Photo Credit: Jonathan Weiner
In a time when our senses are constantly bombarded by “anything and everything, all of the time”, as that one lyric goes, it’s tougher than ever for any band to get their content out to the masses. But if they do manage that feat, the only thing that will keep their fanbase growing is putting out quality songs. Since they formed back in 2019, Sleep Theory (yes, you read that right) have been doing exactly that, with their 2023 EP Paper Hearts generating over 30 million streams in a few short months. Now, six years after their inception, the band are releasing their debut album, Afterglow, and boy, do they mean business!
Opening with one of their recent singles, Static, the record quickly lets you know what you should expect in terms of both sound and quality. A seamless blend of clean and screamed vocals, backed by guitar riffs that switch between groovy and crushing, and some synths and electronics for a modern touch. It may not be an entirely new concept, sure, but it’s the execution and end result that’ll keep you listening. This sound quickly becomes the backbone of the record, serving as a base for songs like Paralyzed or Just A Mistake.
What makes Sleep Theory special is just how well the vocals fit with each other. Both Cullen Moore’s cleans and guitarist Daniel Pruitt’s screams are great and unique in their own right, but it’s when they’re firing off each other that the magic happens. Just listen to another of the album’s singles, III, to witness that synergy for yourself. Plus, as if that wasn’t enough, bassist Paolo Vergara’s backing vocals elevate the whole package even further, as witnessed in Numb and Stuck In My Head, among others.
If we’re to pick apart the sonic DNA of Sleep Theory and Afterglow even further, there’s a few clear influences here from some bigger names. One name that immediately comes to mind is Sevendust, especially in their approach to having multiple singers in the band. Linkin Park fans will also be quick to point out the various electronics, synths and scratches that pop up here and there, such as in Fallout or Parasite. Oh, and speaking of the latter, those who miss hearing a good ol’ “BLEGH!” in an Architects song might want to give that track a shot.
Even the songs which some might consider as being “the weakest” out of the total number of 12 are great in their own right — the rest of the album just outshines them. Namely, it’s the ballad-esque sensibilities of title track Afterglow, as well as the more heartfelt nature of its predecessor, Gravity, that lead to them trailing behind numbers such as Hourglass, particularly given the latter’s high-tempo sound and killer growls. Album closer Words Are Worthless also features such softer sensibilities, but it ends up being quite a poignant close to the package.
In the end, even if one were to discount the “softer” tracks as weak moments, Afterglow is a stellar album, especially for a band that’s just now releasing their full-length debut. If Sleep Theory stick to this level of quality going forward, there’ll be nowhere to go but upwards. We can’t wait to see where the future takes them!
9/10
Standout Tracks: Static, Hourglass, Fallout, Numb, Parasite, Paralyzed
For Fans Of: Sevendust, Architects, Linkin Park, Beartooth, Silverstein
Written by Florin Petrut
