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Sleeps Society was one of the most anticipated albums of 2021 ever since the bold and somewhat revulutionary announcement of creating a sustainable Patreon community in November 2020. Following three spectacular promo singles, each adding different layers and raising the expectation, While She Sleeps more than delivered. Aside from being a milestone record in their career, this is a flawless work and one carrying the excitement, spark, and charm of true DIY creation. And much in line with their dedication, 2022 saw a Special Edition re-release with some magnificient additions to a record that was already a solid 10.
An established trademark of energetic riff-led modern metal, and with clockwork precision in their 2-year release cycle, While She Sleeps yet again poured their souls into their work. They have always glided on the subtle edge between catchy melodies and ruthless breakdowns, simplistic composition and complex build-ups, furious tirades and anthemic choruses. They have turned this fine balance into their signature, going in a steady upward spiral, each album taking the best features from its predecessor and pushing them one step further, leaving a lasting mark into the scene.
Unexplainably underestimated on a global scale, their dedication and hard work have been spectacular to witness, going from the raw youtful energy of The North Stands For Nothing (2010) into the mature and polished concept of Sleeps Society. If there was ever a band in recent years to make heavy music catchy and exciting without compromising on its founding principles, it is While She Sleeps. Consistent and reliable, by 2021 you should know what to expect from them, with or without the backing of tastemaking labels and media.
Their contirubtion to our society is literally in the title, and it deserves applause. Patreon-supported projects have existed for years and funded many businesses, from individual projects to noble causes, so utilising the platform for a sustainable music business model is hardly revolutionary. Firing shots at souless major labels and greedy streaming platforms is not groundbreaking either, and definitely not new for the heavier scene. Releasing an album as an almost complete DIY project (I am yet to establish exactly what part was handled by the supporting labels), more than the rest, is not unheard of, not just across the metal world, but in the wider industry, and increasingly popular recently. So what is so unique?
In my opinion, what While She Sleep did with Sleeps Society was revolutionary in the finer details. It wasn't just turning into Patreon for funding, it was taking the initiative to find a way to support yourself and your family, and giving your loyal supporters something to enjoy, in a turbulent time of widespread job cuts, personal loss and social isolation. It wasn't attacking the status quo in the music industry, it was giving credit where credit was due, praising the people who made you who you are, while pointing out the issues and offering an alternative, backed by a structured plan. It wasn't simply handling the entire production in-house, but taking that decision with the sole goal of rehiring people from the live industry that has been devastated by the pandemic - tour crew, event staff and engineers.
Much in line with the band's core values, Sleeps Society is a record for the people - for the musicians themselves, their families and friends, the people who have supported them for years, the professionals who helped them along the way, and the mass public that was aching to get behind a story of integrity and honest intentions. While She Sleeps deserve all the praise of their fellow artists, friends and the wider fan base across the scene, local and international.
Sleeps Society is short but sweet, boasting some of the most brilliant moments in modern metal in recent years. The band is known for festival sing-along anthems and have added at least 5 new ageless crowd favourites. A wonderful story of few ordinary guys with no internal and public scandals (although no strangers to personal issues), sharing the drive to make good music and have fun with their supporters, While She Sleeps have produced an absolute beauty that needs to be experienced as a whole from start to finish.
The undeniable strenghts of the record are many and include the varied song structures, constant riff parade, occasional well-timed solos, the everpresent signature choruses, the abundance of clever production tricks and nuances. It jumps from conventional metalcore to electronics, from punk energy to pure rock anthems, and above all it make you feel like a part of something bigger, moving and singing along with the crowd, be it real or virtual. While She Sleeps' mastery lies in taking a simple song structure and rearranging in such creative way that leaves you guessing what's next, maintaining constant excitement without going too far into complicated experiments.
Recently, bands have really been getting on top of their game with regards to guest features, and While She Sleeps did not disappoint either. On one hand, we have Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro, engraving his name at the heart of the contemporary rock and metal scene by elevating 'Nervous' to a completely different level. On the other, the clever team-up with Sum 41's very own Deryck Wibley gives 'No Defeat For The Brave' a punky edge that stacks flawlessly with While She Sleeps' angsty charge. Last but not least, the tribute to the entire Sleeps Society in 'Call Of The Void' says it all and becomes the culmination of While She Sleeps' ode to appreciation, of yourself and those around you.
I will admit, I was a bit late on While She Sleeps but have been in love ever since. I vividly remember them getting my attention while queuing for an overpriced pint at a festival, and running back to witness the magic unfolding in front of a small battered stage with shitty sound systems. A somewhat small crowd transformed the otherwise spotless performance of 'Hurricane' into a huge arena headline show releasing enough energy to charge a nuclear reactor. Back then, I was invited into the Sleeps Society with open arms and hearts by people I never knew, and don't intend to ever leave it.
2022 Edit: It is becoming a tradition for bands to follow their original album release with an exclusive re-release option the year after, featuring few new tracks and juicy bonuses. In this case, While She Sleeps added a couple new singles and went over several original Sleeps Society entries to push the runtime over an hour with 5 extra songs and 1 rework, transforming an already brilliant LP into an absolute stellar and complete effort.
Teasing the Complete Edition back in April to celebrate the record's first anniversary, While She Sleeps dropped "EYE TO EYE", reflecting everything we love about the band, from the restless riffs to all those gentle melodies, anthemic choruses to envigorating energy, heavy lyricism to disturbing yet stunning visuals. In a similar fashion, the deluxe re-issue also features the brand new rager "The Enemy Is The Inner Me" which fits so well you almost forget it was not part of the original 2021 release, and "The Long Way Home", a stripped-back and beautiful electronic instrumental to ease you into the final three songs at the end.
Aside from the 3 new tracks, While She Sleep are fully determined to catch them all, adding none other but Rou Raynolds from Enter Shikari in a re-imagined featuring for the crowd favourite "Systematic", a more than fitting edition of one of the local scene's living legends. Additionally, we are given a fantastic acoustic rendition of "You Are All You Need", and finally the somewhat forgotten but just as good late-2019 single "Fakers Plague" found its rightful place. What's more to say? If you ever needed a reason to listen to one of the best albums of 2021, then check its 2022 re-release. Regardless on where you stand on the whole "deluxe edition" debate, this one deserves all the attention, just before the gang dives into their busy touring schedule.
While She Sleeps - 'Sleeps Society' (Special Edition)
Country: England, UK
Released: 16 April 2021 (Special Edition out 3 June 2022)
Label: Self-released (in collaboration with Spinefarm Records, Search & Destroy, Universal Music )
Tracklisting:
1. "Enlightenment(?)"
2. "You Are All You Need"
3. "Systematic"
4. "Nervous" (featuring Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro)
5. "Pyai"
6. "Know Your Worth (Somebody)"
7. "No Defeat for the Brave" (featuring Deryck Whibley of Sum 41)
8. "Division Street"
9. "Sleeps Society"
10. "Call of the Void" (featuring Sleeps Society)
11. "The End"
Special Edition Tracklisting:
1. "Enlightenment(?)"
2. "You Are All You Need"
3. "Systematic" (featuring Rou Raynolds of Enter Shikari)
4. "Eye to Eye"
5. "Nervous" (featuring Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro)
6. "Pyai"
7. "Know Your Worth (Somebody)"
8. "No Defeat for the Brave" (featuring Deryck Whibley of Sum 41)
9. "Division Street"
10. "The Enemy Is The Inner Me"
11. "Sleeps Society"
12. "Fakers Plague"
13. "The Long Way Home"
14. "You Are All You Need" (Acoustic)
15. "Call of the Void" (featuring Sleeps Society)
16. "DN3 3HT"
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