Sleep Token would be nothing without their legion of fans that spreads across the globe. But what exactly is it that’s burrowed into their souls and engendered such stunning devotion?
In terms of sheer numbers alone, Sleep Token’s explosion has been nothing short of stratospheric. But as the fanbase has grown, so too has their unwavering dedication. Here, we meet those whose Worship goes above and beyond…
“I love a masked band, so initially I was intrigued by their aesthetic. But after seeing them live, it almost felt like an out-of-body experience. I was moved to tears over how beautiful everything was. I was in awe.
“The band are a huge part of me now. Their music is a constant in my life, whether that be to help with my current struggles or to just sing and dance along to with my friends. Their music was one of the main outlets I had to help heal some past traumas. I was battling with so much and it was by listening to their music that I was truly able to process and heal. Now, after seeing them a multitude of times, I see all of the happy memories I have with my friends, singing along to the songs and just enjoying every second of the show. In my head, they are there for me in any setting.
“There are people in my life who know how much of an impact it has had on me and will request their music in bars or clubs just to surprise me. They are probably the only band that I listen to that I hold the most merch for, be that T-shirts, magazines or other interesting pieces. I even made my own merch for the Wembley show. But in 2023, on the weekend Take Me Back To Eden was released, I was booked in for my first-ever Sleep Token tattoo. Tattooed on my chest was the song name that helped me through my darkest times, The Night Does Not Belong To God, with smoke framing it. What made it even more special was that the smoke design was made from writing the word Worship and swirling it to give it that smoke effect. I face it when I see myself in the mirror, acting as a reminder of how far I’ve come.
“Some people say that you grow out of bands, but if there is one thing I can assure, it’s that Sleep Token will always be a huge part of who I am.”
“I couldn’t imagine my life without Sleep Token in it as they govern so much of it now. I feel like when I talk to fans who got into them around the same time I did, they were a significant part of lockdown and helping us get through the woes of that time. Their show at Islington Assembly Hall was one of the last I saw in 2020 before we all hid away for a few months, and in that time my admiration for them grew evermore with Sundowning and the EPs on repeat listening.
“It got to the end of 2020, and they announced a string of shows branded the Isolation Rituals for March 2021, but this never went ahead due to continued lockdown restrictions. I was planning to follow the whole tour but was pleased to see that I could see them at their first show back at Download Pilot 2021 and hear the debut of Alkaline live. That song is my favourite of theirs as I feel like it set free the person I am today and who I’ve become in the band’s Discord community. Since then, I’ve been to every UK tour in full and some international shows, and the band have shown appreciation of my presence at Rituals. This has helped me on my journey with self-love and introduced me to a global network of friends I cherish very dearly. Big shoutout to the Discord – you keep me sane!
“I’ve attended Rituals in both the U.S. and Canada, along with Europe and most UK shows since 2019. By the end of the most recent tour, I hit 43 Rituals. I have many fond memories with friends on tour that I will take to the grave with me.
“Without Sleep Token, I wouldn’t be as confident and fulfilled as I am today, and I am lost for words for how to say thanks to them. I am extremely grateful for the sheer positivity they bring, and I’m also super-proud of their growth as a band. Big love from me!”
“I first started listening to Sleep Token when The Love You Want was released. I’d heard a few songs before, but that was the one that really drew me in. I quickly listened to the full discography and loved every song I heard – they became my favourite band almost instantly. I knew I needed to find people to obsess over the band with, so I joined the Discord and started making friends there. My interest in Sleep Token only grew as I listened to the music more, so I decided to travel to the UK to go to a couple of the shows during the November 2021 tour.
“The moment the band took to the stage, I was hooked. I’ve been going to concerts for most of my life, but this was a completely different experience. Between getting to see my favourite band live and meeting up with friends from the Discord it was such a special experience. That started my addiction to traveling to see Sleep Token.
“In 2022, I went to 11 shows on their U.S. run with In This Moment. I followed that up in 2023 with the full five-show tour in the UK, five in Australia, seven in the U.S., and rounded out the year in London for Wembley. In 2024 I travelled back to Australia to go to the full seven-show tour with Bring Me The Horizon, and hit 10 shows during the Teeth Of God tour in the U.S. and Canada.
“I’ve met so many amazing people and found some of my best friends thanks to this band. I’ve explored cool cities that I might not have if I hadn’t had a Sleep Token concert to go there for. And some of my favourite décor at home is a display of the bracelets, trinkets, art and souvenirs I’ve collected from fans at shows.”
“I was editing photos and listening to recommendations on Spotify. Suddenly a soulful voice backed by an eerie piano starts to grab my attention. The song builds up and before I know it, I’m sitting there rocking out to this random dude singing in some ancient form of cursive, a synth is blaring, guitar is chugging and drums are being smashed. The song was Jaws. I immediately went to YouTube to see if there was a video, and, oh boy, did I have zero clue what I was getting myself into! That video raised more questions than it answered, but it further added to the intrigue.
“For the first year, I wasn’t aware that there were any fan communities – it was just me and this special music I had found. I would go on long photography walks up and down the coast, where I would listen for hours and reflect. I was convinced I was the only person in my whole country listening to them. It became a very personal, intimate thing.
“In recent years my health took a turn for the worse. But during those darkest moments the music and the community really helped me. But the biggest thing is probably my YouTube channel – Sleep Token Luke. My most recent project was a 20-minute documentary essay titled the Trilogy Of Trauma which was very well received. I still receive daily comments and messages from people sharing their stories – it’s the most beautiful thing.”
“I discovered Sleep Token through TikTok when The Summoning started to go viral. It got stuck in my head and I started listening to their album Take Me Back To Eden.
“At first, I was overwhelmed with their genre switches. I like knowing what’s coming, but it was impossible with them. It intrigued and infuriated me at the same time. The moment I listened to the end of Take Me Back To Eden and heard parts of Chokehold in it, I was hooked. The way they tell a story holds so many different meanings in the lyrics while also giving you a variety of emotions through their melodies. It’s addictive.
“I have troubles with myself: self-doubt, emptiness, inner demons. I’d ignored them all along until I discovered Sleep Token. I love listening to them and dwelling in my own self, drowning in my soul. They’ve brought me much closer to myself and even if I’m still struggling, I’ve made friends with my demons.
“I’ve been free of self-harm for a few years now and sometimes still struggle with it. I’ve always wanted to be saved and not having to save myself all over again. I’m not saying they saved me with their music, but it feels like listening to their songs does help me save myself. I can feel. And that’s what they opened up for me. I’ve been emotionally dead for so many years. Since I’ve discovered them, I’ve barely listened to anything else.
“I’ve got lots of ideas for tattoos. My tattoo artist turns my ideas into reality, which is why my back is a Sleep Token piece now. Songs that matter to me, things I want to keep safe, all engraved on my body.”
“I discovered Sleep Token when my friend invited me to a gig in Manchester. I was aware of the band but hadn’t listened to them. The ticket was free because my friend and her partner had split up, so I took the opportunity. This band was completely different to anything I had heard or seen before. They had such a mysterious and unique vibe, and a spicy stage presence. I was drawn in by one of the best stage personas I’ve ever witnessed, followed by a new era of music that has held me since.
“Since I became a fan, I can’t stop listening to and learning new songs. When Take Me Back To Eden dropped, I listened at least once a day. And in 2023, Spotify named me as a top 0.5% listener, and I listened to The Summoning 229 times.
“Their music means a lot to me and puts me in a euphoric trance of emotion, which makes me feel a sense of belonging, like a cult, without the sadistic aspects. This band has really taken off and taken the globe by storm. I am excited to continue watching their success, with hopes they do not slow down and stay strapped to that rocket.
“Sleep Token are a different band that you either listen to or get lost inside the melody. If you’re lucky enough to follow your third eye on a scarlet trail through the journey of Sleep Token, you will feel a range of emotions that really test your mental check-engine light.
“I love Sleep Token because they manage to upgrade a stage, entertain a globe of fans, and at the same time lead their followers to some awesome music.”
“I really enjoy genre-bending, whether that be in art, theatre or music. Sleep Token stood out to me as the type of band that played and experimented with dynamics. Everything feels carefully and intentionally crafted. The lyrics are poetic and evoke strong human emotion, the instrumentation verges on gospel in the most haunting and beautiful way, and the albums are consistent with their theming from start to finish, despite the fact that there is so much variety and creativity there. Their music means so much to me, it’s hard to sum it up concisely.
“For several years, I’ve dealt with a debilitating illness in a foreign country, unable to reach out to my friends and family for support. There were days when my arms were too weak to lift them. I couldn’t explore my new home. I was confined and incredibly alone. It built up this dreadful sense of self-hatred that I wasn’t enough, that I couldn’t be enough or do enough. When I began to listen to Sleep Token, I felt a similar struggle within it. You can feel the growth of character throughout the albums, all culminating to a self-acceptance or rebirth.
“Those songs absolutely tore me apart and rebuilt me in the same breath. I finally felt, after years of feeling alone and inadequate, that I suddenly was someone again. I could finally allow myself to start to heal. I felt like I could look into the mirror and smile back. Maybe this is a bit silly of me to say, but I think if you love Sleep Token’s music, then you are the super-fan. I think their intention was to make and share good art, and if you appreciate it and show support, you are equally important to them, big or small.”
“I’ve always been driven by the music in my life, since I was a kid. Listening to Sleep Token shook something inside me back to life, and made me passionate about music again. They are the reason that I confessed my feelings to a long-time friend who is now my girlfriend. I genuinely don’t think I would have made it through the last year of my life without them.
“I live in Toronto and I flew to New York to see them at Radio City Music Hall, then followed them to Laval, Quebec and back to my hometown for both Toronto shows. I have met some of my best friends through this community. I even started my own business after I discovered my love for creating custom clothing and accessories because of Sleep Token, after I became the first person to make a replica of IV’s battle jacket that he debuted at Wembley.
“Simply put, Sleep Token saved me. I never expected to feel this much passion for a band ever again, and immediately it was a no-brainer: of course I would travel to another country to see them, of course I’m going to fly to another continent. I haven’t felt this amount of dedication for a band since I was in my early teens and genuinely didn’t think I would again. I’ve got them tattooed. I will talk anyone’s ear off about them. I’ve converted so many friends into Sleep Token fans because it’s easy; their music is truly universal.
“I’ve had a lot of struggles over the past few years and Sleep Token got me through them. I’ve met amazing people in this community that I’ll be friends with for the rest of my life. They saved me.”
“I found Sleep Token by accident in early 2023 after YouTube recommended The Summoning. When I eventually gave in and listened, it was half out of curiosity and half to get YouTube to shut up! I was intrigued by what I heard so I watched the video for Alkaline next and I’ve been hooked ever since.
“Working my way through their music I was struck by the range and depth of emotions the songs evoked and I devoured the entire discography. The open-ended nature of their lore proved irresistible as well, and I’ve learned some interesting bits of chemistry, astrophysics and mythology while discussing various theories with fans.
“For my first Rituals in 2023 I went on a road trip with a friend I initially made online through the fandom, and had such an amazing time that I decided to make a last-minute trip to catch the last two stops of the tour in California. I got my passport specifically to see the band at Wembley, then saw them at Red Rocks, Radio City, Toronto and a few other stops along the Teeth Of God tour this year. To date, I’ve seen them 26 times. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to find myself at the intersection of enthusiasm for this band and the means to indulge it.
“The music still has me hooked and I find it all but impossible not to be enthralled by the energy at shows, but most of what keeps me coming back to the fandom is the people. I’ve made so many friends across the globe that have shared my joys and sorrows. We’ve gone on adventures, shared photos and videos of shows, and had deep and silly conversations, and my heart is so full for having known them. I always struggle to put into words what this band means to me, because it has become about so much more than just the music.”
“I found out about Sleep Token from a friend at work when he played The Summoning. Although I had never been very into rock or metal, the ending of the song was intriguing to me. Initially their unique sound and that same friend explaining the basic lore piqued my curiosity. I remember vividly becoming hooked when I heard Rain. Being such a soft and vulnerable song, it defied my expectations of a typical metal band. As I discovered more songs with such a wide range of genres and emotions like those of Gods, Give and Granite, the hooks sunk deeper in me.
“Around this time, I realised it’s not just a band, it’s an experience. They have had such a positive impact on me and led to a desire to understand the question I’ve seen many fans ask: ‘Who thinks like that?’ In an effort to slightly expand the window into the emotional waiting room of Vessel’s mind I stopped putting off desires I’d long had to learn how to play the piano and begin reading books.
“In today’s attention economy, I think the sheer amount of time I dedicate to Sleep Token is what defines me as a super-fan – countless hours spent listening to their music, scrolling through fan pages on Reddit, TikTok and Facebook, and many more searching for magazines, vinyl and other items to add to the collection in the corner of our apartment.
“As a relatively new fan I eagerly await the release of new music. I’m excited to experience the thrill of hearing news that the band has released a single or album and getting to fall in love with more of their art. I love this band more than I am capable of conveying with words. I hope to one day be able to express myself with the intelligence, creativity and emotion that they do. Worship.”
Sleep Token’s new album Even In Arcadia is due out on May 9 via RCA Records. The band headline Download Festival in June – get your tickets now.
This feature originally appeared in the special edition Kerrang! Presents Sleep Token magazine.
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