Right out of the gate I noticed the 3-piece SLEEP IN MOTION from England are super-tight, especially for a band on their first full-length album “Existential”. They are obviously very accomplished musicians. I can say with confidence that the quality of the album from production to the song-writing is as good as anything I’m hearing on Active/Modern Rock radio today.
SLEEP IN MOTION doesn’t sound like any one band in particular, mostly due to singer Ryan Brooks unique voice. But they’re also not reinventing the wheel either. They’re doing great Modern Hard Rock with a heavy dose of hooks and emotion.
I hear some Pop Punk influence, but there’s a heavier edge to these guys too. They take from the 90’s grunge scene and remind me in some ways of the amazing Irish band THERAPY?, who are also difficult to put into one category.
The singles “Dead To Me” and “Terminal” are both very solid cuts. They’re perfect for radio airplay but can but turned up even louder in a live setting. They can do the slower stuff too like “Another Day” and “Tomorrow” is a sleeper cut that has some traces of OFFSPRING in the mix.
“The March” actually took me by surprise, in a good way. It was essentially an all out Modern Metal track that took it’s cues from the Metallica Black album, mostly in the pacing of the cut. It shows that this band has many dimensions.
“Play The Victim” was another solid rocker that leaned more into a traditional Hard Rock sound. I literally think any rock fan of any era would appreciate this track and most of the other cuts on the album.
If I have any advice for the band, keep doing what you’re doing. If they get signed to a major label, they might try to narrow their sound down a bit but I personally like the diversity. And even though they have songs that have different styles it’s still SLEEP IN MOTION, they have a great vibe and if I were them I’d keep hammering away at that, write great hooks and keep slugging away.
I highly recommend this to ANY rock or Metal fan, you might not love every song but you are getting some great quality work from a band that obviously has the passion to do great things!
Hailing from Nottingham, England and born in 2021, the band feature Ryan Brooks (Vocals/Guitar), Lewis Brade (Bass), and Alex Smith (Drums/Percussion). From the get-go, SLEEP IN MOTION set out a manifesto to create loud, distorted, groove-laden music that is energetic and still maintains hooky sensibilities. When listening to the rising alt-rockers, you’ll find that the engrossing trio have more than met their brief. With a slew of influences ranging from Alter Bridge and Avenged Sevenfold to Alice in Chains and Nirvana, SLEEP IN MOTION are a band loaded with acrimony, frustration and belligerence which provides an intensely absorbing lyrical base for their musical endeavours.
SLEEP IN MOTION started brightly and released their debut EP, Recreated, at the start of 2022. The release helped to create early awareness of the band’s guile and notable appeal. The post-grungers impressively expanded their discography and fanbase with their sophomore EP, Separate, which hit platforms earlier this year. As well as creating a striking body of recorded work, the Brit hard-hitters are quickly becoming renowned for their live performances. They pour out their heart and soul into each show, channeling their emotion and energy into creating an immersive and unforgettable experience for audiences. Word is now spreading, and an army of followers are quickly building.
The stage is now set for the band’s upward trajectory with their forthcoming debut album, Existential, which has all the markings of a breakthrough release. Packed with a hatful of potential singles, pounding riffs, thoughtful songwriting and emotive lyrics, the record is poised to elevate the band to the forefront of the UK scene. With a raft of live shows planned for the rest of the year, it’s now time for SLEEP IN MOTION to shine.
SLEEP IN MOTION live: Nov 10 – Nottingham Rough Trade; Nov 11 – Newcastle Upon Tyne Little Rooms; Nov 17 – York The Vaults; Nov 18 – Manchester Retro Bar; Dec 8 – Bideford The Palladium Club; Dec 9 – Torquay The Apple and Parrot; Dec 16 – Leicester The Soundhouse.<
Album track listing: 1. Dead To Me; 2. Enemy; 3. Terminal; 4. Another Day; 5. Tomorrow; 6. The March; 7. Play The Victim; 8. The Edge; 9. Walk Away; 10. Nothing Left To Say.
https://linktr.ee/SleepInMotion
