Sleep Token's Sold Out 'Even In Arcadia' Tacoma Show Review

Photo credit: Bryan Reesman

Sleep Token’s stop at the Tacoma Dome was a soul-stirring experience that hit every emotional frequency possible. (Clearly, a fan). Between the insane atmosphere, the sea of cosplaying fans, and the way Vessel’s voice carried through the dome like a confession, it felt almost less like a concert and more like a shared awakening between fans and the band. This review dives into that night: from stepping off the train into Tacoma’s warm evening air, to the energy that was buzzing around the crowd, Thornhill’s impressive opener, and the pure, emotional take-over that was Sleep Token’s performance.

The day started with my sister Lauren and I catching the train up to Tacoma, and the closer we got, the more the anticipation built. Once we stepped off at the train station, you could already sense it, that pre-show electricity in the air. Fans in masks and merch were already filing toward the venue, the air was so thick with that mix of excitement and reverence a usual Sleep Token crowd carries. The dome itself felt taken over for the night, with literal lines wrapping around the Dome for pre-show merch, every corner loaded with fans. It was completely sold out (like all their shows, huge flex), and every second of waiting just added to the energy that was about to explode once those doors opened.

Thornhill opened the night, and honestly, what a perfect pairing. The Australian progressive metalcore band brought such a striking balance of emotion and heaviness that they pulled the crowd in instantly. Their performance felt sensual and stormy all at once. I’ve only had a few of their songs saved on Spotify before, but this set changed that real quick. The seats were already near full by the time they came on, which gave them the kind of crowd energy you’d typically see for headliners. Lauren and I agreed that Thornhill would be unreal in a smaller venue, where you could really feel that raw emotion up close. Still, they absolutely held their own on that stage for this massive crowd. The lighting for their set deserves its own shoutout, every flicker and color shift felt deliberate, totally making each song settled into its own mood. They closed out heavy, leaving everyone pretty hyped and ready for what was next.

Between sets, the arena filled with this eerie calm long stretch of storm sounds that were both soothing and anxiety-inducing (to people like me lol). It was actually... the perfect bridge. Sleep Token has always excelled at creating an atmosphere, and this was their way of inviting us into their world before they even stepped on stage. That ambient thunder rolled through the Dome, pulling everyone into like a weird silence, hearts racing for the main event.

Before the lights even dropped, one thing stood out: the community. After bouncing between BMTH, Aftershock, and now Sleep Token back-to-back, I’ve realized something special is happening right now in this music scene. There’s just so much love in the air, whether you want to act nonchalant about it or not. People were meeting online friends for the first time, swapping gifts in the parking lot, taking photos together, hyping each other up... it wasn’t just a concert crowd, it was like a crazy family reunion for people who didn’t even know they were related. It’s wild how music can do that.

Then, finally — the moment. Sorry it took me so long to get here.

Sleep Token opened with “Look to Windward,” which my friend Ryan had actually asked me to record, and it was perfection. The intro alone felt like a serious spiritual cleanse, petals falling endlessly from the sky, the band’s symbol burning into a silk screen that still separated us from the stage. Vessel’s voice came through soft but still that commanding type, echoing through the Dome alongside the crowd. When that screen dropped, the whole arena lost their minds. The stage looked like a mountain range, complete with cliffs and hidden corners where III and IV would move and play throughout the night. II was atop the whole mountain just killin it at what he does best.

Every song hit with its own emotion. The set was just so dynamic, there were moments of stillness followed by instant eruptions of sound that had everyone out of their seats and on their tippy-toes. Even when I couldn’t fully see the stage through all the raised hands, the sound alone was enough to take me somewhere else.

“Vore” was a standout literally just unreal live. It’s one of those songs that completely shifts your perception of a band once you’ve seen it performed in person. And when Vessel took to the keyboard for “Rain,” the stage began to flow with water, turning into a literal waterfall. It was one of the most breathtaking visuals I’ve ever seen at a show.

One of the most powerful moments came during “Damocles,” when fans lit up the Dome with orange and purple lights for Projekt Atlantic which is a fan-led tribute to show the band how deeply they’re loved. Seeing that glow spread across the crowd, reflecting off the stage, was beyond words. It’s one thing to see your favorite band perform; it’s another to feel them see you back.

Then came “Infinite Baths.” The song closed out in absolute instrumental perfection, Vessel returning to the stage with a guitar in hand as the whole band tore through the ending with masterclass poise and precision that it felt totally cinematic. It was the kind of finale that left everyone speechless, an emotional exhale that you didn’t even realize you’d been holding in the whole show.

The set seemed to fly by, one song tripping into the next, never giving any of us a chance to fully recover between each high. Even “Thread the Needle,” which I wouldn’t consider top track for me, felt larger than life. The production, the lighting, the energy they gave: it was all next level.

This Tacoma Dome show marked the end of my own little run of west coast concerts, and it couldn’t have been a more fitting finale. It was my second time seeing Sleep Token live, and while I wasn’t barricade this time, the magic was still there, just in a different angle. This tour showed just how fast Sleep Token is growing. Watching their rise feels like witnessing musical history in real time, and it fills me with so much pride: for the band, for the fans, and for this shared world we’ve built together.

As I left the Dome, the Sleep Token symbol was glowing behind me, we all packed onto that overcrowded bus (because $350 Ubers are criminal). It felt like closure, the end of a chapter, but one that leaves you so excited for whatever comes next.

For now, the band’s set to hit Oakland then Los Angeles, before closing out the tour. But for anyone who caught this round of stops... pshh ... you know. You felt it. And if you didn’t, just know that next time, it’s not a show to miss.