SLEEP TOKEN GETS CANDID IN NEW SINGLE “CARAMEL”

Perpetually coated by an aura of mystique, Sleep Token challenges the celebrity status quo by default. Previously, discourse erupted as people invasively attempted to unmask the identity of frontman Vessel. The band’s masked identity is the entire point, though it’s unsurprising people would try to push past these boundaries. Vessel showcases his most vulnerable side in Sleep Token’s new single, “Caramel.”

Sonically, “Caramel” requires some patience from fans of Sleep Token’s heavier music. Many migrated from the wave kickstarted by artists like Bring Me The Horizon, and the song does not have that vibe—at first. A twinkly music box forces audiences to listen to Vessel before the music erupts into a soaring crescendo. Vessel intentionally contradicts himself, suggesting his life in the spotlight is “a beautiful nightmare.” It’s time we pay attention.

Perhaps the members of Sleep Token earnestly did not expect the group to take off the way they did. Regardless, “Caramel” packs more of an emotional gut punch in its quieter moments, rather than the guttural screams towards the end. These choices also testify to Vessel’s point: are people only listening to him when he’s screaming for help, rather than asking for peace?

Either way, “Caramel” is an incredibly promising start for Sleep Token’s album rollout. The single is stunning. Full of double entendre and cleverly placed autotune, “Caramel” arguably belongs among Sleep Token’s best work. Sometimes, you get exactly what you ask for without realizing everything the dream entails.