Sundowning is the debut album of the forever-growing band Sleep Token. The Anonymous band, which is based in the United Kingdom, was a largely unknown entity within the musical world until their breakthrough album 'Take Me Back to Eden', which was released in 2023. However, this breakthrough led to a gargantuan rise in fame for Sleep Token, which I feel was very well deserved for the genre-breaking band. Despite this, the other pieces of work released before this explosion in popularity are now often overlooked, which is a true shame, as they are masterpieces in their own right. Sundowning is one of these, being an extremely well-produced entry into their musical careers.
Song rating (based upon enjoyment) in track order:
The Night Does Not Belong To God- 10
The Offering- 10
Levitate- 7
Dark Signs- 9
Higher- 9
Take Aim- 8
Give- 5
Gods- 10
Sugar- 9
Say That You Will- 7
Drag Me Under- 7
Blood Sport- 10
I would like to mention a few songs that stand apart from others on the album, one of these being The Offering. The Offering is a clear standout on the album, due to the masterful performance of anonymous drummer II. II's brilliance in being able to combine genres such as metal, jazz, and funk helps set Sleep Token apart from the competition in the metal world. As said by the frontman Vessel himself, Sleep Token is a 'genre-breaking band' and this song shows this. All the elements combine incredibly well together and help to create something metal fans have been craving for years: a diverse and unique sound. This song is further elevated by breakdowns that help show the talent of the other members of Sleep Token, which cannot be overlooked despite II's extreme talent.
A further song I would like to highlight is Higher. This song emphasizes how great Vessel's voice is, with harmonics and highs and even guttural lows, with the instruments perfectly complementing this. The song also features an extremely well-written breakdown, which shows that Sleep Token is capable of incorporating heavy elements into their sometimes more mellow songs, which helps to diversify their work. This helps longtime listeners to feel excitement for further work, as they know no two songs are the same, even within each album, which can sometimes be difficult.
One final song I would like to note is Gods. This song has never been played live (as of the time of this review), which, for me, is a massive disappointment. I often see myself going back to the somewhat live version of this song (not a full one), which is featured during II's Drumeo interview. The drumming on this track is simply magical; it is a highlight of II's outstanding work, as this song provides II a platform to shine. And shine he does, as this has to be one of the best drumming pieces on any Sleep Token track.
Final Thoughts and Rating
I will admit, initially, when I was referred to Sleep Token by a good friend of mine, I was somewhat put off by their work. However, as time has gone on, I have learned to appreciate their brilliance, and I'm very glad I have, as their subsequent work keeps getting more and more impressive. This seems to be a looming stigma for Sleep Token, with metal enthusiasts claiming they 'aren't metal', which is a common misconception. They are not metal; they are Sleep Token, which in itself is their own genre, which sets them in their own space, helping them gain fans from across a variety of spaces, adding to their success. This album is an overall joy to listen to, and I will continue piling listening time into it for years to come.