Band Teacher Analyzes Sleep Token's Take Me Back to Eden

[@bobcieslinski]

Do any of you know who these guys really are? I'm curious. Buy Sleep Token Music: apple.co/3N1BRIm Merch Store: bobcieslinski.myspreadshop.com/ Donation: www.buymeacoffee.com/BobCiesl... Click here for Highfidelity ear protection for concerts and everyday life: bit.ly/highfidelityearplugs Join Channel Membership: bit.ly/BobCieslinskimembership Buy Apple Music Subscription Here: apple.co/3xl0Ey6 Ekster wallets, Bags and Cases: ekster.com?sca_ref=4171993.L0f4OQQsAl Click here to buy Music Gear:bit.ly/SweetwaterMusicStore Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/bobcieslinski

[@StarStuffGal321]

Yes. Just look for lyrics online. Vessel and II’s names are credited now. They didn’t used to be. A lot of people don’t want to know but it’s not hard to find. I love Vessel’s music with his previous “band”.

[@brianalmeida1964]

​​@StarStuffGal321 Me too! I joined a FB page dedicated to Vessel's previous band a while ago. Stay safe 🤘 ✌️

[@TB-sp9jy]

They prefer to remain anonymous.

[@shanegwinn8787]

Vessel is Leo Faulkner from a band called Blacklit Canopy

[@lc81002]

Vessel and II have credits in the ASCAP registry under their real names. III and IV are easily searchable if you want to know their identities too.

[@mattthompson5908]

The drummer recently did an hour long interview/ song play thru video with Drumeo. He talks about the influences. Great video

[@bobcieslinski]

I watched it minus the playing sections. I didn’t want to listen to the music before I reacted to it. Just hearing him discuss the things he is doing was pretty awesome. He’s so talented. I feel like Vessel 1 and the drummer are incredible musicians.

[@justalostneko]

​​@@bobcieslinski oh just letting u know if you went with the time stamps on the video you missed a little bit of his talk about his favorite drummers/influences which were played between take me back to eden playthrough

[@GPRPublishing]

@@bobcieslinski when he's speaking, turn the video up to 1.5 speed and he sounds normal. 😲

[@vybz987]

@@bobcieslinskivessel and ii are actually the only credited songwriters and recorders. II plays drums/percussion and vessel does everything else for the records. III ans iv are touring members

[@bobcieslinski]

@@justalostneko thanks

[@The0Miller0]

Life is like a box of Sleep Token. You never know what you’re gonna get. 🙏

[@bobcieslinski]

Man that’s a good one and so true.

[@denisemann5817]

I love watching someone that's musically trained, do a reaction to ST. It means so much more!❤

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks Denise!

[@JesusFriedChrist]

I suspect Vessel is a classically trained vocalist. II is drummer of the year, III & IV are masters in their craft, TMBTE is album of the year, and The Summoning is song of the year. The whole album is phenomenal. I recommend listening to the songs in order, the later songs have little snips here and there of callbacks to earlier songs, which really adds to the experience. The songs are great standalone, but the experience of the whole album is something else in its own right.

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks for the info I appreciate it.

[@ElectricTurkey1]

Vessel isn't classically trained but he did go to college for music. He used to post KZbin piano covers 10 years ago. III and IV are just touring guys, but I think they possibly could contribute to writing music for the next album with the new masks and end of the Trilogy.

[@mariocastillo8334]

TMBTE is going to be a decade-defining record. I am as certain of this as I was about OK Computer when I first heard it back in 97. The record is absolutely destined to be a classic.

[@jamesy1979]

They have throwbacks to previous albums as well

[@stainlesssinner4895]

This is my absolute favorite song on the TMBTE album. True the entire album is artwork, but this one just.. transports me to another plane.

[@stainlesssinner4895]

I tend to think of this song as a human's progression through life. To begin with we're in the ethereal space, brought down to earth to have the experiences. The rhythmic second verse depicts the trials and tribulations of said life. The third is to show us that our own healing brings the peace we've needed.

[@DavidSlEePtOkEnSanchez]

Feel the exact same way. Love the entire album but this song is to me the best song they have ever put out. It just sends you on a journey of emotions and if I had to describe the perfect song with the perfect vocals. It’s this right here.

[@michirista]

I like to call this style of songs, "cinematic songs" it feels like a movie, it's telling you a story in a musically way with unexpected plot twists and stunning endings , great reaction

[@JesusFriedChrist]

It’s like…ethereal black metalcore

[@bobcieslinski]

Thank for the kind words and suggestion.

[@chromesthesia]

Vessel's voice is so gorgeous and ethereal. I would fight dieties in a parking lot for his lows

[@TB-sp9jy]

Its always a good day to Worship!

[@statelessfgc1069]

5:28 i'm 99% sure all their songs are actually in 4/4, but they do a god job of using polyrhythms in that structure, same as the intro to The Summoning

[@bobcieslinski]

Yeah I think you are right. It gives it an odd feel.

[@lc81002]

As an extra layer to the incredible songwriting, on the Take Me Back to Eden album there are a lot of references to other Sleep Token songs in the lyrics. In this song, before the quiet "I guess it goes to show, does it not" section, there's the intro synth from The Summoning, "I don't know what's got its teeth in me, but I'm about to bite back in anger" references The Offering lyrics "So take a bite of me just once" and then the breakdown callout is "take a bite"), and then the lyrics from the beginning of Chokehold are repeated ("when we were made, it was no accident; we were tangled up like branches in a flood"). In Euclid, they call all the way back to the II EP and reference The Night Does Not Belong To God and When The Bough Breaks. Vessel is a truly masterful lyricist and songwriter, and he is ridiculously talented to be able to write and perform everything except the drums in the studio.

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks so much for the awesome info! He is amazing.

[@theskincareskinny5006]

I absolutely adore Sleep Token. Found them like… a month ago? Sad I didn’t find them sooner because I missed chance for concert tix. I desperately want to see them live! Best band since TOOL in my opinion.

[@bobcieslinski]

I have to agree with you and I feel the same way. By the time I found them I missed the tour too. There were only a handful of tickets and they were selling for over $300. I keep checking for new tour dates.

[@MB-ob6ye]

I saw them in Baltimore a couple years ago, they weren’t even the headliner but that’s who we went to see. Tickets were $23 a piece. Good luck finding tickets that aren’t being resold for less than $300 nowadays. They came back to Baltimore a couple months ago but I couldn’t justify the ticket prices.

[@The_KlaVra]

The crazy part is that from what I know, VESSEL and II create all the music, III IV and the background singers are live musicians only.. So thats even more crazy.

[@bobcieslinski]

It sure is thanks for the info!

[@lc81002]

Yep, it's only Vessel and II in the studio. Vessel does everything except the drums. Insanely talented.

[@WickedGoodBooks]

LOVED watching your reaction and informed commentary!

[@bobcieslinski]

Thank you so much!!

[@ScavengerRedline]

"We dive through crystal waters, perfect oceans But no one told me not to breathe And now the weightlessness recedes" That lyric left me in awe the first time I heard it, what an incredibly beautiful way to describe drowning.

[@bobcieslinski]

He really had a way with words and the way he sings them.

[@vybz987]

Try atlantic if you like vessels voice. Also ascensionism is my favourite song ever

[@scottyL842]

A song you need to check out from them that I find doesn't get as much attention now is "Jaws" the drumming in it is outstanding and the song as a whole is amazing a lot of jazz in it

[@andrewyork7776]

I love that you mentioned the Jazz elements. Like I said before, they are an insanely talented group of young men.

[@bobcieslinski]

They sure are. I can’t wait to see them in May.

[@andrewyork7776]

@@bobcieslinski I'm so jealous that you are going to see them. I currently live in Germany not far from Berlin and only just discovered Sleep Token a couple of months ago. They did a show in Berlin last year.

[@tjh5716]

Vessel was playing piano at age 4. He was entered in a music program at a school in England but did not finish. Fun fact, he still has an old LinkedIn

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks for the info!

[@I_am_Felii]

where did u get that from? I always assumed he graduated

[@maureennielsen3641]

You should check out "Rain" My absolute favorite. Great breakdown of the music. Love the video.

[@tallieoverred7]

So excited for this 😁 will be editing to say more probably.

[@bobcieslinski]

Nice to hear from you again Hallie. This one is so good. I love all of the different sections but especially the section with the transitions with the piano chords. Just so nice sounding.

[@tallieoverred7]

Hello again! I also love the piano. And the guitar. I’m learning to also love and appreciate the drummer. Vessel’s voice is just so… magnetic. Unearthly. I’ve learned to, with Sleep Token, expect the unexpected with each new song I listen to for the first time. Loved this reaction as well as the last! Keep it up 🤘🏼⭐️

[@Lunar_Asylum]

So Vessel1 actually writes all of the music minus the drumming. As far as we're aware, they're the only credited musicians on all of their albums. III and IV are touring permanent members.

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks for thr info!

[@FullMetalAsh]

Awesome content as always Bob - I love it when i see your videos as I always learn something or discover a new artist. I totally agree that Vessel's voice is so unique - his range and control are wild. The high notes he hits in the first chrous once the guitars kick in give me shivers. You mentioned jazz musicians being some of the most creative musicians out there - I think this also applies to a lot of folks in the progressive rock/metal scene, like Yvette Young and Jakub Zytecki. If you haven't heard them already, I would strongly recommend you give them a listen. I saw Jakub live touring with Plini in 2023 - his composition, tone, and production absolutely blew me away.

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks for the kind words I appreciate it. I’d be interested in that so if you have a link send it to me please. Thanks.

[@FullMetalAsh]

@@bobcieslinski my pleasure! It's hard to choose just one track from artists like this but I'll give it my best shot. Covet (Yvette Young): kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXLYlIZ9dreimLMsi=0HWgFi6lH4Ored_f Jakub: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXaQm4Cae9Fqf7ssi=62Ait4IGN2X01m-O Have a great weekend Bob!

[@bobcieslinski]

@@FullMetalAsh thanks!

[@kingbassk83]

When Bob is actually Gerald of Rivia. Look at his eyes. He's the last, modern Witcher!

[@bobcieslinski]

lol awesome show. I don’t want Henry Cavill to stop being the Witcher.

[@I_am_Felii]

There is a video of Vessel before he was famous playing the piano in a jazz duo with a female singer so there's that.

[@tjh5716]

Song of the year.

[@mallacoda1]

The entire song is in 4/4.

[@JSEP1991]

Right? I was wondering what the heck he was on about. Why is he saying he "believes it's in 4" in the 2nd chorus when it's like the most basic sounding 4/4 meter Sleep Token have ever done 😂

[@roymendez6615]

You missed out on the lyrics of Chokehold being song in the background (last chorus) before the scream vocals

[@bobcieslinski]

I haven’t done that one yet. Thanks for the info though. This one is awesome. I love it. It’s one of my favorites now.

[@JesusFriedChrist]

Make sure you listen to Euclid last, because it’s the last song on the album, and it has a bunch of callbacks to the other songs. TMBTE is second last on the album, so it has a bit of that too.

[@Moon-ok3pi]

My comment here is almost the same as the one I left on the Disturbed "Sound of Silence" video. Enjoyed this one greatly as well. If you've never listened to them before, I think you might really like The Amazing Devil. "The Horror and the Wild" and "The Old Witch Sleep and The Good Man Grace" are two of my favorites, but it's hard to go wrong.

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks I’ll look into those. I love this group. Man they are fantastic.

[@TrevorDunkin]

Fun fact: a lot of the pronunciation stuff you mentioned with Vessel is due to a digital formant shift in his voice. This is done to protect his anonymity, and is also why his voice sounds like it's slightly pitched down when it isn't.

[@bobcieslinski]

Oh thanks Trevor. Thats a unique thing. I hope we find out who he is some day.

[@MattKrogmeier]

@@bobcieslinskiit’s not hard to find their identities here in the internet age…I won’t spoil it for those who don’t want to know, but I was able to find names pretty quickly.

[@dalj4362]

Where is the source for that fun fact lol ?

[@I_am_Felii]

You just BLEW my mind! I experienced such a weird mixture of emotion just now because I SWEAR I noticed that effect in his voice but I ignored it as I have never heard anyone mention that like...EVER and I didn't know that this was a production tool that existed, I don't know about such things BUT IF I HAD KNOWN I WOULDVE INSTANTLY SAID IT! I felt stupid for thinking there was some effect going on but NOW I feel worse because I ignored it! Man that was such a crazy realization when I googled this term! WOW! 100% happening here...

[@pwningtoenail]

to me, going back to Eden is defiance against God's will, he who casted us out. That makes the last part much cooler for me.

[@bennyharderguitar]

II started as a metal drummer. But he’s highly influenced by gospel drummers. He just studies it all.

[@bobcieslinski]

It shows Benny. He’s a beast.

[@earthscorcher]

@@bobcieslinski you definitely need to check out II's drumeo video. I think your jaw is going to be on the floor the entire video!

[@inviz88]

Only the Vocalist is called Vessel. The drummer is "II". The bassist "III" and the guitarist "IV"

[@s_amylee]

Not True! They are Vessels as well. On the credits of songs it says Vessel and/or Vessel II

[@inviz88]

@@s_amylee So? And before those credits they were their real names before being changed to that. Whoever wrote them has no idea. II introduces himself as II. Not Vessel II.

[@s_amylee]

@@inviz88 That point doesn’t really change anything? It was there real name because… that’s who they are lol. and it was promptly changed to what they wanted at the time? aka vessel and vessel II. not sure why the attitude :( have an AMAZING day! old fans are aware :) it’s interchangeable.

[@stephv1383]

InBottles is right, why are you so rude?

[@JesusFriedChrist]

Vessel 🎤 II 🥁 III 🎸 IV 🎸

[@Dylanwilt738]

Mr c did you get the link that I sent you for bella ciao in your last video

[@bobcieslinski]

I just looked and didn’t see anything Caleb.

[@astrowerm]

Just thought id give you a heads up. Theres a persistent buzzing in the audio of this vid!

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks I’ve had the issue in the past and thought I fixed it. I’ll check it out.

[@shanegwinn8787]

Vessel is Leo Faulkner from Blacklit Canopy

[@medusastone2725]

So Bob, if you like the jazziness, do yourself a favor and listen to their song Aqua Regia. And do us a favor and make it a reaction here.

[@bobcieslinski]

That sounds awesome. I’ll check it out for sure. Thanks.

[@michaellloyd2728]

Please react to hey ya by sleep token

[@bobcieslinski]

I’ll have to add that one. Thanks.

[@francoacevedo6994]

I love their music... I hate their customs and masks

[@guygourley2411]

As usual I have areas I like and am not so fond of, lol. His vibrato when singing I often refer to (just to myself) as artificial vibrato, due to it being rather shallow and fast. There are many singers like this. I almost picture them with a switch in hand and when pressed, vibrato happens. Quite often when the longer, louder notes are being sung, the vibrato is missing or a bit weak. Just a little quirk of mine as I like a good strong vibrato. Could just be this song. I enjoyed the guitar up front, and I agree his enunciation is good. I noticed that also with So Hyang, she would say a word slightly different than normal so that it could be understood, part of how they open their mouths while singing, changing the vowel a bit. I would also agree with some possible jazz background, just the drum fills and chord processions. I'm not sure what genre this fits into, it is a bit dark. Progressive, metal, goth? Maybe just a blend. I have noticed that many songs now include some sort of "rap" section, even country songs, and I'm guessing for many it is to attract a wider audience, or just break up the normal melody. Definitely hear it in the Kpop songs. Very interesting song with a lot of intricacies.

[@bobcieslinski]

You always have awesome comments Guy. You can tell you know your music. The official genre for them is progressive metal. You can just hear so many influences in their music. His voice is so good. I can’t believe how smooth it is. Sohyuang pronounces her word amazingly too. I could understand everything with her. I’ll be editing her next video pretty soon.

[@guygourley2411]

@@bobcieslinski Apparently Vessel is Leo G****** Fa*****r. I didn't find a lot of background info on him except he has been in some previous bands. I have to say he doesn't look as intimidating in person, lol. I was listening to some of the older rock groups, and most of their most popular songs all have a "catch phrase", that bit of song you can easily sing along with. Example is "I want to rock 'n roll, all night long". I think you find that virtually everywhere in todays music. I remember listening to PushnP by Gunna & Future and counted the phrase "PushnP" 37 times. But that is what makes so many songs popular, that ability to belt out along with the lyrics because they are easy to remember and simple enough musically to sing with. Queen: We will, we will rock you. Even Lovebites, which generally does NOT have catchy phrases, did much better with Stand and Deliver because there was that repeated phrase you could sing with. Don't know why I got off on that tangent, lol. But certainly in songs such as Take Me Back to Eden, you just don't get that popular phrasing. I believe also that in rap, the more simple raps that are easy to understand and rhyme well become quite popular. The high speed raps are different and require time and effort to rap along. Anyways, have a great weekend and as always, thanks for the reaction!!

[@bobcieslinski]

Thanks for the info Guy! I did see two different theories on who it could be. I’m not sure which is right or if any of them are. But man that dude can sing. I tend to gravitate to the music over the lyrics so it has to be pretty catchy and easy to understand for me to get it on the lyric side. You have an awesome weekend too!

[@guygourley2411]

@@bobcieslinski Vessel's voice does lend itself to the style of music they play. I also listen more to the instrumental side of songs, especially guitar, versus the lyrical/vocal parts. That is one reason I don't mind the Japanese rock/metal scene since the vocals are more just melody for me, so I don't feel I need to understand the lyrics. I will say I listen to the lyrics in a lot of country music songs since first off, they are usually pretty easy to understand, and secondly, some type of story is often sung, so that kind of draws me in. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

[@bobcieslinski]

@@guygourley2411I’m exactly the same especially with the country. Happy New Year!

[@mommachar6697]

Awesome reacrion ~ you heard so many significant parts!! Now you need to go into the rabbit hole and listen to the chronicle order and really Hear the lyics speak to you!!! They are truly a phenomenal band that has touched my heart so deeply. Please try your best to go see them live this year. You will not regret it. The experience is unmatched !!!! 🫶Worship 🫶