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In the latest edition of Metal Hammer, Skyler Accord reminisces about the first time he experienced Sleep Token.
As part of our cover feature exploring Sleep Token’s journey from obscurity to the forefront of their generation’s metal scene, the former Issues bassist shares insights from the band’s inaugural US tour in 2019.
“Our booking agent actually introduced us to Sleep Token,” he recalls. “He sent us this EP they’d been working on [Two] and I was absolutely amazed. It felt like I could foresee the future – especially when I looked them up online and saw their image. Even without the songs they have now, I sensed there was something unique there.”
Running through November and December 2019, the tour featured Sleep Token as the opening act, alongside rapper Lil Aaron and progressive metallers Polyphia, with Issues taking the headlining spot.
“It’s a funny line-up to think back on,” Skyler recalls. “When they opened, there was an entire vibe to the show from start to finish. Typically, you walk in during the opening act, grab a drink, and chat loudly, right? But everyone was captivated.”
Skyler shares some cherished memories from the tour.
“It felt amazing; there was a really close, family-like atmosphere,” he notes. “We shared our bus with Aaron, and I believe Sleep Token traveled in a van. We all got along very well; we’d hang out in the green room and even went to Aaron’s parents’ house for Thanksgiving together. They were thrilled to be touring the US. It felt like a final celebration before everything shut down.”
However, he admits not everyone who attended the tour fully appreciated it.
“In Seattle, [YouTuber] Finn McKenty came out to see us and we insisted, ‘You’ve gotta check out this band.’ But he totally missed the point of Sleep Token,” he confesses. “I was standing next to him, saying, ‘Bro, just trust me!’ It was akin to witnessing Slipknot in ’99, but it felt distinct from the nu metal of the past; a lot of that carried a rough, chaotic ‘I’m wild!’ energy. Sleep Token is poetic; think less malt liquor, more wine.”
Sleep Token is scheduled to return to the US in September after a summer filled with events, including their first headline slot at this year’s Download Festival. The band is on track to achieve their first number one in both the UK and US charts.
Discover the full story behind Sleep Token’s ascent in issue 400 of Metal Hammer, available now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door!
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