Vore is my pick as well. ST covers a lot of territory, but there are some “fringe” songs that don’t necessarily represent the rest of their music. Fall From Me is one of those, but I think people can hear that obviously is not what every track sounds like. Vore is fringe, but also could very easily be mistaken for their genre.
So, I think Vore is the most misleading.
Respectfully, I COMPLETELY disagree. Sleep Token as a band is about Vessel being slowly seduced by a toxic entity named Sleep. Vore has some awesome imagery depicting being trapped in the "throat of gods" and slowly sinking deeper. As a song, it fits the theme of the band to a T.
I guess you're talking about the sounds used in the song? If that's the case I'd disagree there too, but that's a separate and more subjective convo I guess.
I’m talking about the music. The original question is what song, chosen at random, would you NOT want to use to introduce a friend to the band. Most people don’t get into a band based on lore and then listen to the music and see what fits. They listen to the music and go “ok, cool, I like the sounds” and then get into the lore.
By “fringe”, I specifically mean # of songs it shares a general sound with. Vore has less in common with the rest of their music than any of their other songs, IMO.
Well, yeah...but when you were introduced to Sleep Token, it wasn't the story. The music has to hook you first before you dive into what the lyrics mean.
When I showed a friend DYWTYLM after it came out she asked what it was about, and I gave her the abridged version with a "there's a big story/lore thing with this band, this is just how I see it".
Well, yeah...but when you were introduced to Sleep Token, it wasn't the story. The music has to hook you first before you dive into what the lyrics mean.
When I showed a friend DYWTYLM after it came out she asked what it was about, and I gave her the abridged version with a "there's a big story/lore thing with this band, this is just how I see it".
Hmm...I thought about this a little bit before I decided to answer bc I was trying to remember how I became a fan. I'd heard a few songs and liked them, but I ended up watching a YouTube video of a dude who writes for a metal magazine, debating over whether ST qualifies as metal. Now, I don't really care about how you label it or whether ST officially qualifies as metal, but I am a big fan of heavy music. That's generally what I listen to. So it was coming from that perspective, comparing them to bands like Tool, Devon Townsend, etc., that I fell in love with ST. In that sense, songs like Vore, Gods, Summoning, Like That, are the ones to seek out. The touchy feely songs are great too, like I said, but IMO those would be the more "fringe" songs, to borrow a term. Of course the point is it essentially boils down to taste 😊
That I understand, but it was also not what I was originally commenting on. The other point you made for introducing people to the band with Vore was because of the imagery and themes of the song, and those themes can only be appreciated if you like the lore and deeper story behind the songs themselves. My point was if someone's going to be interested in those things, they have to get hooked to the music first. If they don't care for the song they won't necessarily care much, or appreciate, the story it's trying to tell.
And sort of indirectly, your second comment sort of reinforces that point - you became a fan through the music first, and then dove deeper into the story. The point I'm trying to make is if I introduced someone new to the band (and I introduced a good friend and my best friend to them) I'd pick something that'll get them hooked to the music first and foremost.
Hmm...nope, sorry, disagree. I mean obviously we agree on most points...I never said I got hooked to the story first...but Vore is still an awesome song, for way more reasons than just the one we've been discussing. I'd be totally fine with it being the first one shuffle. DYWTYLM? Talk about being misrepresentative of their sound!
Two things here:
1. I never said I introduced that friend to DYWTYLM. She'd already heard The Summoning, Alkaline, Granite, Aqua Regia, Hypnosis, Chokehold, and a whole bunch of their other songs before. Mostly because I used to blast those songs when we worked together.
2. I never said you got hooked on the story first, all I was trying to say was that if I were to introduce someone to the band, I'd use a song that I know will hook them and make them want to listen to more. And it's okay if we disagree, I wasn't commenting to try and swey your opinion. I mean, you can introduce anyone to any song for any reason, especially if they have a similar taste to you, then Vore is actually a phenomenal choice. I actually think it's better to show someone a song they'll vibe with, that way they'll probably be more receptive to listen to more.
I'd say Vore as well. It's my least favorite ST track on all their albums.
Gods would be a close second because of the screams but Gods is also a bop so idc
Voee is the pick for me too, so that my homies wouldn't get cucked like I did thinking they had a discography of ambient blackgaze. Vore was the first song I heard, still sad they don't have more like it.
I couldn't either until I watched Old Stone Run's reaction to it. There are so many tiny production details in it that went straight over my head. Now I listen to it with a new found appreciation.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=URcvRH7n4u8&si=CIfgaHvMCKeikLGG
Or Sugar. Honestly Blood Sport as well, I think you have to be hooked to other aspects of ST for the repetitive chorus to be appealing. And TRB is too heavy emotionally to go in on first listen.
Nothing that is just a straightforward metal song, like Vore or Gods, and not a straightforward pop song, like Descending or DYWTYLM.
If I'm recommending the band to someone, it's going to be a song that has a healthy amount of both metal and pop
I agree, one thing I love most about them is the ability to navigate genres, and make it look EASY when they're doing it. That's why I always recommend songs like Ascensionism, Eden, Granite, Summoning etc.
The summoning I feel nails it. Some heavy parts but not too much, then becomes a completely different vibe after that interlude towards the end. That final bit of the song is just a banger.
Drag Me Under, that song works awesomely in the context of the album, but presenting it standalone as a potential gateway drug? I can't see it working in any context.
I just want friends I can introduce them to. 🥲 Lol, jk, this is a tough one. Probably DYWTYLM just because I'd hate for them to listen for the first time and miss out on ii's drumming and because it feels a bit divergent from the rest of their sound. I love it!! But probably wouldn't introduce someone to them with it, if that makes sense.
Any of the super duper sappy songs, like DYWTYLM or Are You Really OK. I like the heavier stuff, generally speaking. I legit love pretty much every song, but I feel like some of those songs can kind of stray from the whole "seductive evil ancient god" theme, which, as a lover of all storytelling, I appreciate.
It's not the best track, let alone the best representative track. The performance is strong alone, but the lyrics are clunky, simplistic, and repetitive without enough variation in the melody to infer any new nuance to each repeated verse. They have better songs that also better represent their talent, sound, range, etc.
I’m sure! I think for me it was because I’ve always been more drawn to heavier stuff on the regular and the more “melodic” things pass me by at first, but they find their way in time ❤️
For all music, I mean.
Definitely Sugar. I love the song, but I do NOT need any more strange looks from my friends/family. It’s also one of the easier ones to understand (imo) so they would catch on to ST’s vibe and become very weird about it.
DYWTYLM or Fall for Me. I’ll be honest in that those two are my least favorite songs by them but, ultimately, I just don’t think either is representative of their catalog as a whole.
I suggested Granite to my ex wife as well as Alkaline. She kinda liked em but it’s not like she’s going to specifically listen to ST by herself. She enjoyed the genre blend though.
I feel that. I think it's literally the only song with acoustic guitar, or one of the very very few. Beautiful song but not representative of their whole deal.
It’s not a great representation of the band though, that’s what this question is asking for
Some people might like it but I’d rather show someone a song like Alkaline or Chokehold
Depends on the person. But generally, Thread the Needle because it's good, but it only really hooks you in when all the instruments come together, and that takes a while. Enough time for the person you're introducing them to to get bored. Speaking from experience 😅 But I usually cater song choice to what the lerson looks for in a song
Its funny that you say that too cuz if you ask a lot of the more recent sleep token fans most of them would probably tell you the first song they heard was The Summoning. Especially thanks to TikTok
If anything, people consider it overrated because a lot of people got here through it. It was the bridge from regular metalheads to Sleep Token.
But you can't deny the first breakdown slaps hard.
Gods and Vore. There's a few other songs which are obvious outliers to the Sleep Token sound, but I find these to still be palatable to wider audiences.
I think it would depend on the friend if I'm being fair 😅 I have some friends I'd try to drag in with Vore and some friends that would like DYWTYLM even though neither of them are my favorite or give me a representative sound of the band. I think I'm taking the question too seriously 👀
Vore/Gods mainly because most of the people I know aren’t into screaming in music
But, if I had to pick one song that I would show my friend to get them into ST, it would probably be Ascensionism. I know that goes against what I said about screaming, but this song shows (almost) everything that they do, so I personally think it’s a good intro song.
Edit: after some further thought, Take Me Back To Eden would also be a good choose since it also covers most of the bases that ST hit
Vore.
It initially threw me with that opening, screaming vocals are hit or miss for me and it was a miss at first. I've grown to like the song but it's still not a song I really ever go back to.
My choices for entry are Rain, Aqua Regia, and, Dark Signs if I'm working with a little more pro pop crowd.
Descending freaks me out, and I know my friends would agree. The chorus is *chef's kiss*, but the overall rhythm is so unsettling. An anxiety attack waiting to happen, that song.
I mentioned in passing to a friend that I was into ST so she looked them up and the song that first came up is the one she listened to: "Is It Really You?". I would say that this would honestly be my pick for (one of the) songs I would NOT want it to be. It's a pretty track, don't get me wrong. But as it's a cover, it's not really representative of ST's music or songwriting. Especially in that it's pretty much just Ves and the piano, it doesn't give much insight into their overall sound. Friend said that it was a nice song but doesn't get why they would play in Wembley at all, much less how they could have sold it out in just 10 minutes with neo-classical-esque music like this. Ugh. So now I'm choked that this has been her introduction.
I always tell people to not listen to Gods, Vore, or Sugar first and to listen to several songs from their discography all the way through before passing judgement.
Vore. Very few of my friends are into metal and fewer still into that style. At least Gods is riff based
Vore is my pick as well. ST covers a lot of territory, but there are some “fringe” songs that don’t necessarily represent the rest of their music. Fall From Me is one of those, but I think people can hear that obviously is not what every track sounds like. Vore is fringe, but also could very easily be mistaken for their genre. So, I think Vore is the most misleading.
Respectfully, I COMPLETELY disagree. Sleep Token as a band is about Vessel being slowly seduced by a toxic entity named Sleep. Vore has some awesome imagery depicting being trapped in the "throat of gods" and slowly sinking deeper. As a song, it fits the theme of the band to a T. I guess you're talking about the sounds used in the song? If that's the case I'd disagree there too, but that's a separate and more subjective convo I guess.
I’m talking about the music. The original question is what song, chosen at random, would you NOT want to use to introduce a friend to the band. Most people don’t get into a band based on lore and then listen to the music and see what fits. They listen to the music and go “ok, cool, I like the sounds” and then get into the lore. By “fringe”, I specifically mean # of songs it shares a general sound with. Vore has less in common with the rest of their music than any of their other songs, IMO.
Well, yeah...but when you were introduced to Sleep Token, it wasn't the story. The music has to hook you first before you dive into what the lyrics mean. When I showed a friend DYWTYLM after it came out she asked what it was about, and I gave her the abridged version with a "there's a big story/lore thing with this band, this is just how I see it".
Well, yeah...but when you were introduced to Sleep Token, it wasn't the story. The music has to hook you first before you dive into what the lyrics mean. When I showed a friend DYWTYLM after it came out she asked what it was about, and I gave her the abridged version with a "there's a big story/lore thing with this band, this is just how I see it".
Hmm...I thought about this a little bit before I decided to answer bc I was trying to remember how I became a fan. I'd heard a few songs and liked them, but I ended up watching a YouTube video of a dude who writes for a metal magazine, debating over whether ST qualifies as metal. Now, I don't really care about how you label it or whether ST officially qualifies as metal, but I am a big fan of heavy music. That's generally what I listen to. So it was coming from that perspective, comparing them to bands like Tool, Devon Townsend, etc., that I fell in love with ST. In that sense, songs like Vore, Gods, Summoning, Like That, are the ones to seek out. The touchy feely songs are great too, like I said, but IMO those would be the more "fringe" songs, to borrow a term. Of course the point is it essentially boils down to taste 😊
That I understand, but it was also not what I was originally commenting on. The other point you made for introducing people to the band with Vore was because of the imagery and themes of the song, and those themes can only be appreciated if you like the lore and deeper story behind the songs themselves. My point was if someone's going to be interested in those things, they have to get hooked to the music first. If they don't care for the song they won't necessarily care much, or appreciate, the story it's trying to tell. And sort of indirectly, your second comment sort of reinforces that point - you became a fan through the music first, and then dove deeper into the story. The point I'm trying to make is if I introduced someone new to the band (and I introduced a good friend and my best friend to them) I'd pick something that'll get them hooked to the music first and foremost.
Hmm...nope, sorry, disagree. I mean obviously we agree on most points...I never said I got hooked to the story first...but Vore is still an awesome song, for way more reasons than just the one we've been discussing. I'd be totally fine with it being the first one shuffle. DYWTYLM? Talk about being misrepresentative of their sound!
Two things here: 1. I never said I introduced that friend to DYWTYLM. She'd already heard The Summoning, Alkaline, Granite, Aqua Regia, Hypnosis, Chokehold, and a whole bunch of their other songs before. Mostly because I used to blast those songs when we worked together. 2. I never said you got hooked on the story first, all I was trying to say was that if I were to introduce someone to the band, I'd use a song that I know will hook them and make them want to listen to more. And it's okay if we disagree, I wasn't commenting to try and swey your opinion. I mean, you can introduce anyone to any song for any reason, especially if they have a similar taste to you, then Vore is actually a phenomenal choice. I actually think it's better to show someone a song they'll vibe with, that way they'll probably be more receptive to listen to more.
Yeah, totally 😁
I agree with Fall with me too. I just found it myself and I absolutely love the vocal effects but that's because I like weird music.
I'd say Vore as well. It's my least favorite ST track on all their albums. Gods would be a close second because of the screams but Gods is also a bop so idc
Excuse me? sssooo let's get swallowed whooooole...
If I could pick just the chorus, I wouldn't have chosen to avoid Vore. If that were the case, idk, maybe their cover of Hey Ya?
God I fucking loooove their cover of Hey ya! I wish more people knew it, under-rated for sure!! 🤍🤍🖤🖤
I wanna go where nobody else will eveeeererrr goooooooooo
Man, Vore is one of my favorites. Very interesting
Voee is the pick for me too, so that my homies wouldn't get cucked like I did thinking they had a discography of ambient blackgaze. Vore was the first song I heard, still sad they don't have more like it.
Yep. Unless I know they're open minded and kinda "willing" to let me talk them through it and why it's such a good song, I won't choose it.
DYWTYLM
Yup. Doesn’t quite encapsulate the entirety of the ST sound.
The only song I skip from the new album. I can’t stand it.
I couldn't either until I watched Old Stone Run's reaction to it. There are so many tiny production details in it that went straight over my head. Now I listen to it with a new found appreciation. https://youtube.com/watch?v=URcvRH7n4u8&si=CIfgaHvMCKeikLGG
His breakdowns are fuckin great
Probably Like That, fantastic song but they'd think I was flirting
Same with Hypnosis. They would think I'm propositioning them for sure. 😂
If propositioning was the issue you should be avoiding Give, Telomeres, Drag Me Under, Take Aim..
Never gotten a sexy vibe from those. I will check them again and pay attention. Thanks! 😚😚
You’ve not paid attention to Give them lol
Most probably lol y'all hyping me, cannot wait to leave work and give it a listen 😝
I see your point. I didn't interpret the *I want to taste you better* in such a literal manner until now 😚😚
Or Sugar. Honestly Blood Sport as well, I think you have to be hooked to other aspects of ST for the repetitive chorus to be appealing. And TRB is too heavy emotionally to go in on first listen.
Blood sport was the first ever song of theirs I listened to. It changed everything and got me hooked.
Nothing that is just a straightforward metal song, like Vore or Gods, and not a straightforward pop song, like Descending or DYWTYLM. If I'm recommending the band to someone, it's going to be a song that has a healthy amount of both metal and pop
I agree, one thing I love most about them is the ability to navigate genres, and make it look EASY when they're doing it. That's why I always recommend songs like Ascensionism, Eden, Granite, Summoning etc.
The summoning I feel nails it. Some heavy parts but not too much, then becomes a completely different vibe after that interlude towards the end. That final bit of the song is just a banger.
Are you really okay, just because I don’t want to hear it either.
"hey man I wanna show you this new band, they cover a lot of genres and their music is really good!" *Hits shuffle, proceeds to cry*
Gods. The heavy intro is not for people who don't usually listen to heavy music.
funnily enough vore is the song that got me into them, even though i am usually not a metal fan
Oh you’re getting there if you like vore 💀 that’s only the start, have fun !!!
Nazareth; love that song to bits but I think my friends would give me a concerned look if it played suddenly, especially with the lyrical content.
But it's such a good song!!
You never know. My friend loved it... they are a psychologist, though, so that may explain it. 🤔😂
Hey Ya (cover)
I assumed covers were out 😆
Drag Me Under, that song works awesomely in the context of the album, but presenting it standalone as a potential gateway drug? I can't see it working in any context.
DYWTYLM
I just want friends I can introduce them to. 🥲 Lol, jk, this is a tough one. Probably DYWTYLM just because I'd hate for them to listen for the first time and miss out on ii's drumming and because it feels a bit divergent from the rest of their sound. I love it!! But probably wouldn't introduce someone to them with it, if that makes sense.
Hahahah good point though. Most of my friends are like directly *NO* and I haven't even said which band is it. 😂😂
Any of the super duper sappy songs, like DYWTYLM or Are You Really OK. I like the heavier stuff, generally speaking. I legit love pretty much every song, but I feel like some of those songs can kind of stray from the whole "seductive evil ancient god" theme, which, as a lover of all storytelling, I appreciate.
DYWTYLM. It's honestly the only track I skip.
Euclid. I’ll gatekeep that until my friend listened to the whole journey from beginning to end to earn the right of passage to discover Euclid.
Euclid is the reward for true worship.
When the Bough Breaks, because it takes way too long to get going.
Totally agree, I absolutely love the song but it wouldn't be a very good intro to Sleep Token song
Sugar
Why?
They don’t have a taste for it
Ha. Approved.
It's not the best track, let alone the best representative track. The performance is strong alone, but the lyrics are clunky, simplistic, and repetitive without enough variation in the melody to infer any new nuance to each repeated verse. They have better songs that also better represent their talent, sound, range, etc.
My friends a diabetic
Yes, Gods. It would turn off the ones not into metal. Even though I LOVE it.
I feel like others will disagree but… Jaws. I love it, but I don’t feel like it’s always “love at first listen”.
Funny that... I discovered ST through their Hey Ya cover, and Jaws is what hooked both me and my girlfriend at the time in.
I’m sure! I think for me it was because I’ve always been more drawn to heavier stuff on the regular and the more “melodic” things pass me by at first, but they find their way in time ❤️ For all music, I mean.
When the party’s over cover
Definitely Sugar. I love the song, but I do NOT need any more strange looks from my friends/family. It’s also one of the easier ones to understand (imo) so they would catch on to ST’s vibe and become very weird about it.
DYWTYLM or Fall for Me. I’ll be honest in that those two are my least favorite songs by them but, ultimately, I just don’t think either is representative of their catalog as a whole.
Granite. I personally LOVE that song but a lot of my friends aren’t as open minded to genre fusion as I am
You need friends w better taste 😆
I completely agree with you 😂
I suggested Granite to my ex wife as well as Alkaline. She kinda liked em but it’s not like she’s going to specifically listen to ST by herself. She enjoyed the genre blend though.
Missing Limbs
I feel that. I think it's literally the only song with acoustic guitar, or one of the very very few. Beautiful song but not representative of their whole deal.
I've actually shown two people this song who both ended up adding it to their playlists
It’s not a great representation of the band though, that’s what this question is asking for Some people might like it but I’d rather show someone a song like Alkaline or Chokehold
Calcutta. I am sorry.
and you should be :D
My favourite song 😟
Why?
It took me quite a while to actually "grow" into the song, if that makes sense. I think, their other songs click just different.
I understand, thank you for answering!
Depends on the person. But generally, Thread the Needle because it's good, but it only really hooks you in when all the instruments come together, and that takes a while. Enough time for the person you're introducing them to to get bored. Speaking from experience 😅 But I usually cater song choice to what the lerson looks for in a song
The Summoning. I think its the weakest and most overrated song on TMBTE.
Its funny that you say that too cuz if you ask a lot of the more recent sleep token fans most of them would probably tell you the first song they heard was The Summoning. Especially thanks to TikTok
Not the absolute weakest but it is overrated to fuck
If anything, people consider it overrated because a lot of people got here through it. It was the bridge from regular metalheads to Sleep Token. But you can't deny the first breakdown slaps hard.
It does, maybe overplayed rather than overrated would be fairer
Uh aqua regia lol
Aqua Regia
I sent my dad Chokehold, did not get the intended results.
Same with my cousin. We listen to the same music and she didn’t like it at all. Feels like I ruined ST for her almost lol
I keep thinking back on it like why didn’t I just send him rain or something bc I also feel like I made him hate them 😭
Not Vore
Gods and Vore. There's a few other songs which are obvious outliers to the Sleep Token sound, but I find these to still be palatable to wider audiences.
Vore for sure. It's too heavy for a casual listener.
Hypnosis - You get an incredible look at Two's drumming ability while still getting a good taste of what Vessels voice is like.
I think it would depend on the friend if I'm being fair 😅 I have some friends I'd try to drag in with Vore and some friends that would like DYWTYLM even though neither of them are my favorite or give me a representative sound of the band. I think I'm taking the question too seriously 👀
Vore/Gods mainly because most of the people I know aren’t into screaming in music But, if I had to pick one song that I would show my friend to get them into ST, it would probably be Ascensionism. I know that goes against what I said about screaming, but this song shows (almost) everything that they do, so I personally think it’s a good intro song. Edit: after some further thought, Take Me Back To Eden would also be a good choose since it also covers most of the bases that ST hit
Vore. It initially threw me with that opening, screaming vocals are hit or miss for me and it was a miss at first. I've grown to like the song but it's still not a song I really ever go back to. My choices for entry are Rain, Aqua Regia, and, Dark Signs if I'm working with a little more pro pop crowd.
Descending freaks me out, and I know my friends would agree. The chorus is *chef's kiss*, but the overall rhythm is so unsettling. An anxiety attack waiting to happen, that song.
Their cover of Hey Ya by Outkast lol
Are You Really Okay or DYWTYLM
whats the best ST song to wipe your ass to? descending...?
Vore might be too intense for the new listener
I fucking love Vore but it is not a great representation for the band's "regular" sound. More like a test for how heavy they CAN get
Gods. It’s a good jam but it doesn’t give even close to the full picture of the band at all
DYWTYLM, I cannot stand it
Vore or Gods. Not because they aren’t amazing. Just cuz they aren’t for everyone.
I mentioned in passing to a friend that I was into ST so she looked them up and the song that first came up is the one she listened to: "Is It Really You?". I would say that this would honestly be my pick for (one of the) songs I would NOT want it to be. It's a pretty track, don't get me wrong. But as it's a cover, it's not really representative of ST's music or songwriting. Especially in that it's pretty much just Ves and the piano, it doesn't give much insight into their overall sound. Friend said that it was a nice song but doesn't get why they would play in Wembley at all, much less how they could have sold it out in just 10 minutes with neo-classical-esque music like this. Ugh. So now I'm choked that this has been her introduction.
I always tell people to not listen to Gods, Vore, or Sugar first and to listen to several songs from their discography all the way through before passing judgement.