The Arts Club in Liverpool often feels like a miniature amphitheater, what with its steeply stepped forum and decorated auditorium, so it seems a fitting venue for such a theatrical band as Sleep Token to bring their mysterious act to bear.

Local act Exploring Birdsong are an intriguing addition to the prog scene. The late 2019 release of their EP “The Thing With Feathers” has pushed them more explicitly into the limelight, and support slots of this stature will only serve them well. There are few high-profile bands that they could align appropriately with, so to slip in alongside Sleep Token on this tour has been a true blessing. Lynsey Ward is undoubtedly an accomplished vocalist and pianist and, together with a very intense bass player, the performance is oozing with passion and emotive surges.

I’m not sure how necessary the additional two backing singers are, as Ward can carry this act herself, and whilst I guess I’d describe them chiefly as artily haunting…it does all honestly tread a fine line with self-indulgent wailing at times. The crowd seem to love them though, and they’ve been heralded as the future of prog, but I still think that though the artistry is impressive this doesn’t have the wider appeal or genuine eclectic genre-spanning elements to transcend a small but perfectly formed fanbase.

On the other-hand, there is a widespread appeal and hype for Sleep Token whose buzz and rise is both exponential and impressive. The “Sundowning” album release cycle is coming to a close with this tour, and that debut album appears to have only rocketed the band even quicker to success across the entire music scene. There’s a distinct feeling that we’re actually at a religious cult event as candles are lit around the stage prior to their ‘ritual’ (which is what they commonly call their performances), and there’s palpable anticipation in the crowd as the masked figures come on stage, each mask bearing an acronym of Sleep Token and ST in ancient runes.

Musically, they are meticulous in every element of their performance, which allows minimalist segments akin to Depeche Mode to sit alongside heavier tech-rock segments which remind me of VOLA. The sweeping melodies of Leprous also come to mind, but there is a hypnotic churning that leads me to memories of Nine Inch Nails. Many of the tracks build delightfully from crooning, atmospheric gentle beginnings to a crescendo of forceful, crushing yet soulful heaviness.

The crowd are a mix of people excitedly shaking, nodding, dancing and moshing, and even though there is a four-person background choir on stage (all wearing masks too of course), everyone is singing along to almost every word. They can’t drown out the enigmatic and most mysterious member of Sleep Token though – front-man Vessel. He is a deliberate and confident character physically on stage, his jerking movements driven with a swagger. But it’s his awe-inspiring vocals that captivate – they are warm, rich and velvety for the most part, but when they switch to a higher register or become more brutal they remain superb and allow the juxtaposition to shine a dynamic light on proceedings.

You step back and chart how Sleep Token’s career has progressed, both the speed of their rise and also the unquestionable quality of the product since the first time they stepped on stage, and you know that under those masks they must be experienced (and possibly already famous) musicians. That Vessel’s voice is so majestic and unique makes you think you could surely guess his identity. You could believe it’s Sam Smith, Bastille’s Dan Smith or Don Broco’s Rob Damiani, who all have equally fantastic voices and ranges. But I’m still at a loss as to who’s behind any of the masks, and to be honest it doesn’t matter because it’s the music that matters, and it’s taking us all to a new level. Believe.