Sleep Token’s Newest Release ‘Damocles’ Has Fans Wondering– Are You Really Okay?

Song Review

The most widely genre-debated band, Sleep Token, has released a new track off their upcoming album Even in Arcadia—but it appears to be so much more than that... or to some, much less. As a fan, I wanted to deep dive into this one because the release has taken over social media, leaving many listeners in tears, some disappointed, some worried, and some upset.

Sleep Token has exploded over the past few years—gaining millions of listeners, music groups, Reddit threads, fan-made art, and more. Their latest releases, Emergence and Caramel, have amassed 76 million streams on Spotify alone in just a little over a month. That’s literally insane. The band is set to headline Download festival in June, catching the attention of many music festival-goers, with mixed opinions. Some believed it was too soon for them to headline, while others were elated. With the band receiving so much love (and so much hate), it brings us to where we are now—with this very song.

But before diving into Damocles, let’s talk briefly about Emergence. Hyped from the beginning, in my opinion, it delivered. The influx of new sounds—like Gabi Rose getting smooth on the sax during the outro and II’s clever snare syncopation—gave the song a uniqueness and an incredible feeling of apprehension. As a middle school band nerd, I appreciated this so much (even if it gave me flashbacks of my uptight band teacher conducting). Emergence is a daily multi-play for me—I cannot wait to see it live on tour.

I’ll skip over Caramel quickly, but although it hasn't hit the streaming heights of Emergence, it still made waves on Instagram, TikTok, and amongst the Sleep Token cult. However, the general consensus among both new and old listeners seems to be that it’s perhaps not their favorite track from the band.

Now, into the deep end—Damocles. Where do I even begin? Let’s start with the name itself. If you're into Greek legends, the title is no surprise—especially considering the wild ride the band has been on lately. The "Sword of Damocles" symbolizes looming danger. Think of it as the ancient Greek equivalent to the Spider-Man quote, “With great power comes great responsibility.” In the story, Damocles switches places with a tyrant king, Dionysius, only to find a sword suspended above his head, teaching him that wealth and power come at a heavy price.

This song is more poetic than anything—and while I appreciate the instrumental aspects (which I’ll touch on later), the words are what truly need to be heard... or maybe even said. Lines like “Come up for air and choke on it all // No one else knows that I've got a problem // What if I can't get up and stand tall?” highlight, quite clearly, that the band—or at least Vessel—is struggling. This brings me back to my point: this song was possibly meant to be heard rather than jammed out to.

It reminds me of the craziness on social media, where fans were harassing weatherman and metal-music influencer Adam Krueger (who also did cool promos for Dayseeker’s Pale Moonlight), squeezing him for inside information about Sleep Token in a way that became downright inappropriate.

Before I move off lyrics, I want to emphasize again how I believe Damocles was something that needed to be said. The flood of negative comments immediately after the release—things like, “This song is terrible,” “Worst song they’ve done,” and “They can do better”—made me reflect. Maybe, just maybe, this song wasn’t meant for us. Maybe it was for them.

We’re so used to instant access to music that we forget where it comes from—the heart. Where does music sit for you? Is it just something to dance to, or does it mean something deeper? For artists, music is life itself—an outlet for their soul. If Vessel, or the entire band, needed to get this out, who are we to hate on it? I’m not defending the song for not being the relatable hit some were hoping for—but I am saying we should view this as a poetic piece made for peace. When a friend needs to vent, we listen. These musicians have been sharing their evolution and struggles with us for years—maybe it’s time we just listen.

Musically, Damocles is centered around Vessel’s stunning piano work. No harsh vocals, no chaotic climaxes. Vessel even sings, “I know I should be touring // I know these chords are boring // but I can’t always be killing the fame.” One fan noted that since the band typically offers minimal words during live shows and interviews, this song feels like a rare, raw confession. The smooth, steady piano is magnificent, although this comes to no surprise with this band.

I could talk about Sleep Token forever—their creative riddles and puzzles for fans, their captivating lyrics, their genre-bending sound—but I’m trying to keep this to just a song review as much as possible. Personally, I appreciate Damocles on an emotional level, although it wouldn’t be my first suggestion for new listeners. Emergence is easily my favorite from the new album so far, though older tracks like Jaws and Rain will always have my soul in a chokehold (get it?). I’m still heavily anticipating Even in Arcadia.

So, what is this song to you? Music is both subjective and objective; everyone is entitled to their opinion. Whether Damocles means nothing or something to you is completely up to you—but let’s not forget the men behind the masks. How does this art speak to you? You can take it literally—nodding to the band's tough circumstances—or you can apply it to your own life. Success and having everything you want often comes at a price.

Looking forward to seeing those at the Sleep Token gathering this year, starting on August 16th in Duluth, GA.