In the shadows of the heavy metal scene, shrouded in mystery and secrecy, lies the enigmatic masked collective captivating audiences and musicians alike: Sleep Token. While their devoted fanbase might dub them cult heroes, their latest admirer comes from the highest echelons of rock royalty: Evanescence's Amy Lee.
"I love Sleep Token. I'm blown away," Lee tells Revolver. "How do they do it? How do they go so many different directions and call it one song? It took me three listens of 'The Summoning' to realize that when they do that whole psychedelic section at the end, that it's actually the same chorus as it was before, only in a completely different way. And I love it even more for that."
"I thought they just went a whole new direction and wrote a new part, and then I was like, 'Wait that's the same… but not at all.' I love it. I think as a musician, music like that gets your brain tingling. It's exciting. It's like, wow, anything's possible. It's inspiring. I like them a lot." Lee declares.
For Lee, whose own music often dances between fiery rock and ethereal balladry, Sleep Token's sonic explorations resonate deeply. But it seems that what truly sets Sleep Token apart in her eyes is their enigmatic approach. Unlike Lee, who has become the face of Evanescence, the band members' identities remain anonymous and they all wear masks – some of them recently updated -, letting their music speak for itself. And Lee, surprisingly, wholeheartedly applauds this choice.
"I think it's amazing," she reveals about Sleep Token's secrecy. "I think too much these days the focus is on everything but the music with a lot of the mainstream. And for me, if there's not the music then what are we doing? That's what this is supposed to be about. I love it. I think it's awesome. It's creative. It's really cool."
When it comes to Sleep Token's music, you either get it (to a certain degree) or you write it off completely. But there's no denying they are thriving in the shadows of anonymity, and proving that sometimes, the best way to make a name for yourself is by letting your music speak for itself.
