Blood Sport, as far as I see it, is the perfect Sleep Token song. It isn't the one people should START with, but it's certainly one they absolutely must hear in order to truly understand the band. The album version portrays their patience and musical ability along with their ability to switch from something harrowing and beautiful to something somber and heavy seamlessly. This version perfectly showcases the meaning behind every song and just how personal each and every note is. When you mentioned gatekeeping, I feel like it's actually the opposite in many ways. Seriously dedicated fans are extremely happy seeing them blow up and aren't worried at all about non-metalheads getting into them. It's people finding them for the first time that are worried that the opportunity to have "their" band will be taken away from them. I personally believe they will change music forever and I fully welcome that. If anything, I actually fear a huge surge of metalheads specifically because Sleep Token is NOT a metal band. Lots of people get into them expecting every song to sound like Alkaline or The Summoning and then fans like myself have to hear them complain about being "underwhelmed" or "disappointed" that they aren't as heavy as they expected.
I’ve been a fan of this band for quite a while and I kinda disagree with people trying to say they “are not a metal band” I don’t think that’s accurate. At their core they’re more closely related to metal than anything else and it disregards their roots to say they’re not. Came up in the metal scene, have typically always been on a metal label, and subject matter and tone wise they’re still firmly planted in metal territory. As I’ve said elsewhere, you couldn’t do the same thing they’re doing in any other realm of music and be successful. You’ll never hear 8 string djent riffs thrown in out of nowhere in a top 40 country or pop song. They are the utmost utilization of the word “Progressive” in progressive metal. That can’t be taken away from them as it’s the most objective way of looking at it. Now, with all that being said.. I get why people are compelled to say this. But I think it’s a bit more accurate to slightly shift that statement to, “they aren’t JUST a metal band”
@@twall91 The biggest reason I say they aren't a metal band is to dissuade people from getting the wrong idea going into it. In their early releases, they mixed ambient, indie, metalcore, jazz, and contemporary influences like it was nothing. They've continued to expand on that, and the glue they use to tie it all together are their metal influences (breakdowns, distortion, heavy riffs, etc), which are undeniable. I'm of the opinion that influences don't define the music, which I'm sure many people disagree with and I won't fight them for doing so. When asked what genre they are, I just say "yes."
I think what Vessel is saying is, "I'll make loving you a bloodsport I can't win," all one sentence. In other words, he's willing to get hurt, he's willing to bleed, if they can just try again.
It's not the lyrics I don't think that everyone is connecting to, because alot are written from their worshipping lore. If I had to say what is connecting everyone regarding sleep token... It's the sound of pain through beauty
the way the piano turns so... almost happy at the end, so hopeful... like there's the core of that love. like even if the love is ultimately toxic and bad for both of them, there is still love! and if they were two different ppl, maybe it could be good for them, y'know? I love this version so much. I love the original as well, just this version hits different. Also, last I checked, they were at 1.6 million listeners on Spotify Personally I don't get gatekeepers. like, I've been a fan of the band Ghost for years and I got SO EXCITED when they popped off and got super popular and was flabbergasted when ppl started trying to gatekeep like shut up, let ppl experience this great band and their great music and enjoy it, even if they aren't enjoying it "correctly"
Sleep Token truly has something for everyone. I love this song so much I taught myself how to play it on piano, and it is the only full song of any kind I know how to play. I love the original as well but this stripped down version is next level amazing. I am also obsessed. I have been trying to share them with as many people as possibly since discovering them a couple years back. I’m so glad they are getting the success and recognition they deserve. I check RU-vid every night at Midnight London time hoping for a new track from the album (or the whole album) to drop. I haven’t been this excited for a new album in many many years. You should make your way through the rest of Sundowning. It’s even better than TPWBYT IMO.
There's a video from their Lafayette concert of Blood Sport and like you said he pours everything in and that video shows that man's been through some shit. Definitely worth checking out.
First song that got me into them was their cover of Hey Ya. It was a suggested song on RU-vid and I was curious. Then I heard this and was absolutely blown away. Next was The Offering and after that I knew I was hooked.
I have never ever had any piece of music/song /performance hit me the way this does It just is painfully beautiful it just wrenches the heart It's is exceptional I cry everytime I listen to this
MetalBirb recently posted a video about metal gatekeepers you might like. There are a few hard rock/metal songs I call "trojan horses" that I share with friends who don't like hard music and they are surprised when they find out who put the songs out. Some become more interested. Sleep Token has a couple of songs that do that job. I love this band so much. Worship!
This band has just ticket so many of my enjoyment in music! Mix of heavy and great melodic songs, its great i got introduced to their new songs, going back into their old stuff and they have not one bad song. They are great musos, i havent found a band that i connect with as much as sleep token! They just have such a wide range of sound, each song connects with different people!
So glad you did a reaction to this one! I absolutely love the piano bit at the end…beautiful ending to an incredibly sung piece of music. He, in my opinion, is a poet before a songwriter. His lyrics just cut through you. Worship!🤘🏼