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Emergence (song)

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"Emergence"
Single by Sleep Token
from the album Even in Arcadia
Released13 March 2025 (2025-03-13)
Genre
Length6:26
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
  • Vessel
  • II
Producer(s)Carl Bown
Sleep Token singles chronology
"DYWTYLM"
(2023) 		"Emergence"
(2025) 		"Caramel"
(2025)

"Emergence" is a song by English rock band Sleep Token. Written by the band's frontman Vessel and drummer II, it was produced by Carl Bown and released as the lead single from the band's upcoming fourth album Even in Arcadia on 13 March 2025, their first release for RCA Records. The track was Sleep Token's first to register on the main singles charts in both the UK and the US, reaching number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background and release

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After sharing several "teasers" for new material over the previous weeks, Sleep Token released "Emergence" as the first song from their upcoming fourth album Even in Arcadia on 13 March 2025.[5] The single marked the band's first release through RCA Records, with whom they had signed in 2024.[6] The track was accompanied by a visualiser video which depicts a green banner with a coat of arms and three axes, standing amid a "flowery pink landscape", slowly burning as the song plays.[7]

Composition and style

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"Emergence" is described by NME reviewer Rishi Shah as a "sprawling" and "genre-defying" song in the same vein as Take Me Back to Eden tracks "Ascensionism" and "Take Me Back to Eden".[3] Shah writes in his review of the single that the track begins with "soul-stirring piano and divine guitar" which carry "the hallmarks of a more blissful new chapter", before transitioning into heavier sections including "Avenged Sevenfold-esque guitar tapping and trap-pop cadences", followed by "one signature, heaven-sent chorus" and finally "an extended jazz outro".[3] Revolver identified similar compositional elements, noting the track's opening with "soulful vocals, sparse piano and ambient hum", which is then followed by "skittering electronic beats", "heavy downtuned riffage" and an "epic climax".[7]

In a feature published by Rock Sound, conductor Edwin Outwater described "Emergence" as "a prog metal ballad" which later "transforms into something new and something different"; composer and music professor Shaun Michaud likened its style to pop music; and classic music commentator Kyle MacDonald highlighted "the drama of the shifts in the instrumentation, from piano, to gentle guitar, then to full metal orchestration".[1] In a feature analysing the song's lyrical content, Revolver writer Gregory Adams suggested that "The vibe [of the song] seems to hinge on people being on the precipice of a major change, Vessel explaining that it's time to "come out from underneath who you were... You know that it's time to emerge"".[8]

Critical reception

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Media response to "Emergence" was positive. Rishi Shah gave the single four out of five stars in a review published by the NME, claiming that the song "showcases the arena-slaying masked metallers at their sprawling, genre-defying best".[3] Revolver magazine called the track "stunning",[7] while Quentin Thane Singer of Forbes dubbed it "another great offering" and "very dynamic".[4]

Commercial performance

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Upon its release, "Emergence" became Sleep Token's first song to register on the UK Singles Chart, debuting at number 17.[9] It was also the band's first song to reach the top 10 of the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart, peaking at number one, and debuted at number 30 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart, number 31 on the UK Streaming Chart, and number 32 on the UK Singles Sales Chart.[9] The single was also the band's first to register on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, debuting at number 57 after receiving 9.9 million streams in the US during its first week (as well as topping the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart and reaching number seven on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart).[2] Elsewhere, "Emergence" reached number 38 in Australia,[10] number 78 in Canada,[11] and number 81 in Ireland.[12]

Personnel

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Personnel credits adapted from Tidal.[13]

  • Carl Bown — production, engineering, mixing
  • Jim Pinder — engineering
  • Adam "Nolly" Getgood — additional studio production
  • Sebastian Sendon — additional engineering, drum editing
  • Ste Kerry — mastering
  • Gabi Rose — saxophone

Charts

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Chart performance for "Emergence"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 38
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 78
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 80
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 81
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[17] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 17
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[19] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 57
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 7
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[22] 17

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Wilson-Taylor, James (24 March 2025). "Musical Experts Analyse Sleep Token's 'Emergence'". Rock Sound. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (26 March 2025). "Sleep Token's 'Emergence' Chart Debut: Behind the Metal Band's Success". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Shah, Rishi (13 March 2025). "Sleep Token's new single 'Emergence' proves metal's new kings remain fearless as ever". NME. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b Singer, Quentin Thane (13 March 2025). "Sleep Token Announce Single 'Emergence' Alongside 2025 Album And U.S. Tour". Forbes. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  5. ^ Carter, Emily (13 March 2025). "Sleep Token announce new album Even In Arcadia, release lead single Emergence". Kerrang!. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Even on 'Billboard': Sleep Token debuts on Hot 100 with 'Emergence'". KPNT. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Sleep Token announce new album 'Even In Arcadia' with stunning single "Emergence"". Revolver. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  8. ^ Adams, Gregory (13 March 2025). "Read mystical lyrics to Sleep Token's "Emergence"". Revolver. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Sleep Token songs and albums: Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  10. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for week of 24 March 2025". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of March 29, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Emergence by Sleep Token - Music Charts". acharts.co. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Emergence / Sleep Token / Credits". Tidal. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference CANcharts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of March 29, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Irish Singles Chart: Week 12 2025 - Week Ending 28 Mar 2025". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Billboard Hot 100™". Billboard. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  22. ^ "Sleep Token Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
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