Join the Patreon for exclusive videos and early access: / anthonyrayreacts Donate: streamelements... This helps pay the editors and grow the channel. ORIGINAL VIDEO • Sleep Token - Take Me ...
The band had "lore" Vessel was visited by the goddess/entity known as Sleep Its a toxic relationship where he does anything to try and please the goddess by she asks for more and more. It can be interpreted as a toxic relationship and probably is the real inspiration ii - the drummer is one of the best drummers of this generation
I like to think of it as a time when things were great. This song is his plead and desperation saying he will do anything to get there and the anger of realizing he can’t go back.
I think innocence is encapsulated by the story of the Garden of Eden. Once Adam and Eve ate the fruit they lost their innocence and were cast out of the paradise that was Eden. This ties into the lyrics talking about going "beyond the path of reason" because once we ate the fruit we relied solely on our own reason and logic to navigate the world so the only way back to a childlike innocence would be to transcend purely logical thought. Just my take though, it could definitely be interpreted in many ways.
Tbh all three albums are a concept and should be listened from first to last. Also as you are a rhytmic guy, you should check out Sleep Token Drumeo Offering. Drummer got couple of titles for best one for 2024. Seeing what he does still baffles me to this day. My best discovered band in last 18 months.. Great reaction M8❤
Remember that feeling of despair when you finally listened to the last Sleep Token you hadn't listened to yet? I think we all wish we could go back and listen to them all for the first time again
I completely disagree with hearing a few songs off of TMBTE and then going back to the beginning. I think TMBTE should be heard first, and then start the journey. The earlier stuff is great, but their pinnacle is the recent album and where their best work lives.
Vessel is very good at his metaphors and imagery. Literally brings you in to feel all the emotions he does through genius lyrics and musical composition. I’m here for it!
Yup you heard the tie in from chokehold. Both the no accident part and the tangled like branches in a flood. IF you listen to Euclid. That song which is a conclusion of a trilogy of the 3 albums mentions many call backs. Ascensionism next would be my call.
I agree with you about the lyrics. Got "BITE BACK" tattooed on my fingers last year. Their lyrics just speak to me, it's like finding a description for a feeling you had your whole life.
About the meaning, I think the whole song is about the losing of innocence, about being hurt and becoming cold a cynical, and the desire to go back, and gain back your naivety
ohhhhhh that is a SICK tattoo idea! i feel exactly the same about this song and it is SO special to me i love the way you described the lyrics like “finding a description for a feeling you had your whole life,” that’s so spot on 😭💖
i got My Redemption, eternal ascension on my forearm in the runes a couple of weeks ago. Man... the first time i heard that line i was going through it and i felt like Vessel was talking to and through me at the same time it was wild.
"My, my, those eyes like fire I'm a winged insect, you're a funeral pyre" has to be the greatest description of going back to a toxic relationship that will eventually kill you . Like Moth to a flame for the attraction and Funeral Pyre to describe his end if he goes back.
For anyone looking for a little more background info on Sleep Token, it's an anonymous band and all the members mask their identity, including during live performances and concerts. All of the songs are written by Vessel (vocals/guitar/bass(afaik)) and II (Drums). They're joined by III (live bassist) and IV (live guitarist/harsh vocals(screams)). Take Me Back to Eden is their third album They have generally fused multiple genres into their music with very well sounding final products, which is likely why they've exploded in popularity and have garnered such a mass appeal recently. There's a fair bit of lore & speculation surrounding their music and general concept of the band, which I'm super unqualified to dive into but you'll be able to find a lot of information about it on their reddit or discord. Also, even though the names of the members in the band are relatively easy to find out, the general consensus among 99.9% of fans is to respect the bands anonymity and to not leak any personal information regarding the members.
Sleep Token have a LOT of tricks in their bag. They will keep surprising you if you keep going down the path. Some of their track could not possibly be more different from each other stylistically, yet they are all fantastic and unmistakably ST. And Vessel's lyricism is off the charts.
There's another callback here to their song Gods, from their first album, Sundowning. "No more teeth to bite with/grow back your sharpest teeth". Arguably also "No more taking chances/no amount of love will keep it around if we don't choose it". Listening to their entire discography and really honing in on their lyrics and symbolism is very rewarding. Also it's extremely cool to hear the progression of their style, especially listening to their first EP and TMBTE. It's still obviously Sleep Token but you can see how they've really nailed down their own unique style.
I’m glad you picked up on the call back. Many people only think the last song of the trilogy, Euclid, has the call back references, but it happens throughout various songs in the trilogy. Thats one of the reasons I love this band. You may want to consider going song by song in order for a masterful melodic journey.
A+ for the Chokehold callback you got it! Vessel (singer, songwriter) he does everything but drums. II or 2 the drummer writes the drum parts after the rest. In many of the songs it's like the lyrics and drums are a duet. Enjoy.
Probably the best way to experience sleep token is at your own pace in your own fashion. However. They do have ideas, call backs, and concepts that they build up from their first EP to Take Me Back To Eden. Their early work is fantastic! You can get a feel for how they developed this muli-genre style and techniques they grew to help convey emotion. Enjoy the sleep token journey! It will be over before you know it.
I was recently shown Sleeptoken... The Summoning and Back to Eden were my 1st... I blown away. I love to see peps listen to and now react... im more metalhead if anything but listen to anything that sounds good... this is fkn great. Great reaction videos, new sub bro!
Looks like you need to dive into the Trilogy of Sleep Token! Starting with Sundowning then to This Place Will Become Your Tomb and finally Take Me Back To Eden. There's a full story there that is incredibly beautiful and tragic at the same time. Glad you're checking them out in depth!
LET'S GOOOOOO I bloody love this song 😍 My interpretation of this song revolves around some kind of regret or guilt. Starts soft and slow as a sombre, sorrowful plea to be taken back to his innocence like in the garden of eden before original sin. 2nd verse feels like he's pouring out what he's going through. The bridge is kind of the moment of realisation that he can't take back what was done "no amount of self-sought fury etc...". And from there it builds and builds until he finally loses his mind going from sorrowful, guilty regret to insane, angry desperation or even violently begging to return to his innocence. This song is an EXPERIENCE GAHD DAYUM!
There are a few callbacks in this song to earlier songs in all 3 albums, as well as Euclid, which is the song that ends this album, as well as this chapter. It calls back to the very first song on their first album. Lays it down with how this all began, and now... how it ended. The 3 albums, when listened to in succession, as well as knowing a bit of the "lore", is one big cohesive story about his professed love for Sleep (the deity he worships), and how she breaks him down, and basically tortures him with her unwillingness to reciprocate his love to her. To him wanting it all to end, and wanting to be on even playing fields, to finally understanding his worth, and breaking free from her grasp that she has on him in this album. The Trilogy of Trauma. Sleep Token is such a beautiful band. So glad you've decided to give them a chance
Good catch picking up the lyrics callback from Chokehold. You should definitely hear the original. Ramos did a decent job, but there's nothing like Vessel's vocals (and he has the emotions/feelings that inspire the song), you can just FEEL the emotion when he sings it. I would recommend Ascensionism or Granite next. This whole album is 🔥🔥🔥. Whatever order you choose to listen to it, its worth having the lyrics pulled up when listening. He puts emotions we all feel but don't have words for into his lyrics and music, finally putting them into words we have trouble expressing 😊. He's a damn genius. And a poet. And a wonderful vocalist. And a great songwriter. The list goes on. He's just awesome..... Period! Can't wait for you to do more ST. Worship ❤
Multi-faceted. Yes, there are a lot of lyrics that could be interpreted as biblical, and at face value a lot of the lyrics are the bands own lore. But also they're all carefully selected metaphor about relationships, and the human condition. Even with this song. A particularly religious person could listen to it and say "Man, this is referencing religion a lot." Someone interested in the band's storyline could be like "Wow, Vessel's obsession with the Goddess Sleep is really twisted." But another person could just see it as "Wow, this person has been burned in this relationship, and they desperately want to get back to a point where things were ok, a point of innocence." Layers, man. Layers.
From the EPs, singles, up to the albums. Every song tangles and interlocks throughout. So many hidden references not only in the lyrics but also in the instrumentals. WORSHIP! 🖖
This track is later in the album and Vessel does reference earlier moments and stories... I cannot recommend enough listening to this album as a complete playthrough - it is one of the best composed albums I have ever heard. The sum of its parts is greater than any one track. Though I love all of them...
Me again! Just dropped in on your live to thank you for this Sleep Token reaction. You caught the CHOKEHOLD reference!!! They call back to previous songs a lot. I hope you continue your ST journey. As I said in your Summoning reaction..you're the only reactor I've seen to love both BTS and Sleep Token!! It means the world to me to know I am not alone! To understand what they are talking about and referencing, you kind of have to go back even to their first EP. But definitely to the first album Sundowning, then This Place Will Be Your Tomb, then Take Me Back to Eden. Like the BTU, Sleep Token has lore (not near as deep or complicated as the BTU, but they do tell a story within their catalog). I think it's safe to say that this trilogy of albums explore a very toxic and one sided relationship that most of us find relatable. This song ends with a call back to the first song on this album. The last song on the album, Euclid, is special in how it is structured and I won't spoil it. As people have said, Ascensionism is another amazing fusion but almost, if not every song is a masterpiece in its own way. They defy genre, they are a lot more than Metalcore..they are melodic, jazzy, bluesy, funky, etc. Screams, growls and whispers are used just when it makes sense. Throw in shoegaze, edm, trap and piano ballads..and you get a 10 minute song that sounds too short. Ok. I just wrote a novella but yes. Sleep token yes. Go in the rabbit hole and you'll find a lot of us going with you!!! 🎉❤🎉
Oh "spit blood when i wake up, sink porcelain stained choking on brain matter and makeup".. theories about that being a call back to Nazareth (iykyk), Aqua Regia, and Jaws. Vessel writes a lot of lyrics around choking, teeth, biting, chewing, eating and swallowing. It makes more sense when you've listened to more of their discography.
Having their lyrics up for their reactions is an awesome move. All of their song lyrics are so deep. ♥️ so happy you like them! They've been my main since I found out about them. My first song from them was the cover of hypnosis by Will Ramos, looked them up after that and it's all history lol
So happy to see someone tie it back to Tool also! I said the ‘vibe’ for the lack of better word, the lyrics and the lengthy songs have to be an indicator of Tool being an inspiration for them.
This album has many call backs to other songs from the album itself and previous albums, good catch on the "It was no accident" If you listen carefully he sings "Tangled like branches in a flood" shortly after, another call back. Eden can be the biblical place, a time of happiness, a person you love. It's up for interpretation.
Im glad that you take time to appreciate the artistry behind it. These songs that youre listening to are actually off of the 3rd and final album of a trilogy of albums that actually all play into each other. The more you listen the more youll hear key lyrics and references to previous songs on the same album, as well as references to songs on previous albums.
I’m here on your channel for the first time because of Sleep Token. If you caught the callback to Chokehold on this first listen you really need to go from the top of the 3 album trilogy (or at least a full Eden react). The layers are absolutely mind blowing.
Vessel once said regarding the band's "genre". “Life is dark. Life is bright. Life is ugly. Life is beautiful. Don’t get lost in genres, they’ll only disorientate you. Music is for everyone.” What is the song talking about? You will hear fans say this a lot, but the band has a lot of lore that goes into their identity and the best way to experience their music and understand the lore, is to listen to all three albums in order. You think the callback to Chokehold was cool....just wait.
Bro you if you look really deep in their songs musically and lyrically you will be amazed amazed how unbelievable good their music, talented, smart and masterpiece
Also you can watch the video with ii (drummer of sleeptoken) on drumeo channel. It’s incredible interview with ii. Where he talking about his inspiration in other music. And hello from Russia ❤
This song is about different phases toxic relationship and at the end he gave up and let the anger out that he hoarded together. His lyrical range is so wild and so great! Their songs called "rain" and "Atlantic" are so so good, I highly reccommend those for you to react to, trust me on that, it worth it
You nailed it with the chokehold call back my man, as someone who has been a day 1 fan its a pleasure to watch your sleep token journey and to hear a fresh take on the beats and rhythmic interpretation. Also yes, It is believed to be about the garden of eden or about someone called eden.
This is one of my favorite ST reactions. Your skills on the mic are stoopid. LOL. You owe it to yourself to listen to all three of their albums in order. That's the way Vessel would want it. WORSHIP.
You may want to watch ii's interview on drumeo. He plays all the drum beats. There's so many call backs. Then he said he was going to bite back in anger and he did at the end. The Reaper angel,it has an apple in its hand. You need to watch the video from " thread the needle". Have to figure out to pay you to do that.
Drumeo did an interview with Sleep Token's drummer (called II), where he plays to many ST songs, including the ones where he drums the trap parts. He has a lot of gospel influence in his drumming that he talks about in addition to his metal influences. Give it a watch!
'Liked' for spotting the Chokehold reference on your first spin. As for 'Eden', I think it's a metaphor for innocence, before meeting "Sleep", or if you want to humanize it, returning to a point in your life before a loved one forever changed you, made you more jaded, paranoid, angry at the world.
Thanks for another great reaction! Sleep Token is definitely a great and a very creative band. Kudos to the lads! ❤ Also, let me just appreciate your explanations - if you ever decide to have a music theory/style course, I will be first in line.
it kinda sucks when someone finds Sleep Token that they take them immediately to this song. While the rest of people who know ST know what this song is, someone who is just finding them get to this and they're like yeah, that was chill but damn that ending tho
This whole song is a reference to their whole discography, They tell us a history and you Will ONLY properly understand Take me Back to Eden's lyrics, If you listen to everything They made so Far. If you know, you know. Worship. 🙏🏻
Towards the end of the video when you discussed Eden: I see it as alluding to the loss of innocence due to the knowlege of good and evil experienced by Adam and Eve. I believe this song is about a longing to return to innocence. This is most directly communicated in the bridge.
You have many attractive qualities, but your ability to beatbox is really the icing on the cake. 😁 If you haven't yet, I would love to see you react to "Sugar," "Alkaline," and "Hypnosis."
So I could be overthinking this. But the song chokehold: “I turned my walls to gold to bring you home again” Both chokehold and take me back to Eden both have “no accident” Now the song Alkaline: “she’s not acid nor alkaline” But if acid is used on “gold” it hard dissolves gold and platinum. I believe all these songs may be connected on a deeper level. And each song may tell a different side to the story. Either way sleep token is one hell of a band and their lyrics are so well thought out.
Feel like it's about self destruction and a lost love and the realization it was caused by him and the fight to change even though it's to late and you can't start over just move forward