’t capture the uniqueness of what Sleep Token has created. And frankly, when music resonates on such a profound emotional level, genre distinctions and gatekeeping become irrelevant to me.
So yes, I see the hate. But no, I don’t care.
An Immediate, Euphoric Connection
For me, the title track, “Even in Arcadia,” instantly pulled me in. Sleep Token has this natural ability to produce dynamically arranged songs that take me on a journey. The track starts with quiet piano and ends in a glorious crescendo of stacked vocals and reverb-heavy drums. Each track of this album produced a similar journey. It kept me on my toes during my first listen, as I tried to guess where they were taking me next.
Even though the lyrical content revolves around heavy themes like love, conflict, and the complexity of “fame,” the album produces nothing but joy for me. What I experience is a form of euphoria. I get this from music sometimes. It almost feels like I’m high. I long for that feeling, and this album produced it for me.
Lyrical Resonance: A Mirror to the Soul
There are always several lyrical parts that immediately get my attention. One such lyric comes from “Caramel,” which was released as a single before the full album was released. And to be honest, when I first listened to the single, it didn’t really knock me out. But when I listened to it again in the context of the whole album, it hit me completely different. I don’t know why. Maybe the stage was set by the songs leading up to it, and I was more receptive, but whatever the reason, it became one of my favorite tracks on the whole album.
The part that struck a chord with me is in the bridge:
”Too young to get bitter over it all,
too old to retaliate like before,
too blessed to be caught ungrateful,
So I'll keep dancing along to the rhythm."
As a 40-something dad, this line really captures the feeling of being middle-aged and “stuck” between careless youth and cautious wisdom. It made me think about past struggles, how they shaped me, and how I’ve grown into the best (so far) version of myself. This type of introspection can instantly connect me to a song.
A Masterclass in Vocal Prowess
Even though they aren’t “metal enough” for some, Sleep Token seems to be unfazed as this album takes them even further away from traditional metal hallmarks. Vocally, they’ve always been outsiders, but in “Even in Arcadia,” they seem to lean even more into pop and R&B vocal stylings. And sorry metalheads, this isn’t a bug, it’s a feature.
Vessel’s vocals have always been a primary driver of my gravitation towards Sleep Token. I can’t quite explain it, but his tone, his range, and his ability to write vocal runs that make me want to curl up on the floor and cry happy tears have made me a devoted fan.
Standout Moments: "Caramel" and "Gethsemane"
Even though “Caramel” fell flat for me originally, after subsequent listens, it became my favorite song on the whole album. It shows how much these compositions build off of one another. Each song is its own journey, but together they create an experience that needs to be had in its entirety. This is definitely an album that should be enjoyed start to finish.
Another moment that I keep returning to is the ending portion of “Gethsemane,” where the song turns to a heavy R&B vibe, and Vessel sings:
This one's for you and your problems,
your good day job Your bad karma,
what are you afraid of?
The same trauma, show me what you're made of
'Cause you talk about your constant pain like I ain't got none
Mmm. Yes, please. The emotion matched with the vibe of the composition during this portion always makes me feel euphoric, cathartic, and just uninhibited. I could listen to just that section on repeat for hours.
At the risk of sounding dramatic, “Even in Arcadia” is not an album. It’s an experience. It affirms Sleep Tokens’ continued commitment to pushing the boundaries while honing in on what makes them so appealing.