So here they are again, Sleep Token, blazing their rampant and socially explosive way through Europe land on home turf, for their biggest headline show to date. I've been a fan of these guys for a while but would still be deemed a 'newer fan' - the release of The Summoning sucked me in, and ever since, from Sundowning to This Place Will Become your Tomb I've been well and truly hooked by this faceless four piece. With the hype building for near enough seven months since presale (when I secured my seat) this gig was going to be one to remember for a very long time. Here's my review of Sleep Token live. (All concert photography was taken on the night by me)
(Image courtesy of AXS)
The Venue
Now, I've never been to the OVO Arena before, but Google Maps said it was right near Wembley Stadium, and I know where that is! (No surprises there) It was a pretty easy train journey, I took the tube, and the walk from Wembley Park station was about 10 or so minutes. Getting in was a breeze, and my ticket was scanned, and it was just a small wait past security to get into the venue. However, with the venue allegedly opening at 6:00, and the staff already letting in a lot of people at around the ten to mark, the main entranceway got very crowded very fast, and it was tricky not to get stuck. We physically were not allowed into the main venue (if you wanted to try a security member would usher you back down), so we stood for a while, around 15/20 minutes, until we could eventually get in - around 10 minutes late. It's not a big issue, I was quite happy chatting and looking around at the merch stands (which I'll talk about later), and I completely get that stuff goes wrong sometimes and timeframes need to get changed on the fly. It was never bordering on unsafe, just sometimes a touch close to comfort with my fellow audience members.
The actual arena however is a great venue. The pit was pretty huge, and from my seat I had a great view of the entire stage and crowd. My seat was pretty comfy for what it was, and the people around me were friendly and chatty - the venue also had lots of places to get food or drink (even if the prices are eye watering) £5 for a Pepsi? Fuck. But the facilities were fine, and there were stations for free water dotted all around, so everyone was staying hydrated and happy. The crowd was also lovely, everyone at that gig seemingly loved to share their passion for the band, and I could hear conversations erupting everywhere around me, new friends being made and anticipation surrounding the setlist being shared. The atmosphere was killer, and one of the best I've had the pleasure of experiencing.
(The view from my seat at the OVO Arena)
Merchandise
Every venue has different prices for merchandise - that's just the fact of life. They take a certain cut from merchandising sales, so sometimes bands need to hike up their prices. It seemed like this show was no exception, because although the merch was brilliant - designed wonderfully with their signature artwork and glyphs, with even a limited run of shirts just for that show, T-Shirts were running at an eye watering £40. Hoodies at £80. Even though they were cool, and selling out all over the shop, I just couldn't justify it on my budget - and to get your hands on anything, at any point, the lines stretched at around 100 or so people at every single stall. I'm a student man, I can only fork out so much before I suddenly realise I can't pay my rent - if I had even a penny more I would have got the dedicated ritual shirt, but it was just out of my price range. I went with a hat instead (rouge choice) but it was within my budget, and I'd been looking for a cool Dad hat for a while - and this one fit the parameters. For the £25 price tag, it's very well made, the stitching is good quality, and the overall construction is sturdy and durable, so even if the prices were high, I'm sure it was all worth it to those willing to pay.
The Support Act
The support act were a band called Health, who are from LA and I hadn't actually heard of before this show. They put on a decent set, the music wasn't to my taste, but what they lacked seemingly in energy when the introduced themselves and interacted with the audience in a generally uninterested tone, they made up for in dynamic breakdowns and some brilliant showmanship. Throwing themselves around, deep headbanging and some brilliant jumps and emotional outbursts, this band was feeling their music at every moment, and it was plain to see why they were the ones opening for Sleep Token. Again, the music wasn't really all that appealing to me bar a few brilliant crunchy breakdowns, but again, that's just me - I could see a lot of people both seated and in the pit enjoying it immensely. The main issue I had was the lighting design for their set. It consisted almost entirely of violent multi coloured strobe lighting effects that sometimes went on for ten or so seconds before switching to another colour and strobing all over again. It made it uncomfortable to watch, and quite honestly gave me a pretty gnarly headache, so much so that I ended up having to stare at my feet halfway through their set for the remainder- it was that rough from my spot. I can deal with strobes, I work in a Nightclub for gods sake I'm used to them, but this performance just wouldn't stop using them. It was overkill, and the violent and repetitive movements and effects ended up, at least for me, taking away from the band itself, because it was making it physically exhausting and nauseating to watch. I promise I'm not over exaggerating either - believe me. So on the whole, a little shaky at the end of that one, but nothing a bit of free water and some relaxed merchandise queuing couldn't fix (big up the guy who chatted to us in the merch line about his Vessel costume and proudly told us 'the night belongs to you' before disappearing- you were a legend).
Sleep Token
To say this performance was a religious experience would be an immense understatement. This ritual opened with an energy and dedication that I have never seen in a live band before. Ripping into the opener Chokehold like it was absolutely nothing. The band were sporting brand new masks and costumes, and similarly playing with their usual brand of clinical skill and showmanship. The lighting design (unlike the headache inducing Health) was insane - with a large LED sign shaped like their legendary insignia, and so many intelligent lights creating some stunning effects. The strobes were used tastefully to mark breakdowns and weren't overused to the point of a migraine. This band was proving more and more they had the skill to do whatever they could, both sonically and physically. This show was proof that Sleep Token were a mainstay headliner, and that they knew they were worthy of greatness. Dancers were also a nice touch, they added something cool to look at during some of the tracks - and didn't retract from the overall vibe of the show. After a short break, they ripped back into four more songs, with again all members playing and performing out of their skin. Vessel was hitting all the splintering highs and violent extremes with his signature bassey cadence slicing through. Again, these guys are at the top of their game, what's not to love?
(Chokehold - Live from the OVO Arena)
And then, the show stopped. The stage lights came up, and a member of the stage crew appeared. I instantly panicked, scared that a member was injured, and this perfect show that was only just getting started would be cancelled. He quickly introduced himself as Vessel appeared at his side, looking visibly downtrodden behind the half mask and black makeup. He said: 'Vessel can't sing. But you guys can. So you guys need to sing with us. We're doing the set, he's staying onstage, maybe he'll do a couple lines here and there but he's not well.' It was a gut punch to be honest, Vessel had performed amazingly, with no sign of vocal distress. But now he stood, head bowed, and watched as the entire OVO Arena cheered and clapped and screamed - it was time for a bit of Sleep Token karaoke, and the crowd, including me, was suddenly in a frenzy, ready to join every single person in that SOLD OUT arena fill in for our fallen hero.
I'm not one to boast, but you guys have not heard The Summoning until you've heard a sold out arena sing it word for word. The vibes were electric, as the audience sung along as loud as they could, me included - they struggled to hit the highs, bellowed out the extreme shouts, and watched as the band powered on, the instrumentalists II, III and IV playing out of their skin once more, with a newfound violence and attack. It was stunning, and lost none of the production value as Vessel threw himself around the stage as always, holding out the microphone to the audience. Granite was next, and the audience again feverishly sang along, the lights dancing as every word was screamed by all 12,500 people. The Love You Want was last up, and although the singalong was a bit quieter, it was still there, and it was another ethereal experience. What a night so far at the OVO. After every song helped by the audience Vessel stood, hands clasped together in a silent thank you, his body bowed down. His appreciation was palpable, we were making this concert possible - and in a strange way that humanised the anonymous band in quite a beautiful way. They were headlining behemoths, sporting masks and a frightening stage presence, but behind all that, it's really the music they live for. It's the stories they tell and the performance they give, and when the audience covers for the lead singer, you see just how dedicated they are to those stories, and that music.
(Sleep Token - Live at the OVO Arena)
Another short pause. Then Vessel appeared at the piano, and played the opening notes to Atlantic. The crowd went wild, excited to sing along once more, but then he opened his mouth and began to sing again. His voice was raw, viscerally emotional, and couldn't stand some notes that were too high or extreme, but it was still stunning. His usual bassey tones came through perfectly, and when he needed help, the microphone was pointed at the crowd, and they dutifully responded. The band slammed through the next six songs, nailing track after track, before playing two blistering encores. Take a peek at the set list here, courtesy of Setlist FM:
Chokehold
Hypnosis
Vore
Dark Signs
Like That
Aqua Regia
Rain
The Summoning (Crowd filling in for Vessel)
Granite (Crowd filling in for Vessel)
The Love You Want (Crowd filling in for Vessel)
Atlantic
Nazareth
Alkaline
Ascensionism
Higher
Take Me Back to Eden
The Offering
Blood Sport
The piano ballads, Atlantic and the final Blood Sport tugged at the heartstrings. Vessel was in tears, muttering strained thank you's to the audience as he fought on, each syllable laced with emotion. It was raw, and beautiful. As they bowed at the end of the show, they thanked the audience, hands clasped together with Vessel knelt down. It's clear he owed the success of the gig to the audience who helped him through. It was humbling, and wonderful. II, III and IV were similarly thankful, and the entire crew who made the show possible flooded onstage. It was one hell of a show, and as I slipped out of the venue, the vibe from the audience was similarly electric. Everyone knew they had just watched a little piece of Sleep Token history unfold in front of them, and each person was in absolute awe of the grit and determination from the band to power on through the adversity.
(Sleep Token - Live at the OVO Arena)
Overall
Sleep Token are truly at the top of their game. This concert not only proved their amazing ability at creating a live spectacle that serves their newest to their most dedicated fans, but also how they can adapt in the face of adversity and create an evening that no one, including me will be forgetting for a very, very long time. As concert experiences go, this one is one of the best, and makes me look forward to where this band, in it's newest era, will end up next.
Enjoy some more images I took from the concert at the bottom of the post!
Rating: 10/10
(Sleep Token at the OVO Arena Wembley - 16/12/23)
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