Doc Coyle’s Sick of Gatekeepers: “Don’t Get Sleep Token? That’s Fine, but Let’s Stop It With the Elitism”

The ongoing conversation of ‘are Sleep Token metal or not?’ has become a mindless, vicious cycle. Record after record, the industry finds itself debating online, arguing back and forth about where this band stands in the heavy scene. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also fall into that trap.

In a new article and artist column on Louder, God Forbid’s guitarist Doc Coyle has written a piece on this exact conversation. But it goes a little deeper than that, as the guitarist explores themes of elitism within the metal scene altogether. And needless to say, I think we can all agree that’s a thing. We all know a guy or have seen a guy or two who interrogates people for wearing band shirts, “name three of their albums,” you know the drill.

But, at what point is any of this labelling and shaming necessary? Coyle comments on some of the harsh reviews Even In Arcadia has received so far.

“This isn’t critique – it’s antipathy, revulsion, wholesale rejection. But the subtext gives away the game. Sleep Token’s crime is not their artistic choices; it’s the audacity to become the most popular rock act on earth with those choices.”

He later continues:

“My biggest pushback against this line of critique is against the idea that Sleep Token’s lean into pop discredits their metal bona fides, or that they are doing pop poorly. In my estimation, since Bring Me The Horizon released their polarizing album, amo (2019), pop has burrowed its way into metalcore’s DNA – be it Bad Omens delving deep into dark pop or Spiritbox moonlighting with Megan Thee Stallion. Many of the top dogs are already swimming in this pool. But Sleep Token crossed some invisible purity line, breaching the social contract.”

Though Even In Arcadia is noticeably softer, it doesn’t feel fair to make it definitive of whether the band can be acknowledged in the heavy scene or not. And while previous records, Take Me Back to Eden and Sundowning, are heavy, progressive metal albums, it’s clear the band are simply enjoying experimenting with their sound. And kudos to them, because that’s what brings longevity these days. Oh, and multiple spots at number one in the charts.