When Sleep Token took to the main stage at the 2025 Download Festival alongside punk legends Green Day and nu-metal pioneers Korn, opinions on their headlining slot were sharply divided. The band, known for their enigmatic presence and genre-blending style, had only been active since 2016, making their rapid ascent to festival headliner a point of contention among fans and critics alike. Yet, amid the debate, Korn’s Brian “Head” Welch and James “Munky” Shaffer stepped up to staunchly defend the rising stars, urging detractors to reconsider their skepticism.
Speaking on BBC Radio 1’s Rock Show with Daniel P. Carter, Welch addressed the criticism head-on. “I love it because all these people – I don’t know how many – [were like] ‘Sleep Token… headlining?’ Some people were saying they’re too young to be able to headline so quick,” he said. “And they came with that stage? Shut everybody up. They went bigger than a Slipknot stage, man.” The impressive stage setup, which transformed the Download Festival’s main stage into an intricate cliff face, was widely praised, with Metal Hammer and Kerrang! highlighting its ambitious design that elevated Sleep Token’s performance to a spectacle few expected from a band so new to the scene.
Shaffer echoed his bandmate’s sentiments, recalling a moment of foresight from two years prior. “I did say that,” he admitted, referring to a 2023 Aftershock festival where he watched Sleep Token perform. “These guys are gonna be headlining this thing in two years’ time.” His prediction came true, and he celebrated Sleep Token’s rapid rise, contrasting it with Korn’s own long journey. “Korn have grinded for nearly 30 years to earn their headline spot, while Sleep Token only formed in 2016,” he noted, underscoring the remarkable speed of their ascent.
Shaffer also praised Sleep Token’s musical prowess, particularly their 2025 album Even In Arcadia. Released in May, the album drew mixed reviews but undeniable attention. While NME awarded it a dazzling five stars, Pitchfork was less enthusiastic, giving it a 2.3 rating and coining the term “djentrification” to criticize its commercialized use of djent elements. Despite this split, Shaffer was unequivocal: “The new record is incredible. So it’s not only the stage – you can do that all day long – but they got the songs to back it up.”
Indeed, Even In Arcadia has been a commercial triumph. It topped the UK’s Official Albums Chart shortly after release and became Sleep Token’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The album also set a new vinyl sales record for a hard rock release over the past two years, selling 47,000 copies and surpassing the previous record held by Ghost’s Skeletá, which sold 44,000 units. This commercial success further solidified Sleep Token’s claim to headliner status, proving their appeal extends beyond just a niche fanbase.
Andy Copping, founder of Download Festival and Director of Sleep Token’s management company, Future History Management, defended the decision to place Sleep Token at the top of the bill earlier this year. “When Wembley went on sale and sold out in 10 minutes I was like, ‘This is beyond anything that anyone could have thought in terms of their popularity explosion,’” he told Kerrang! “This is their moment, this is their time. We, as a festival, have to be bringing bands through and believe in what we’re doing, but we don’t do it in a haphazard way… I think that any detractors, when they see it, will get it. They’ll understand what it’s all about.”
Copping emphasized the dynamic nature of Sleep Token’s live show, predicting that even skeptics would be won over. “I think they’ll win over non-fans at Download with how dynamic the show is. Out of curiosity people will watch, and mark my words, they’ll say after they play, ‘I was not familiar, but they’re now my new favourite band.’ They have something about them that’s going to win people over. People will become part of the gathering, part of the Worship.”
He also contextualized Sleep Token’s rapid rise within music history, noting that many iconic bands gained massive traction after just one or two records. “Guns N’ Roses exploded on album number one,” he said, “and Nirvana exploded on album number two.” Sleep Token’s trajectory, in his view, fits this pattern of lightning-in-a-bottle moments that can redefine a scene.
Support for Sleep Token’s headlining slot extended beyond Korn and festival organizers. Doc Coyle of God Forbid voiced his defense in Metal Hammer, urging fans to be less entrenched in their opinions. “Like what you like. Hate what you hate. But I think we’d all be healthier if we weren’t so protective and defined by our outspoken contempt,” he wrote, highlighting the divisive nature of the band’s reception but calling for open-mindedness.
Sleep Token’s enigmatic identity and unique sound, blending alternative metal with pop and ambient elements, continue to polarize listeners. Yet their commercial success and high-profile performances, including their drummer’s upcoming appearance at Black Sabbath’s charity gig at Villa Park on July 5, 2025, demonstrate their growing influence within the rock and metal community.
Despite the backlash from some quarters, Korn’s vocal support and Sleep Token’s impressive achievements suggest that this young band’s moment in the spotlight is well-earned. As the Download Festival’s 2025 headliners showed, sometimes it takes bold choices to capture the evolving landscape of music and bring fresh energy to legendary stages.
