Image: iii_sleeptoken Instagram
A new era begins. Sleep Token have just published an ominous post with new outfits and masks at the end of their completely sold-out headline tour, hinting at the next chapter in their success story.
New masks and outfits
At the end of their tour, the instrumentalists of Sleep Token wore new masks. Previously covered in identical masks, the band's guitarist, bassist and drummer now have a new look.
With posts on the Instagram pages of II, III and IV, as well as an ominous reel on the Sleep Token Instagram page, the band shows off the new masks. What is particularly striking is the fact that only II, III and IV present their new masks. Whether Vessel will also be wearing a new mask has not yet been confirmed, but is to be expected.
What all three masks have in common is that, like the previous masks, they are adorned with the Sleep Token emblem. IV's new mask in particular is reminiscent of Mick Thomson, with many fans noticing a general proximity to Slipknot ("Wait & Bleed" era) and Mushroomhead. But not only the masks are new - it seems as if Sleep Token are wearing completely new outfits. For example, IV wears a leather jacket full of patches that make a certain nu metal vibe unmistakable.
The masks were designed by Lani Hernandez-David (@_lani_mask_), a 21-year-old artist from London who already recreated Slipknot masks in an amazingly authentic way in 2021.
What is the "New Era" all about?
Since the release of "Take Me Back To Eden", there is no question that Sleep Token have taken their career to new heights in 2023. With almost 3 million monthly Spotify listeners, sold-out shows across Europe and a tour finale at Wembley Arena in front of over 12,500 fans, Sleep Token are the metal band of the moment.
Whether the announcement of the masks is a hint that new music will soon be released remains to be seen. There may also be a musical twist on the horizon that could point to a nu metal-influenced sound. There's no doubt that the band is well on their way to becoming an international festival headliner and gaining new fans every day - the sound is guaranteed to be unique thanks to Vessel's incomparable voice. Worship.