Behold, a new offering. As thousands of Sleep Token‘s New York Worshippers sauntered their way into Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Monday night (Sept. 22), it was striking how diverse many of Vessel and Co.’s loyalest followers were.
There were the truly devout: those doused in ethereal black cloaks, fishnets, lace, masks and sparkling jewelry (I watched as one especially pious fan was forced to exit and re-enter the metal detector four times, handing off more and more gold jewels to the security guard as she went). Then there were the tattooed 30-somethings, the gothic couples decorated in matching black lipstick and jet-black hair, the fans in button-up shirts and shined shoes who had clearly just come from work, and the Gen X husbands-and-wives with their angsty teen children, eager to see what all the hubbub was about. If I were the deity Sleep, I’d have been pleased with how many vastly different people had gathered to worship in my name.
Sleep Token’s packed, sold-out Barclays Center gig came as no surprise, considering the astronomical few years the anonymous rockers have had. Their last album, Take Me Back to Eden, hit No. 16 on the Billboard 200 back in 2023 — an impressive feat, considering all eyes were on Hip-Hop for its 50th birthday. Their fourth and latest album, Even in Arcadia, which was released in May via RCA Records, then hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. All 10 of its tracks also appeared in the lower half of the Billboard Hot 100, cementing the fantastical group as crossover hitmakers. That diversified appeal was evident in the fans’ varied Sleep Token introduction stories.
After Thornhill’s rockin’ opening set brought the venue to life, I listened as two Worshippers swapped Token tales. One of them had stumbled upon Sleep Token at a music festival a few years ago and had been hooked on the band’s teachings ever since, while the other had flown to New York from rural Texas just to be at the evening’s show. It was his first time ever in New York. After an hour of gabbing, the curtain finally descended, and the opening chords of “Look to Windward” began to twinkle in. As frontman Vessel’s vocals filled Barclay’s halls, the veteran simply said to the novice: “Enjoy the ritual!”
The ritual was electric. Aided by the Espera vocal trio, Sleep Token’s songs filled the stadium with ease as Vessel screamed and crooned his way through the band’s biggest hits—from “The Offering” to “Caramel” to “The Summoning.” The guitars and drums chugged along in tandem, as each band member casually wandered across the surprisingly detailed set, which included rocky levels, spitfire lasers, and even a fully functional waterfall.
Vessel also hit plenty of what have become his signature hop-skip dance moves, his vogue-inspired posturing, and even gave IV a full-blown back massage while the guitarist shredded his way through his “The Summoning” guitar solo. The lighthearted juxtaposition of Vessel’s stage presence with the moody and solemn nature of Sleep Token’s music served as a good reminder that, even apart from all the lore, this is just a really solid rock band with songs that pack a heavy punch when performed live.
Vessel never addressed the audience, and there was no “thank you, New York” as the band departed, but the fans — who screamed out every syllable and moshed through the biggest drops — didn’t seem to mind. The songs carried a bigger emotional meaning for Sleep Token’s fans, and in classic Token fashion, the band presented itself as merely a delivery system for them.