The growth that UK band Sleep Token has experienced since its rise to prominence, mainly starting in 2019, is a rarity. They survived a pandemic that shut the world down, meaning no band could tour. Yet, Sleep Token survived and from 2021-2023 released the final two albums of the trilogy that began in 2019, with 2023’s Take Me Back To Eden catapulting them into stardom, selling out arenas. Now they’re teamed up with music powerhouse label RCA Records to show that things aren’t always perfect, even in this amazing place.
The definition of an eclipse, as most know, is an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination. However, another lesser-used meaning is a phase during which the distinctive markings of a bird are obscured by the molting of the breeding plumage. Through the imagery of a black flamingo in the promotional materials and visualizer for their songs, this has a double meaning from the man behind the mask peeking through, and a change inward, starting with the first song ‘Look To Winward’ with the lyrics ‘will you haunt this eclipse in me’ showcasing that this is no longer about a journey of circumstances outside of himself but rather the inner battles within the man himself. The song ends and swells similar to ‘Ascensionism’ from Take Me Back To Eden, showcasing a transition from that era into the new one, leaving Eden and entering Arcadia.
The first single, ‘Emergence,’ further goes into this theme of discussing coming out of your old self and who you used to be into a person that you have grown into, following up with the next track aptly titled ‘Past Self’ that reflects but looks forward during and after the change.
This record is the one I have personally been wanting them to write since Sundowning, due to the dark pop elements fused with the low-tuned guitars, giving it the low end. While the two records that followed were great, they didn’t fully hit such like Arcadia does, emphasizing the modern pop sound married with R&B and club beats. In the only way that Vessel and II can, they blend those into the heavy moments so seamlessly that it works so well.
‘Dangerous’ is a standout on this record for me in this way as it opens very slowly and with that slow burn we have known the band to do but the switch up into a hip-hop moment had me laughing upon first listen, just in disbelief that this was possible and was just such damn good ear candy and catchy. When the album was first teased, a link to a website with “show me how to dance forever” in the URL name; this is where that comes into play with the lead-out bridge and back half of the song.
We first saw the man behind the mask on the single ‘Caramel’ where Vessel calls out the toxic portion of their fanbase, even going as far as shouting his real name at shows, which we do not support doing if you happen to know information. Rumors and some news came out near the end of last year about people even doxxing their bass player, who goes by III. ‘Democles’ further delves into the real man, discussing the inner demons and hidden problems he may be going through that no one else knows about.
Two songs later, the teaser music for marketing content featuring the flamingo the fan base has since named Jerry (Jericho) and the piano sheet music that was posted make their appearance in the title track ‘Even In Arcadia’. The song has a ballad feel to it with a gospel-esque vocal delivery swelling into a gritty growl belting ‘have you been waiting long, for me?’.
‘Provider’ opens with Vessel pleading and desperately longing to be the one to take care of and support someone with more of a pop gospel musical delivery. Whoever this person is, he is lamenting about how infatuated he is with her, who she is, and how great she looks. This song, along with the aforementioned ‘Dangerous’, has an overall sexy vibe to it that will surely make plenty of TikTok content from creators.
There is a special moment that comes off as an if you know, you know type of moment, and that is the opening of ‘Gethsemane’. Further showing more and more of the man behind the mask with the opening stylings of the song before moving into a more jazzy break with more of the pop candence vocal delivery. When it builds into the full moment after the second verse, the vocals and music seem to call back to ‘the night belongs to you,’ and if you sing those words during that moment, it lines up. We do know Vessel doesn’t do anything by accident or coincidence. The closing portion of the song shifts to a lower register vocal tone rolling out to a trap beat.
Fans of the heavier side of the band may be disappointed in the sense that there is not a single heavy song on this album, so if you’re expecting another ‘Vore’, sorry to disappoint you. They do produce some of their heaviest moments yet, including on the album closer ‘Infinite Baths’, which makes the fade-out breakdown from the track ‘Take Me Back To Eden’ sound like child’s play.
This album is an album that can be an all-decade record when we approach 2030 and look back. Vessel may not be a public figure, but the man behind the mask revealed so much about himself without saying a word, by merely dancing along to the rhythm.
Even In Arcadia Rating: 9.5/10
