Metalcore is one of the only subgenres of metal that blurs the line between metal and more mainstream music genres such as pop. That is why people either love it or hate it. It is very rare to find a band that innovates metalcore as so many metalcore bands just focus on the catchy choruses or the brutal breakdowns which are a pivotal part of this subgenre of extreme music. This is where Sleep Theory differentiate from most artists who play metalcore. Even though they focus on breakdowns and catchy choruses, the more pop-like sound on their albums gets swapped for more electronic, hip-hop sounds thanks to the use of synths and the occasional bit of autotune which does not take away from the experience as it normally does, it adds to it. As a result, Sleep Theory create a fresh, more modern take on a subgenre of metal where so many bands fail to get creative.
Afterglow opens with ‘Static’, a song that does not sound particularly that impressive compared to some of the others that come later, it familiarises the listener to the more electronic sound this band produces. The chorus is incredibly infectious, and it transitions perfectly to the second verse and breakdown, which once again is not as heavy as some of the others on this record. This is a song for the listener to get used to the Sleep Theory sound, which is an incredibly clever touch as the album gets more and more experimental throughout the journey.
Track number four is as electronic as it is heavy. ‘Fallout’ starts off with a mellow riff which explodes upon it entering the second time around. The mellow part comes back into the verse which has an almost lo-fi feel to it, before the screams enter in the chorus, making it bombastic, powerful and epic. The second verse is a louder version of the sound we had in the previous one, as the lo-fi feel is gone, and it is now full-on metalcore. All this makes this song one of the more experimental tracks on this record.
The sixth and seventh tracks are both toned down. ‘Gravity’ is more of a pop like track where the vocals truly shine, but ‘Afterglow’ is a ballad which at the same time as focusing on the vocals, each band member shines here. The drums at parts feel almost prog-like and the guitars and bass intertwine with some powerful synth moments.
‘Numb’ picks the pace right up as everything in this grows louder and as a result, heavier, as the toned-down tracks are done for now. The verse is much heavier than the last tracks that came before it. After the softer tracks, the chorus blew my ears off my head, and the breakdown here flew them into oblivion.
The song that follows, is that much heavier. ‘Parasite’ is similar to ‘Fallout’ as the clean and guttural vocals intertwine in the chorus once again, making for a unique yet thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. The verses are also more ferocious than most on this record. The breakdown is a very synthesized one, and on top of that, this is the only breakdown on this album that has the iconic “Bleurgh” vocal screamed in it. This normally signifies a change in tempo in the breakdown, usually making it slower and more effective to the listener.
The closing song of this 12-track collection is cleverly another more toned down, electronic sounding track. I found this to be particularly smart because most of these songs have been heavy one after the other, and there have rarely been any breaks as there are no interludes on this album, so having a song that is nowhere near as heavy as some of the others closing the album makes perfect sense. Musically, the synths really elevate this song, as they really add to the atmosphere of this, and give it a more cinematic feel throughout. The vocals also steal the show here, especially on the final bombastic chorus.
Musically, there are elements throughout Afterglow that really elevate it, such as the drums, synthesizers and some of the choruses. Some of the choruses on this album work well, and others sound similar to each other. The electronic sound is present throughout these 12 songs, and sometimes in metalcore bands like to incorporate guitar solos instead of and even as a part of the breakdowns, here, Sleep Theory have opted to do what they do best; incorporate breakdowns that fit well within each individual track, making this listening experience a little bit lacklustre at times. With that being said, the songs that are good, are really impressive and will surely get repeated time again after your first listen.
To conclude, within these 12 tracks, there are songs that do sound similar to each other, but the ones that do not, are that much more enjoyable and make this near hour of music thoroughly enjoyable. The choruses are bombastic for the most part, and the breakdowns are mostly fun, which is what every metalcore fan likes to hear, and is what every metalcore fan would want to hear from an album in this subgenre. But above all, Sleep Theory have proven themselves as a band that can combine modern sounds, and turn it into something special, and that as a lover of music is exactly what music is all about.
Sleep Theory: Afterglow – Out 16 May 2025 (Epitaph Records)
Theory – “III” (Official Music Video)
