Wide awake in Arcadia. Sleep Token rouse even jaded ears on new album
For fans, the two-year wait for the follow-up to 2023's Take Me Back to Eden has been worth the seemingly never-ending countdown, and Even in Arcadia showcases remarkable nous in terms of dynamics, working diverse influences into a sound, and adding to the mystique that has played such a big part in the English outfit's success to date.
Masked and majestic, Sleep Token juxtapose crushing riffage with moments of what-just-happened? beauty, exemplified by recent singles Emergence and Caramel and the title track. Indeed, the piano is arguably as big a part of this record's allure as the guitars.
Lights on or off, from left turns - R&B, emo, and even nods to Pink Floyd are part of the package - to a-life-laid-bare lyrics, there is a lot to unpack here, and Even in Arcadia feels like it should be played start to finish at home and at the shows ahead to do everyone justice.
For an older listener, it's a boon to hear the LP treated with such reverence as an art form. Those same ears may conclude that there is a little too much going at times, but how life-affirming it is to hear an outfit swinging for the fences amid rapid fame and, crucially, instilling the belief that their best is still ahead.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Colm O'Regan: Horrible Histories is grand, but what about our own horrible history?
Booing Queen Elizabeth the first is always a good idea to get an Irish crowd going. But it feels hollow. We're being asked to boo her for other bad things. But there's not a mention about Ireland. The actors carry on oblivious, but I know I'm not the only one thinking WHAT ABOUT THE PLANTATIONS? We're at Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors in the Olympia Theatre. Five minutes in and I thought maybe we should have gone to the other one: Awful Egyptians. Cleopatra, pyramids, King Tut are more accessible. (I'm assuming they don't go into too much detail on brother-sister stuff). We're sort of bogged down at the battle of Bosworth Field. Henry Tudor defeats Richard III and he's buried in what will become a carpark in Leicester. The reference doesn't really land for us. The battle of Bosworth Field doesn't even make it into the 'development squad' for Irish history taught in schools. The Tudors don't really get going for us until they start taking our wild oaks. But the children are still into it and fairly soon we get onto Henry VIII's wild oats and we're on familiar territory. By the interval, a full Thr-Olympia is singing 'Divorced, Beheaded, DIED/Divorced, Married, SURVIVED' as a tuneful way of remembering the fate of Henry VIII's wives. After two hours of English history, Irish children have loved it. Even though some of the jokes don't land, the acting's good, the songs are good and the brand is so strong that people are willing to overlook the fact that 50 yards from Dublin Castle, we are hearing the doings of English kings and queens without a scintilla about plantations, Kings County, Queens County, Desmond Rebellions. I don't blame the Horrible Histories people — they've a lot to get through. And they might reasonably assume that in a country full of people who can talk about 800 years for 800 hours might be already well covered in terms of funny Throlympia-filling, stage shows for children about our 300 rebellions, our Celtic past, our saving of literacy in the dark ages. After all, we sustained musical comedies about Saipan, Munster beating the All-Blacks, Mattress Mick. Surely we can muster something for the kiddies about paying homage to Celtic chieftains by sucking their nipples. Actually we have done it (okay, not the nipple thing). There were two very good series of Blasts from the Past, a funny, well-made children's TV show where a girl goes back in time to help out. That finished in 2022. We watch it on RTÉ Player. That's the good thing about history. Even though it's all dates, it doesn't date. But nothing since or at least definitely nothing to fill the Olympia. I get it. TV is expensive. Ireland is small. But time is now big money. At the moment The Rest is History podcast with its 11 million downloads, 1.2 million monthly YouTube views andover 45,000 paying subscribers is wending its way through the Irish War of Independence. And in the past two years, over the course of about 10 hours, the podcast has gone through Irish history in an entertaining way. For millions of English people it's amazing watching them finally find out 'What was the problem with you Irish, eh?' With Horrible Histories, my children now know more about the various Queen Marys than I ever did. I realise I was never taught much about English apart from what they done on us. But let's fill the Olympia with our own history. Tales of Irish monks inventing the space between words, the time the Irish tried to invade Canada, fights over eel-fishing rights, Grainnuaile shocking Queen Elizabeth I (booo!) by throwing a snotty lacy hankie into the fire, the English banning-14th century hipster haircuts in Kilkenny. The past is a funny country. Let's make some jokes. Read More Bernard O'Shea: Observe the Constitution of the Irish Family Holiday
The Journal
10 hours ago
- The Journal
Famous faces spotted again today at Wimbledon as the sunshine returns
CELEBRITIES WERE BACK in the Royal Box today as Wimbledon bounced back from a rainy midweek spell with sunshine and a packed schedule on day four. Blue skies and 24C temperatures returned to the All England Club after a soggy Wednesday, with fans quick to swap ponchos for sunhats and take advantage of ideal conditions on court. Among the guests in the Royal Box today were adventurer and TV host Bear Grylls and actor Rory Kinnear, who starred in the Netflix series The Diplomat. Former Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden and comedian Clive Anderson were also spotted taking in the action on Centre Court. Musician-turned-environmentalist Feargal Sharkey was seated alongside Dutch tennis legend Betty Stove, who turned 80 in April and famously reached three Wimbledon finals in 1977. Former Dragon's Den host Deborah Meaden soaked up the sunshine on centre court PA PA They were joined by a host of sporting figures including former England rugby coach Clive Woodward and English Olympic sprinter Donna Fraser. Today, the stars were there to see Novak Djokovic face off against British Dan Evans on Centre Court, before Iga Swiatek takes on American qualifier Caty McNally. Top seed Jannik Sinner took on Aleksandar Vukic of Australia on No 1 Court, followed by Mirra Andreeva's match against Italy's Lucia Bronzetti. Advertisement Later in the day, Maria Sakkari is scheduled to play 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, and British hope Jack Draper will face former US Open winner Marin Cilic. English actors Eddie Redmayne and Jason Isaacs Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Since the tournament kicked off on Monday, Wimbledon has been visited by a host of famous faces. On the opening day, former England footballer David Beckham sat alongside former England manager Gareth Southgate. Gareth Southgate and Jason Isaacs Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Also in the stands were English actor Eddie Redmayne and Jason Isaacs. And yesterday, Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl appeared to be having a great time as he watched the action. Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Oh and of course there have been plenty of sightings of members of the British royal family. Kate Middleton waves to the crowd at Wimbledon Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo With reporting from David Mac Redmond
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Who is Marin Cilic's wife Kristina Milkovic, when did Wimbledon tennis star marry her?
MARIN Cilic made a big name for himself in the world of tennis. During his impressive career, the Croatian star has been cheered along by his wife Kristina Milkovic. Advertisement 2 Marin Cilic and Kristina Milkovic have been married since 2018 Credit: Instagram/marincilic 2 Marin often shares sweet snaps of his wife on his Instagram Credit: Instagram/marincilic Who is Kristina Milkovic? Kristina is married to tennis star She graduated with two Master's Degrees from the University of Zagreb in 2014 - one in political science and the other in psychology. Kristina can speak Croatian, English, Italian and Spanish fluently. Following her degree, she was hired by Zagrebacka Banka - the largest bank in Advertisement Read More on Marin Cilic She then went on to become head of HR at Q Agency up until 2021. She now works as the leadership board member of the Marin Cilic Foundation and is the founder of KMC consulting in Monaco. How did Marin Cilic and Kristina Milkovic meet? The pair were reported to have first met in 2008 at the Davis Cup and started dating two years later. In July 2017, the couple got engaged and within a year, on April 28, 2018, Cilic and Kristina got married in Croatia. Kristina wore a stunning bespoke basketweave silk gazar designer wedding gown by Caroline Castigliano. Guests from all over the world attended the intimate and romantic ceremony at the Church of St. Nicholas, with After Cilic won his first ATP 500 level title in Basel, the tennis star labelled his partner as his good luck charm. The Wag can regularly be seen in the tennis crowds supporting her partner. Does Kristina Milkovic use social media? In the past, Milkovic has refused to give interviews and will not put her private life in the public eye. Advertisement She has an Instagram account, but she has kept this private. However, you can follow Cilic on You can find his account under the username Does Marin Cilic and Kristina Milkovic have any children? Marin and Kristina have two children. Advertisement Their first child is called Baldo Clic and was born on January 31, 2020, at Zagreb's Sisters of Charity Hospital. Their second son was born in September 2021. Writing on social media at the time, Marin said: "Our small family has grown by another member. "Grateful to share that Baldo's best friend has arrived. And just like that we are officially a team of 4. Advertisement Read More in The Sun Tested "Baby boy is doing great and Kristine Milković is an absolute rock star. "We can't wait to bring this guy home to his brother.' Cilic's ranking positions in 2023 09 January – 18 20 March – 22 12 June – 65 11 September – 242 30 October – 606 06 November – 662
