Sleep Token - This Place Will Become Your Tomb
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
- Sep 24
- 5 min read
Sometimes a band doesn’t just follow up a debut—they evolve into something more profound, more terrifyingly precise, more human. On September 24 2021, Sleep Token issued "This Place Will Become Your Tomb"
This Place Will Become Your Tomb is one of those moments. It's the sound of a once-anonymous entity stepping out from the shadows, not to show their face—but to bare their soul. Sleep Token had already made waves with their 2019 debut Sundowning, a slow-burning, conceptual offering that introduced the world to Vessel’s haunting voice and the band’s ritualistic presence. But in the two years that followed, their world changed—and so did they.
Following the release of Sundowning, Sleep Token saw a surge in underground popularity, particularly within the UK alternative and progressive metal scenes. They signed to Spinefarm Records, giving their music broader international reach. But then came the global halt of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic struck just as their momentum was building. Plans for touring and promotion were interrupted. Instead of sitting idle, the band released "The Room Below", a companion to "Sundowning" featuring stripped-down renditions, piano-driven pieces, and striking covers like Billie Eilish’s "When the Party's Over" and Whitney Houston’s "I Wanna Dance with Somebody".
These releases not only kept fans emotionally engaged but also hinted at the more ambient, introspective directions the band would explore next.
When Sleep Token returned to live performance at the 2021 Download Festival Pilot, it was clear they were emerging with a sharper vision. That same day, they released "Alkaline", the first single from this album, and it became immediately apparent—this would not be just another step forward. It would be a rebirth. "This Place Will Become Your Tomb" was officially unveiled, and the descent began.
Before we go to the album's songs we feel the need to share something—like a little disclaimer...
So if we may take you for a moment into the future: we, too, had no idea this band even existed until the single "Chokehold" was released and exploded like a global epidemic. And like spectators at a Uri Geller show at his peak, we were hypnotized—frighteningly so. More singles followed, and then the full album dropped (which we’ll dedicate a separate review to), pushing us, as is our way, to investigate the band—only to discover, to our surprise, that they had been around for seven years before their big breakthrough.
And from the very first listen, "This Place Will Become Your Tomb" electrified us. Something grabbed us and wouldn’t let go. Looking back, "Take Me Back to Eden" absolutely mesmerized us, but once the pendulum stopped swinging, we were no longer under its spell. Something in the deep and long drama of the songs, with tyring storytelling structures kept us from returning to them (after an intense initial listening phase, of course). But with this album, the electricity never left us. The side effects of that jolt brought us back to it again and again. There’s something about the songs—combining that same drama and structure (which became quite recognizable after getting to know the band) with a gripping, emotional dynamic—that made us fall in love with it so deeply. We found ourselves constantly returning to this album, emotionally moved by it, over and over again, despite the glow of the breakthrough record.
Produced once again by George Lever at G1 Productions in Somerset, this album elevates everything "Sundowning" introduced: the contrasts are more intense, the textures richer, the storytelling deeper. From the first pulse of "Atlantic", the listener is submerged. There’s a quiet tension in its atmosphere—a trembling calm before the storm—that sets the tone for everything to come. Sleep Token have always thrived on duality: soft and violent, sacred and broken. This record embraces that duality with more focus than ever before, and it will repeat itself in future albums.
"Alkaline" crashes through next like a wave of electric thunder. With its industrial undertones, thick distortion, and a groove that pulses like a rising tide, it’s a towering anthem of emotional dissonance. Yet beneath the aggression, there’s an unmistakable yearning. Vessel's voice floats above the chaos—detached, desperate, divine.
"Hypnosis" is an aptly named descent into repetition and entrancement. Synths weave in and out of a hypnotic riff while the drums pound with meditative consistency. There’s something unsettling and beautiful in its structure—like drowning slowly in your own thoughts.
And then comes "Mine", one of the album’s quietest yet most devastating moments. With a sparse, almost lo-fi beat and minimal instrumentation, Vessel’s falsetto becomes the focal point. His delivery is vulnerable, raw, and crushing. This isn’t a love song. It’s the sound of clinging to love when it's already gone.
"Telomeres" builds from near silence to cinematic explosion. Beginning with sparse piano notes and whispers, it crescendos into walls of shimmering guitars and thunderous drums. It’s not just a song—it’s a journey. Each dynamic shift feels like a breath being held, then released in grief or awe.
And then there’s "Fall for Me"—perhaps the most divisive track on the album. Stripped of all percussion, built entirely on layered vocals and soft textures, it feels like a pause for reflection. Some called it a misstep. But in the context of the album’s emotional arc, it becomes a quiet funeral for everything left unsaid.
Lyrically, the album explores emotional erosion, trauma, and devotion. But unlike "Sundowning", which often abstracted those themes in metaphor and repetition, "This Place Will Become Your Tomb" is more direct, more confronting. The lyrics don’t just paint a picture—they confront you with a mirror.
Upon release, the album was met with widespread acclaim. Distorted Sound awarded it a perfect 10/10, calling it a masterpiece of emotional storytelling. Metal Hammer ranked it among the best albums of 2021, and it became Sleep Token’s first charting album in the UK, peaking at #39 on the UK Albums Chart. It also charted in Scotland and across Europe. More importantly, it struck a deep chord with listeners. Fans described it not just as an album, but as an experience—one that helped them grieve, heal, and feel understood.
This album is not easy listening. It’s a heavy weight, wrapped in silk. It demands attention, asks questions you may not want to answer, and leaves you transformed. For some, it will feel like sanctuary. For others, like a reckoning. But for all, it leaves something behind. A mark. A presence.
A place where your sorrow is seen. A place that understands your silence.
A place that—perhaps—will become your tomb.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
Comments