Show Review: Sleep Token's 'Even In Arcadia' is Even Better In Oakland
Sleep Token
w/ Thornhill
October 10th, 2025
Oakland Arena
Oakland, CA
Review by Tawni Kuhn
Observing the “meteoric rise” of a band—especially from the outskirts of a fandom—can be a curious and fascinating experience. Enter the enigma of a group like Sleep Token: a band with a history that reads more like rich video game lore. Their audience is anything but casual, and their mask-adorned fans could recount the band’s backstory with the enthusiasm and depth of a college professor.
At first glance, their outfits might seem a little gimmicky, but you’d soon learn they’re an integral part of their live ceremonies. This appearance and experience can be divisive—forum-splitting, even—and we’ve heard it all from casual fans to toxic forum trolls alike. But here’s the thing: you can complain about all of it, even while secretly adding Sleep Token to the bottom of your broody playlist… or you can just experience Sleep Token. It’s worth it.
We had the pleasure of experiencing our first ritual this past week in Oakland, following the band’s latest offering, Even in Arcadia. The energy was electric—charged with anticipation—as this marked their first arena tour. And yet, there was a surprising stillness in the crowd, a calm as if no one had anywhere else to be but fully present, surrounded by friends and favorites.
I don’t want to continue without giving a huge moment to Thornhill, who continues to surprise time and time again with their presence. Their music was the perfect appetizer for Sleep Token’s headliner but, make no mistake, they are meant to be devoured like the main course they are. Everyone should take a moment to listen to BODIES, front to back.
Sleep Token opens as gracefully as a bloom, echoing the floral symbolism threaded throughout their work. Petals drift through the air, while the screen slowly weaves their logo together to the sound of “Look to Windward.”
In 2025, we’ve been spoiled by quite the creativity of stage presence from different performers. Here, we are transported to another plane of existence with them as the curtain drops. A towering, flora-adorned castle is revealed, complete with a water fixture at the center. To mark these first of many peak career defining shows, the setup is impressive.
Personally, one cannot help but smile at Vessel’s stage presence – in a very good way. It’s flooring how he dances, particularly in collaboration with the feathers on his current tour outfit. He gives off the vibe of an eccentric, graceful Baba Yaga. Awkward in the best way, yet moving with a sense of purpose.
Better yet, his vocals. Rarely awed over vocals in the age of a good backtrack, Vessel’s voice carried without the need of one. Hair-raising and smooth as butter, this person’s chords are inhuman and immaculate. Songs that particularly stood out were “Aqua Regia”, “Thread the Needle” and “Caramel”.
By the tail end of a tour, it’s always fascinating to see whether the energy has started to wane after weeks on the road—but somehow, they still seem to be having the time of their lives, both with each other and the audience. And all of it, remarkably, without speaking a single word beyond the vocals.
If you weren’t a fan before entering the arena, you certainly would be leaving. With Reddit and Wikipedia at the ready.
Come for the music, stay for the lore.
Sleep Token Set List
Look to Windward
The Offering
Vore
Emergence
[Interlude I]
Alkaline
Hypnosis
Provider
Rain
Caramel
[Interlude II]
The Summoning
Aqua Regia
Granite
Thread the Needle
[Interlude III]
Damocles
Infinite Baths
