Sleep Token's Take Me Back To Eden Is Their Magnum Opus! The Full Circle Album Review

Sleep Token's Take Me Back To Eden is a special album and catapulted them into new heights including headlining Download Festival & selling out the o2 Arena 2 nights in the same week. Since then they have had top 10 singles and topped the album charts, but without Take Me Back To Eden, this would likely never have happened.

I give a summary of the album along with a track-by-track. I also share my controversial early opinion of them as well as sharing which track was the catalyst for them to get to where they are today.

I also create the Take Me Back To Eden Full Circle, revealing my 5 favourite songs in album order, one of those they have never performed live! Hopefully one day

Playlist for the songs here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6j3NWyxLLm4Gq0BsBesf5Q

Do you agree with my top 5? 

Thank you for checking out the episode and the support as always!

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Transcript

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Hello, my name is DC. I am the host of The Full Circle, a show where we ling songs together with the last song. Linking back to the first song, hence completing the full circle. This week I am doing an album review, and I am reviewing one of my favorite albums in the last couple of years. Sleep Tokens. Take me back to Eden. The full circle. Now, for those of you who do not know about Sleep Token, they are a masked collective from the UK. We do not know their identities, or do we? I posted some videos uh a little while back about maybe revealing the identities of Sleep Token. Suffice to say, I was gonna say sadly, and then I changed it to suffice, it sounded a bit weird. Suffice to say, I think some people thought I might have been serious. I put one video of Winston from Parkway Drive, another video of Charlie Simpson, and then another video of Tiny Temper. I think people got it after Tiny Temper, but it caused a very heated debate when I put on Winston and I put on Charlie Simpson. Look, I was just having a bit of fun. I think people may know who the who the who they are, but of course, out of the band's respect, I'm not gonna name them, and I have no intention of naming them, but if you want to have a look, it's probably easy to Google it. Anyway, Sleep Token, I'll share a bit about why how I got into Sleep Token and why I'm choosing Take Me Back to Eden. So Sleep Token, I heard them on Discover Weekly a little while back, and I just didn't get it. The honest truth is I heard the song The Offering and I just didn't get it. And then suddenly it clicked. I was working some night shifts and I had a bit of a break, and someone mentioned Sleep Token again. Hadn't listened to them for a little while. So I was like, right, I'll listen to them now. And I listened to, I think it was Atlantic, and then I went into just so many more of their songs, Higher, Dark Signs. It was just what incredible listen. And I think I absolutely then just fell in love with the band. And I was like, how did I not how did I not like this band when I first heard it? It just sounds like my thing. They sort of mix pop influences with RB and metal and rock, and his vocals are just so good. The the lead vocalist is called Vessel, as I'm sure you know, and just his vocals are incredible, and it's led to a lot of speculation. I think a lot of people wondered, is it you know Bastille that could have been it? Or is it someone from the pop world? But yeah, absolutely incredible. And in 2023, they released their incredible album, Take Me Back to Eden, which I think was the album, especially with some of the singles they released, that really put them on the map. They are so good live, so epic live, and they're the versions it sounds live sound just as good, if not even better, than they do on the studio versions. The album is epic, and we're gonna go through it track by track. I'm super excited to talk about this one. Afterwards, I'm gonna share my top five songs in album order, creating the sleep token, taken back to Eden full circle. Let me know if you agree with that. Let me know if you agree with the five songs I've chosen. And if you haven't listened to the album, I'd strongly recommend you listen to the album before checking out this album review. Although I don't think I'll spoil anything, it's just that you might not get it if you're not heard it before. One thing to add, actually, before I go through this, I see a lot of conversations by people being like, uh sleep taken art metal, uh blah blah blah. And it's like, come on. Like, who cares? Who cares what genre they are? Who cares if they're metal or not metal or whatever? Because at the end of the day, if you like the music, you like the music. And if you don't like the music, then you don't like the music. What I don't like is people not liking the music just because they don't perceive it as a specific genre. Now that's just silly, yeah? Like whatever music you like, forget about the genre, forget about what people might class a song as. Just if you like the song, you like the song. If you don't like them, you don't like them. Fair enough. But you don't have to sort of nothing has to be, you know, always put in this neat little box about what genres bands are and things like that. I just find it, I just I do find it a bit too obsessive, if I'm being honest. But I do apologize if people are watching this and like, oh, I can do what I want. Like, yeah, I get it, I get it, but come on, like just enjoy the music. It doesn't matter what the genre is, does it? If it's metal, if you think it's not metal, then fair enough. To me, I think sleep token, I mean I'd call it pop metal. Do you know what I mean? Like they mix like pop music with metal music, and that's what I'd call it. I don't think that's a bad thing. But if you do, that's fine. But I don't think you need to poo-poo on others just because they like sleep token. That's my view. Okay, anyway, rant over. Let's start with reviewing track by track, Tailwind Back to Eden. So the first song, Choke. Now that was the first single that was released, and I must admit, when I first heard it, it it didn't immediately catch my ears. But after a few listens, and this is the case of all sleep token songs and albums, this is why I haven't said I'll definitely do it as if I heard it for the first time. I think with all their songs and albums, they've always grown on me. And I think Choe Cold is definitely one of those that have definitely grown on me, and it's one of the best songs on the album. Such a great way to start it. And then we go on to the second song, which is what essentially has put them on the map, hasn't it? The summoning six and a half minutes of just wow. I mean, it goes pretty hard to begin with, and then it just absolutely, absolutely belts it, screams to have then that incredible two-minute sort of jazz ending. Just so good, isn't it? So so good. And then we've got granite, a bit more of like uh an RBE, RBE, RB esque like song, and again, another catchy, decent song. The third single they released, or was it the fourth? I can't remember, but anyway, the first four songs were the first four songs they released, and then Acro Regia, which is like almost like lounge music, chilling, sort of the piano solo so good, definitely quite a laid-back vibe for them. And I really like that one. I think that's one of my favorites on it, and again, that's what I love about Sleep Token. Those first four songs were the first four songs they released, and also different, and also really good, really, really good, and then they step it up a notch with the heaviness, almost at God's level, probably even heavier than God's, before heavy, pure heavy. This is, and it's so good, such a good song, and I love it. I just think it's one of the best songs on the album, proper heavy that one is. So if you're sort of not into sleep soaking because of the heaviness, maybe this one isn't for you. And then we've got one of the more longer ones. I mean, they've got a quite a few long songs on this one, but this is one of the sort of like journey ones, ascensionism, where it sort of starts with a piano, goes quite soft, and then it builds up with the sort of rock vibes, and then it gets quite heavy, boom, and then it sort of like chills out again. As much as I think it's good, it's probably one of my personal lesser favourite songs, and that's that's that's that still means that it's a good song. It's just compared to because it's such a strong album, that's probably not as strong for me as some of the others. Now, are you really okay? It sort of starts with like this, I don't know, sort of guitar sound, which isn't really like them, I don't think. But again, another build-up song, nice chill one, really like it. And then the apparition, which just has this sort of like trap beat, which just sounds so cool. I I love that one. I have they performed that one live? I don't think they have, which is such a shame because I reckon that would go down so hard live, such a great song, and I really, really wish they've done that one live. It's just like I say, trap beat, bitter guitars. I mean, I think this is what I call quote unquote a classic pop metal song. And then we've got the initials D Y W T Y L M. A lot of you will probably know what it stands for if you listen to lyrics, but for those of you that don't want to know, then maybe skip about 10 seconds. But if you do want to know, it stands for Do You Wish That You Loved Me? And this is probably the this is-I mean, this is just pop. This is probably just minimal, minimalistic pop music. And I do like it. I can see why people may not like this one. This is a bit of a not, I don't think there's any sort of rock element to this song, but I do like this one. It's quite a nice song and a nice sort of melody on the album. So I think it's a decent one. I probably wouldn't have released it as a single. I can understand why, maybe they thought it would get good radio airplay, but it is what it is. And then we've got rain. This is a song I used when I used a video for instant McCall being quote unquote vestful from Sleep Circle because Parquet Drive to a song where it's raining, raining on Parkour Drive. And I thought it just worked with that song. I don't know, I've just been silly. So rain starts again with a piano and then it builds up, and then it goes, Don't rain on me. I think that's what it says. Sorry, I'm sorry if I got that wrong, and then it really builds up, and again, just a great, great song. I keep talking about how the songs are great, it's just epic, isn't it? Like this album is Magnus Opus the right word? Is that the right phrase? Do you know what? I'm so bad at those sorts of things, but yeah, again, such a great song. And then we've got the title track, Take Me Back to Eden, which is just oh my goodness. What a journey. I honestly I'm not a big fan of songs that go on for a long time, but it doesn't feel like that at all with this song. It is a journey. I'm not gonna go into full details about it because I do want to do want you to to check this one out. Please do check it out if you haven't. But what I will say is, I mean, I'm I'm gonna sort of semi-spoil it now, sorry, but I was not prepared for that ending and I loved it. I loved that crescendo, that build-up, and it just oh, it worked, it worked so well for me. Oh my goodness, even just thinking about it now. Oh, I'm gonna have to listen to it again now after after I finish recording this. So good. And then the last song, Ucelid, beautiful, beautiful song, just a beautiful song, and it was so cool to have heard that one live. And a full circle lol moment for them as well, where they link it back to the night does not belong to God. Just such a great song. I love the piano, I love the build-up, I just love the melody. They are so good at writing catchy melodic songs with a bit of a heavy twist to it. That is what they do, and they do it so well. And if you don't like it, if you don't get it, fair enough. But for those of you that do continue to worship, what an incredible album. If I were to create a full circle, which would be my top five songs from that album in album order, I'd start with The Summoning. I think you have to start with that one. I mean, that is just that got them on the map, and I think that is just an epic song. And then I think I'll go for Acro Regia. I just really like that one. I really like that song. That's just such a nice, chill song, which I think is so cool. And then the one they've never performed live, I don't think. The apparition, which I think they need to because it just just bouncy, just gets you going. It's just got that sick trap beat. And then we've got Take Me Back to Eden, like I've mentioned. I mean, majestic is probably the word I'd use for that. And then Uselid, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Sleep Token, absolutely smashed it in the park with their first three albums. And as much as Even in Arcadia does have some decent songs personally, I just think the first three albums are just top-notch. I think Take Me Back to Eden is just incredible. And if you haven't checked that album out, please check it out. There will be at least one song that you like. I mean, that's the thing about it. Even if you don't like Sleep Token or you haven't heard of them, there will be one song you like just because of their genre, just because of how varied they are. So good. They are so good. And if you do end up liking them, check them out live. Hopefully they'll be announcing it too at some point. But of course, they're more than inclined to have a break, have a rest, spend time with their family, spend time maybe making new music. Who knows? Thank you again for checking out this album review show. I know that these are slightly different to the usual show, and it is because I do just want to talk about some of my favourite albums that are just a part of my life. Music is so important to me. Music is so important to so many people, and I love talking about it, and just talking about these albums, it's just something that special to me. I appreciate that this isn't very unique. I appreciate that the full circle concept is maybe a bit different to this, but to me, it's just something I really want to do. And if you like check if you like hearing it, please say. If you don't, then please say as well, because maybe that will help me work out. Oh, maybe I should not do these album reviews. There's only one way to end the show, as always. Just remember this stay safe. Don't eat beef.