“Sleep Token’s atmosphere has something in common with us – they’re comrades”: Why BABYMETAL love Vessel and co.

It's Sleep Token week! Tonight, Vessel and his mysterious crew kick off their massive UK arena tour at Glasgow's OVO Hydro, having just been out in Europe with Linkin Park.

This is huge stuff. They're doing two nights at The O2 in London. Truly, there's no hotter rock band on Earth right now. To celebrate their massive rise, we've done a special print mag dedicated entirely to the band, including a ginormous A2 poster – available to order now!

And we're not the only ones excited. Speaking exclusively to Kerrang!, BABYMETAL told us why they love Sleep Token so much, how they got sucked in by the mystery, and the worry that comes with having to go onstage after them…

When did you first hear about Sleep Token?
SU-METAL: "It was in 2019, when we performed together at O2 Academy Brixton."

What did you think when you first heard their music?
MOMOMETAL: "When I first saw their visuals, I expected them to be playing intense songs. However, when I listened to them, and saw their performance and worldview, it was something unexpected and it was really cool. Their music is very comforting with a calming voice, taking a ballad-style, but then suddenly on the other side changes to a somewhat angry and aggressive sound. It was a very new sensation to me that even though it’s a heavy tune, it calms one’s mind. When you listen to one of their songs, it becomes addictive, and you’ll listen to the next song and the next..."

What do you think is special about their music?
MOAMETAL: "Their uniqueness! It wraps emo elements and djent-like sounds in metal. Their unique atmosphere, which is not bound by the boundaries of the metal genre, has something in common with BABYMETAL, so I just think of them as comrades! Their sound is a mixture of various elements, but there is a dark underlying feeling. I feel their respect for metal, which is cool."

How important do you think the band is for heavy music and its place in the world?
SU-METAL: "Their music is mysterious and heavy, like the vast universe or the deep ocean. Once you step into it, you get sucked in, like a swamp you can't get out of. They have a well-developed worldview, and I think it shows us the possibilities of new music. Their music is easy to listen to even for people who don't know metal, and I think it's cool, so they'll be loved beyond genres and will continue to expand the path of metal."

What do you think of the mystery around the band, and the fact they don't give interviews?
MOMOMETAL: "They are shrouded in mystery. But I think the worldview of not revealing your true face at all is very cool. If the time comes to reveal it, it will likely become a hot topic, but I also feel like I want things to move forward without revealing anything, just as it is now."

What do you think of their unprecedented success in such a short timeframe?
MOAMETAL: "Worship! It excites me to see them being unrivalled and steadily climbing their stages. It feels great to watch them, and I can't wait to see how far they will go, thinking of their future. I'm sure many of you feel the same way! They have created music that only Sleep Token can do, and I think they will continue to show us many new things in the future, so I’d like to keep an eye out on it."

What's it like to play shows with Sleep Token?
SU-METAL: "At their live performances, they had a particularly heavy sound, worldview, and strong presence, and I was really drawn to them when I saw their performance. I felt a quiet sense of elation from the audience as well, their excitement of seeing something amazing! Everyone was surrounded by the world of Sleep Token that it almost made me feel anxious, wondering, 'Will we be okay to perform after this?'"

What do you think you've learned from them as a band?
MOAMETAL: "When I watch their music videos, I get the feeling that they are concentrating solely on the sound side. I feel their heart of metal and feel energised by the way they sincerely face the music they want to deliver. I hope they can learn something from us, just as I can learn from them. I hope we could work hard so that we could enhances each other. After all, I thought it is important to believe in one’s music, love it, and stick to it!"

Sleep Token are on tour in the UK now, and headline Download 2025 – get your tickets now.

BABYMETAL play The O2 in London on May 30, 2025 – get your tickets now.

Read this next:

• What happened when Sleep Token headlined Wembley Arena
  
• BABYMETAL: “We plan to start a new journey… I can’t wait to see what the future holds”
• Sleep Token: “Our identity is represented through the art itself”