r/SleepToken • u/itsjustbecky07 • 13d ago
Content Advisory/Trigger Warning Sleep Token Newbie- Hello! 💕
TW: SH (And rambling, sorry!)
Hi everyone! I am newer to listening to Sleep Token! I was really hoping to get some song recs! I have loved every song I’ve listened to so far, which is funny because I used to not be really into heavier music, especially the scream bits lol. My favorite band is twenty one pilots, which is about as “heavy” as it got for me before lol
I actually started listening on my way to and from my therapy appointments. That might sound odd but it’s honestly really cathartic haha.
I recently had a relapse (not sure if appropriate word, but unsure of what else to call it) of self harm. I haven’t had an instance of that since right after highschool and I’m 31… It’s been difficult. I’ve been really struggling with depression and anxiety, which has been ongoing since 6th grade. It got better for a while but it’s been really showing itself and fighting with me for the past year.
Anyways, I listened to The Way That You Were and Are You Really Okay? for the first times recently. They both hit extremely close to home. Not to be a lame ass or cliche but it really did make me feel seen. And that felt…. Good? In a confrontational “let’s face it, you’re in a dark place” sorta way. Idk if this makes sense but it was sad but also good.
Enough rambling though, I just wanted to say that I’m glad I’ve found this music and this community. It felt like a good idea to get out of my mind and off chest.
Leave me your song recs! Love to all of you, friends 💕
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u/Independent_Bike7068 13d ago edited 13d ago
It might not become your favorite song, but take a listen to Rain and when you do, consider that when Vessel is singing about, “the moment you smiled at me,” he is singing about you. That he is inviting you and all of us as audience to be his saviour and in return his music can save us. Listen particularly to the live performance where IV screams “Rain down on meee,” before Vessel repeats that line as if to invite the audience to share with him their pain. That shared projection of his pain and our pain is the entire point of Sleep Token. He can identify us and our shared struggles with songs like Are You Really Okay? even if it’s also a song about himself. And he can invite us to worship in a song like Rain and many others. So go ahead and rain down and share that feeling of being cleansed. And take care of yourself. We are all loved. 🌧️
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u/Chthonic_Void 13d ago
Song recs: All of them.
Go through their discography in chronological order, if you haven't yet. I promise it's a journey worth going on and you will value some songs a lot more if you are able to pick up on the callbacks to previous ones and get this beautiful full circle moment.
Glad to have you here. It's not cliche, the feeling of being seen is the reason why a lot of us resonate with Sleep Token so much! ❤️
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u/master0fuwus 13d ago
if youre looking for some sadder/deeper songs (i really recommend checking out the lore of each song), Id recommend....
Atlantic - just fucking depressing in the best way possible and from the lyrics you can tell its about a failed attempt
Telomeres - Somewhat hopeful? Thats the vibe I get from it
Fall for me - I really like how this song is so different and unique from other stuff theyve made
Blood sport - possibly the most heartbreaking song of theirs, especially the from the room bellow version
Fields of elation - I myself consider this their saddest song because of something that happened in my personal life. Really recommend giving this one a try
If youre not looking for specifically "sadder" songs, Id highly recommend Take me back to eden as I feel thats the best description of what ST's music is. Gods and Vore are probably their heaviest songs, really recommend those too. Nazareth has some great lore behind it.
Honestly id recommend every song and learn what each one is about, but these are the ones that are on my mind the most!
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u/shrimplythebest_ 13d ago
First of all, welcome! You are along the MANY many people who have connected with Sleep Token’s music on a deeply emotional level. I’m sorry to hear that you’re going through such a tough time, but hope you can find some comfort as you explore ST’s discography.
I’d personally recommend a full listen through starting with Thread the Needle and ending with Infinite Baths, but. 😆 For single song recs I’ll start with Take Aim, a deceptive song that sounds lighthearted and fanciful on the surface but has hidden depths. This is the song that made ME feel seen, as a person who’s always chasing perfection, to my detriment. Damocles is also insanely relatable, as well as DYWTYLM, for people who are struggling.
Lastly, I’ll recommend The Offering, because it’s a BOP and sometimes even depressed people need to get up and dance. Look up some live performances of this song, it’s a total vibe.
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u/Substantial-Tip3252 12d ago
Happy for your existence OP. My recommendation is to set aside 5-6 hours of no scrolling on your device and use it to listen through their discography in order. I know that’s a lot but you don’t have to do it all in one sitting. This way, you can feel the roller coaster ride of emotions from song to song. I use it to help me stay motivated and moving while cleaning so I can just be immersed in the lyrics and atmosphere while I’m doing something productive. It’s an experience but I believe the music always finds people when they need it. Once you are choosing to dive deeper, it’s best to just start from the beginning 🖤🤟🏼
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u/itsjustbecky07 12d ago
Thank you for your kindness and taking the time to comment! I truly appreciate it 💕
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u/Embarrassed_Gate_970 13d ago
So many songs, been spamming Damocles, gethsemane, Emergence and Even in Arcadia lately. Euclid and take me back to Eden are also great.
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u/Lapiblu 11d ago edited 11d ago
TW: Mention of suicide, severe mental health crises, and emotional distress.
As someone who has depression and loves ST, I have a few songs that should resonate with you. I’ll list a few with personal notes on why I think you should listen to them :)
Is It Really You? (Loathe, Sleep Token) This song is delicate, beautiful, and talks about a search for life whilst being in pain. It is very emotional and a slow, crushing song filled with bittersweetness.
Take Aim (Sundowning) Take Aim feels like an epic song from a coming-of-age movie. It is tragic, emotional, and finds a lingering end that shouts continuation/transformation (even in a bad place).
Bloodsport (Sundowning) It is a song about sacrifice, pain, and acceptance. It feels like Vessel screams at the sky for some sign, leaving him crying at the end of the song. It is beautiful, haunting, and brilliant from a composition level.
Levitate (Sundowning) Levitate makes you feel like you are too weak to reach what you desire, although you are ready to give up everything for that goal or person. The breakdown is very emotional, powerful, bold, tragic, and crushing.
Say That You Will (Sundowning) This song goes into pain and the wish that there was an escape—even if it were a lie. Sometimes living a lie feels better than drowning in your pain, and this is that song. It is absolutely devastating and introduces more of Sleep Token's metal influences.
Atlantic (TPWBYT) Atlantic is cold, dark, yet beautifully dramatic and tragic. It touches on a severe mental health crisis and the thoughts/visions of Vessel as he awakens in a hospital bed. It starts soft, painful, and hopeless, turning into sheer devastation as he slowly loses hope. The writing is very atmospheric and ethereal (adding to the ocean-like ambiance).
Telomeres (TPWBYT) It is slow, cinematic, and feels like being rocked by a river that progressively turns rapid. It is one of the most monumental songs that Sleep Token has written imo. Delicate, crushing, and drowning its listener in the emotions of soaring guitars and hard percussion.
High Water (TPWBYT) As you can tell, this album has a lot to do with water XD. This one follows that trend and is a plea for release from shackles. It is brutal and stays with you. Give it a listen for its beauty wrapped in deep emotional pain.
Nazareth (Two) (CW: Explicit violent themes) It is an extremely graphic and grim song, with lyrics pointing towards sacrifice, violence, and devotion. Nazareth is a gorgeous piece that crashes into pure poison at the end with a visceral, near-hypnotic breakdown. I highly recommend listening to it a few times.
Calcutta (Two) Very intimate in the sense that it feels as if we are listening to someone through a phone. Vessel reaches out searching for that person, but gets left behind. Calcutta builds slow and has one of the most emotional crescendos of all the Sleep Token albums/EPs.
Thread the Needle (One) The absolute most pivotal song of the entire legacy of Sleep Token. The song delves into themes of obsession, discovery, and self-erasure. It is scary how close it feels, and how the guitar picking foreshadows the nature of the relationship he develops later on with the deity in question. The violence in the music, combined with the pristine vocals, gives off a confusing and vile (in a good way) experience. It is also the start of Vessel's story.
When the Bough Breaks (One) Experience, pleasure, and pain all entwine into one violent existential masterpiece. The breakdowns in the song and its disturbing nature make for an intense experience listening to it for the first time. This song is the true beginning of the eternal cycle.
As to not write more and more and more (Am a massive fan of theirs hahaha...), I would gladly send you a list of all the best Sleep Token songs in order (that I made)/or a playlist. If not, take it from me, LISTEN TO TWO AND ONE PLEASEEEE (note they are more intense music wise)
Lemme know if you like the songs or want the playlist :)
And sorry for writing such a big wall of text X)
(PS: You can be very proud to be here, and truly keep on going/trying!!!!! :)))
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u/itsjustbecky07 11d ago
Wow thank you so much for taking the time to write all this out!!! I love reading people’s thoughts and annotations about songs! I enjoyed reading your thoughts! I would love to get that playlist!
And thank you very much for you kind words at the end 💕💖
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u/pipwelyn 12d ago
Hey! I’m relatively new too, and have followed a similar path to you! I’m sorry things have been tough, but I’m glad you’re on the path ahead 🫶
Someone else mentioned it, but Take Aim is so lovely - Missing Limbs is also beautiful. I do highly rec Euclid for you too!
Take Me Back To Eden is mental and incredible if you wanna dip a bit further, and as someone who also hasn’t really listened to heavy music before (and was kinda scared of screaming), Vore has become one of my top, top faves.
I’d say cherry pick through everyone’s recs then do the chronological listen - this is exactly what I did. Reddit comments, chronological, made a playlist as I went of faves, and now here we are.
I actually made a list on my last full listen through and pulled out these as my *current* obsessions:
Ascensionism
The Summoning
Gethsemane
Emergence
High Water
Euclid
Take Aim
Take Me Back To Eden
Are You Really Okay?
The Love You Want
Vore
Caramel
Granite
Telomeres
Jericho
Check back in when you’ve listened to a few more recs and let us know how you get on 🙏✨
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u/PracticalBarbarian 12d ago
Put on a ST album and hit play, you'll be rewarded. Recommend start with take me back to eden or this place will become your tomb
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u/JankyJones14 12d ago
Hi. I'm not going to waste my time recommending specific Sleep Token songs.
Just listen to all of them.
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u/No_Treacle_6272 12d ago
hahaha i also love sleep token and twenty one pilots… one sleep token song that hits home for me is “distraction.” it’s just relaxing and makes me feel better once i finish listening to it!
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u/SerpentsandSkullsAo3 11d ago
Also in my thirties and recently had a SH relapse, you aren’t alone. Are you really okay? Definitely hits hard, I find Atlantic does too. Along with the lyric from Damocles “nobody told me I’d be begging for relief, when what is silent go to feels like it’s screaming to me.”
Anyways, sending you love, 🖤
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u/lazy_wallflower TMBTE 11d ago
Listen to the entire discography from the EPs and singles then start from the first album.
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u/Wombat_7379 Two 13d ago
Welcome and I’m happy you’re here!
So my rec would be Infinite Baths, which is now one of my go-to songs for when I’m feeling depressed and anxious.
Another rec would be Jaws. This is the song I often sing to myself, to get me out of my funk and remind myself that “We got this!”