Led by the enigmatic vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and all-around mastermind known as Vessel, the masked, anonymous group Sleep Token appeared seemingly out of nowhere in 2016, fusing modern R&B sensibilities and hip-hop with a staccato metal barrage and Vessel’s Deftones-esque vocal delivery to create a musical landscape that blurs genres. Early single “Jaws” slithers between synth bubbles and a rim-shot backbeat before a tidal wave of guitars gives way to Vessel’s alluring vocal melody. The haunting piano melodies and chiming guitars of “Take Me Back to Eden” lead a dramatic vocal line into a churning metal maelstrom before Vessel spits some bars. “The Summoning” pummels with nu metal grooves before dropping into a glistening guitar solo and a soaring chorus. A spacey synth intro brings “Alkaline” into focus as it slow-burns into an angelic sing-along punctuated by a grinding stop-start guitar riff. Is it metal? Who cares? Sleep Token are building their own genre.