Sleeps Society

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Sleeps Society
Studio album by
While She Sleeps
Released16 April 2021
RecordedJanuary–October 2020
Studio
GenreMetalcore
Length44:28
Label
Producer
  • Sean Long
  • Carl Bown
While She Sleeps chronology
So What?
(2019) 		Sleeps Society
(2021) 		Self Hell
(2024)
Singles from Sleeps Society
  1. "Sleeps Society"
    Released: 15 October 2020
  2. "You Are All You Need"
    Released: 7 February 2021
  3. "Nervous"
    Released: 18 March 2021
  4. "Eye to Eye"
    Released: 14 April 2022
Deluxe edition cover
Artwork used for the deluxe edition cover.

Sleeps Society (stylised in all caps)[2] is the fifth studio album by British metalcore band While She Sleeps. It was released on 16 April 2021, through the band's independent label Sleeps Brothers, in collaboration with Search and Destroy, Spinefarm Records, and Universal Music. The album was produced by Carl Bown and Sean Long, the band's lead guitarist.[3][4]

Background and promotion[edit]

On 15 October 2020, the band released the first single and title track "Sleeps Society" along with an accompanying music video. That same day, the band announced the album itself, the album cover and release date. They also unveiled their new members subscription service called Sleeps Society via the Patreon platform. Through the service, fans will be able to contribute and subscribe with monthly donations to the band, and in turn contributors will have access to exclusive perks such as merchandise, secret shows, early access to tickets, podcasts, play throughs, tips, and more.[5][6]

On 7 February 2021, the band released the second single "You Are All You Need", which debuted on Daniel P. Carter's BBC Radio 1's Rock Show. At the same time, the band revealed the official track list of the album. Guitarist Sean Long commented about the track: "We somehow managed to inject enough personal inspiration from each member for it to completely embody 'the Sleeps sound' with ease."[7][8] On 18 March, one month before the album release, the band released the third single "Nervous" featuring Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and its corresponding music video.[9][10] On 14 April 2022, the band released the fourth single "Eye to Eye" while also announcing the deluxe edition of the album which is set to be released on 3 June. At the same time, the band officially revealed the album cover and the track list.[11][12]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Dead Press![13]
Distorted Sound9/10[14]
The Guardian[15]
Kerrang![16]
Louder Sound[17]
Rock Sins8/10[18]
Wall of Sound9.5/10[19]

Sleeps Society received generally positive reviews from critics. Damon Taylor from Dead Press! rated the album positively calling it: "It's a fitting conclusion to a record that, admittedly, could not have been created without the unfathomable and relentless support of the fanbase – nay, community that they have nurtured. Broad in scope yet refusing to fall victim to quality control, Sleeps Society is not only a benchmark offering from While She Sleeps, but also one that puts them closer to the forefront of British metalcore."[13] Distorted Sound scored the album 9 out of 10 and said: "WHILE SHE SLEEPS are a band that has the power to use their own awe-inspiring bond to unify the masses. Sleeps Society feels like a welcoming euphoric warm hug. They've built upon the foundations formed from So What? and perfected the formula both sonically and lyrically. It's a magnificent achievement and should be a landmark album for the band. If you want to feel like you're not alone, welcome to the Sleeps Society."[14] Ben Beaumont-Thomas at The Guardian was positive towards the release stating, "Social distancing may soon end, but it's a term that seems to define a UK wracked with problems of loneliness, inequality and division. And with the right to protest also under threat, While She Sleeps' rallying cries for unity and resistance have real potency, and are another example of how the UK's best pop music right now is often its loudest."[15] Paul Travers of Kerrang! considered the release to be "...the familiar riff-fuelled energy and anthemic gang-chant hooks, but season their sonic stew with a few new ingredients."[16]

Writing for Louder Sound, Dannii Leivers calls the album "...a message of self-love: of knowing your worth at a moment when mental health is on its arse and people are full of doubt and fear for the future. All of which makes Sleeps Society an album very much for these troubled times, from a band we can continue to believe in."[17] Sam Dignon of Rock Sins rated the album 8 out of 10 and said: "Still, Sleeps Society is another fantastic album from While She Sleeps that shows how important independence and creative freedom can be for a band. Even if not everything works, it's an album they have poured everything into and every member feels at the top of their game."[18] Wall of Sound gave the album almost a perfect score 9.5/10 and saying: "Sleeps Society manages to be so many things in 11 songs — it's inspiring, furious, dark and emotional to name a few. At the same time, it feels like it's just for you, that the band wrote the album for you and only you. This band is huge, this is their fifth album and it has such a polished sound. But it's still as intimate and personal as a much smaller — earlier into their career- band would release. I can't remember the last time an album felt so personal to me, maybe something from a band I have been a massive fan of for a long time, but to feel an album so personally as a new listener of the band is incredible. I could have done with this album last year while struggling with my mental health, but I have it now, and I know it will help me next time I feel like shit."[19]

It was elected by Loudwire as the 40th best rock/metal album of 2021.[20]

Track listing[edit]

All lyrics are written by While She Sleeps; all music is composed by While She Sleeps

Sleeps Society track listing[2]
No.TitleLength
1."Enlightenment(?)"5:02
2."You Are All You Need"3:28
3."Systematic"2:56
4."Nervous" (featuring Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro)4:06
5."Pyai"1:54
6."Know Your Worth (Somebody)"4:37
7."No Defeat for the Brave" (featuring Deryck Whibley of Sum 41)4:12
8."Division Street"3:34
9."Sleeps Society"3:19
10."Call of the Void" (featuring Sleeps Society)4:11
11."The End"7:03
Total length:44:28
Deluxe edition[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Enlightenment(?)"5:02
2."You Are All You Need"3:28
3."Systematic" (new version; featuring Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari)3:31
4."Eye to Eye"3:53
5."Nervous" (featuring Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro)4:06
6."Pyai"1:54
7."Know Your Worth (Somebody)"4:37
8."No Defeat for the Brave" (featuring Deryck Whibley of Sum 41)4:12
9."The Enemy Is the Inner Me"3:09
10."Division Street"3:34
11."Sleeps Society"3:19
12."Fakers Plague"5:53
13."The Long Way Home"4:46
14."You Are All You Need" (acoustic version)4:40
15."Call of the Void" (featuring Sleeps Society)4:11
16."The End"7:03
Total length:67:18

Notes

  • All track titles are stylised in capital letters. "The End" is stylised as "DN3 3HT".

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Discogs.[1]

While She Sleeps

  • Lawrence "Loz" Taylor – lead vocals
  • Sean Long – lead guitar, backing vocals, synthesizers, engineering, production
  • Mat Welsh – rhythm guitar, vocals, piano, artwork
  • Aaran McKenzie – bass, backing vocals
  • Adam "Sav" Savage – drums, percussion, piano, artwork

Additional musicians

  • Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro – guest vocals and guitar on track 4, "Nervous"
  • Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 – guest vocals on track 7, "No Defeat for the Brave"
  • Sleeps Society – guest vocals on track 10, "Call of the Void"

Additional personnel

  • Carl Bown – production, mixing
  • Jim Pinder – engineering
  • Ste Kerry – mastering
  • Eurobroid and Ruby Sanderson – artwork
  • Greg Moore – lacquer cut
  • While She Sleeps, Giles Smith and Nick Porter – photography

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Sleeps Society
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[21] 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[22] 131
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[23] 13
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] 44
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 22
UK Albums (OCC)[26] 59
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[27] 7

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "While She Sleeps Sleeps Society". Discogs. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Sleeps Society by While She Sleeps". Apple Music. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  3. ^ "NEWS: While She Sleeps launch Sleeps Society; debut new song!". Dead Press!. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  4. ^ "While She Sleeps Announce New Album Sleeps Society, Unveil Title-Track". Kerrang!. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  5. ^ "While She Sleeps Return With Sleeps Society Fan Initiative, Forthcoming Album + Single!". Wall of Sound. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  6. ^ "While She Sleeps Form 'Sleeps Society' With New Song + We Want In". Loudwire. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  7. ^ "While She Sleeps Debut New Single "You Are All You Need"". ThePRP. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. ^ "While She Sleeps Drop New Rager 'You Are All You Need' + Detail 'Sleeps Society' Album". Loudwire. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. ^ "While She Sleeps Have Released A Vital New Song Featuring Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil". Rock Sound. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  10. ^ "While She Sleeps drop new single, Nervous, featuring Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil". Kerrang!. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  11. ^ a b "While She Sleeps Shares 'Eye To Eye' From Sleeps Society Special Edition". Wall of Sound. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  12. ^ Carter, Emily (14 April 2022). "While She Sleeps unleash new single EYE TO EYE with epic mini movie". Kerrang!. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  13. ^ a b Taylor, Damon (18 April 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society". Dead Press!. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  14. ^ a b Ray, Graham (12 April 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: Sleeps Society – While She Sleeps". Distorted Sound. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  15. ^ a b Ben Beaumont-Thomas (15 April 2021). "While She Sleeps: Sleeps Society review – magnificent metalcore for a fractious world". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  16. ^ a b Travers, Paul (13 April 2021). "Album review: While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society". Kerrang!. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  17. ^ a b Leivers, Dannii (13 April 2021). "While She Sleeps' Sleeps Society is a beacon of hope in troubled times". Louder Sound. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  18. ^ a b Dignon, Sam (13 April 2021). "While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society". Rock Sins. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  19. ^ a b Mac, Cait (13 April 2021). "While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  20. ^ "The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Austriancharts.at – While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Ultratop.be – While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Swisscharts.com – While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
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