Sleep Token

November 18, 2024

at AFAS Live, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tour: UK + EURO Tour 2024

This was my first time in Amsterdam and my first time seeing Sleep Token, so I knew it would be special.

It was a cold night and I had to wait a long time standing in line to enter AFAS Live, but once inside, all was neat and calm.

In the venue, I bought some merchandise, and then I went right to the pit (the tickets were general admission). Since it was relatively full, I sat behind the sound equipment, the first row of the seats, just in the middle. I had a great view of the stage from there, so all that was left was to wait.

Bilmuri

The opening act was Bilmuri.

Bilmuri is the band of Johnny Franck, the former clean vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the American metalcore band Attack Attack! Bilmuri’s name is a funny way of saying the American actor Bill Murray’s name.

Their music combines post-hardcore, emo, metalcore, dance, and hardcore breakdowns.

Bilmuri Live Band Members

Gabi Rose – saxophone, vocals
Reese Maslen – guitar
Xavier Ware – drums

The Bilmuri show started at 19:50. They came with their last album, American Motor Sports (2024), and of course some older songs too.

Johnny was super happy and you can tell he was having a blast.

I only knew a couple of songs so I wasn’t very familiar with his music. They use a lot of saxophone in the songs (I’m not used to that in metal music), I would say that that was the main focus of the music, besides Johnny’s singing.

For me, their songs are on the positive side, almost like pop with heavy elements. Johnny explained what each song meant before playing it, and most of them were bizarre and funny stories, except for one that was about the pollution in American water, specifically in Ohio (FLUORIDEINTHEHARDSELTZERWATER).

They played my favorite song THE END, which is amusing to me because I remember an interview that the YouTuber Nik Nocturnal did with him about this song (you can watch it here). Johnny explained that they made such a cheap video that the label company could not believe how low the budget was.

He also had an emotional moment that shared with us. At one point in his life, he was so depressed that he even contemplated suicide. Somehow he thought about taking a chance to make music as his last attempt to stay here, what was to lose? He did, and luckily he is on a great path now. That made me feel happy, to see that he’s on the road to success as a supporting act of Sleep Token. Music really can save lives.

The Bilmuri show lasted less than an hour, and then it was the moment to experience live one of my current favorite bands.

Setlist

EMPTYHANDED
ABSOLUTELYCRANKINMYMF’INHOG
FLUORIDEINTHEHARDSELTZERWATER
ALL GAS
BLINDSIDED
BOUTTA CASHEW
THE END
STRAIGHT THROUGH YOU
BETTER HELL (Thicc boi)

————————————————

They are a British metal band, an anonymous-masked collective led by the singer, Vessel.

The band has three albums and some singles (at the end of this article are the links to all the reviews and posts I’ve made about them). Their music can be described as genre-fluid (metal, rock, jazz, hip hop, soul, funk, electronic… and a bit of everything).

Although the only band members credited as such are Vessel and II (the drummer), Vessel sings and plays all the instruments except for drums, in the shows they are joined by III and IV, and the Espera’s choir. I hope that in their next album, all of them will participate, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens then.

Band Members

Vessel – vocals
II – drums, percussion
III – bass
IV – guitar
Espera – backing vocals

At 21:00 Sleep Token started their show with The Night Does Not Belong to God and The Offering. The whole concert was accompanied by beautiful lighting that changed colors or forms according to the songs (warmer or colder). Dark Signs and Higher came and then the emotional Atlantic with Vessel surrounded by blue lights and white beams made it more impactful.

Hypnosis, Like That, and Alkaline were next (“heavier tracks”), and especially with Alkaline the audience was very excited (and me too, of course, it’s one of my favorite songs).

Vessel approached the runway stage in the middle of the audience with his acoustic guitar and proceeded to play and sing Missing Limbs (another beautiful, emotional, and intimate moment).

The heavy moments returned with Chokehold and The Summoning (the audience and I were headbanging and singing our hearts out).

An R&B and dance moment with my beloved Granite to go to the beautiful Rain.

Then Ascensionism with his calm and heavy moments, followed by my favorite track Take Me Back to Eden, just to end the show with Euclid.

The show ended so fast (around 21.45), that was like it all happened in a single moment. The band doesn’t talk (at any time) to the audience, to keep the focus on the music and not on them.

We knew the show ended because the lights were on and started to sound Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) loud on the speakers and the people started singing and dancing as they walked away. Sleep Token does a beautiful and heartfelt cover of this song, but this was the original happy and upbeat song.

Vessel cried while he sang in some songs, as he always does, and danced weirdly in the heavier passages. His voice and performance were gorgeous, as well as the Espera’s girls’ choir. II’s drumming is amazing, and I can confirm that he is one of my favorite drummers currently. III and IV, on bass and guitar respectively, are at this point (in my opinion) essential to the band and their live shows.

The time flew by and everything was over so quickly, yet my heart was, and it’s still so happy that I had the privilege to witness one of my dearest bands.

They have made such marvelous music that has not only moved me but so many people.

To any of you who aren’t familiar with Sleep Token, just give them a chance and you soon will also love them.

Worship.