London’s masked metal enigma, Sleep Token, unleashed their latest single, “Damocles,” on April 25, a brooding piano-driven track that’s the third and final preview of their upcoming album, Even In Arcadia, set to drop May 9 via RCA Records. The song landed with a quiet intensity, its lyrics peeling back layers of unseen struggle, as frontman Vessel sings of choking under pressure and fading glory. It’s raw, heavy stuff, delivered with the band’s signature mix of mystique and gut-punch emotion.
The release follows a calculated rollout that’s had fans piecing together clues like detectives. On April 16, Sleep Token teamed up with Spotify for a cryptic social media puzzle, dropping teaser videos and scrambled letters that revealed the album’s ten-track lineup. By April 18, the full tracklist was out: “Look To Windward,” “Emergence,” “Past Self,” “Dangerous,” “Caramel,” “Even In Arcadia,” “Provider,” “Damocles,” “Gethsemane,” and “Infinite Baths.” The band’s second single, “Caramel,” already cracked the UK Top 10 earlier this month, marking their highest chart entry yet. “Emergence,” the album’s lead single, hit on March 13 alongside the official album announcement, which also confirmed a sold-out North American tour kicking off September 16 in Duluth, Georgia.
“Damocles” arrived with a stark instrumental snippet and dark animated artwork shared on April 23, building hype for its release two days later. The track itself is a slow burn, more ballad than banger, but its weight comes from Vessel’s introspective lyrics, confronting the toll of fame’s relentless grind. The band’s move to RCA hasn’t dulled their edge—Even In Arcadia promises to push their sound further, blending alt-metal’s heft with cinematic, otherworldly vibes.
Sleep Token, formed in 2016, keeps their identities cloaked, with only Vessel and drummer II credited on their work. They’re riding a wave from 2023’s Take Me Back To Eden, which sold out arenas and earned them a headline slot at Download Festival 2025 alongside Green Day and Korn. Drummer II will also join Black Sabbath’s final show in Birmingham this July. A Japanese CD version of Even In Arcadia will include two bonus tracks, plus commentary and lyrics.
The album’s pre-order is live, and the U.S. tour is already sold out. Even In Arcadia releases May 9.