It is Halloween, and what better time to receive a visit from Metal’s marauders of the moment, Sleep Token. Or at least their foremost tribute band, Sleep Broken. The ritualistic and lore-heavy presentation of the industry-leading talents could not be a better fit for the spookiest night of the year.
Sleep Broken
The Meeting Place, Barrow-in-Furness – 31 October 2025
Words And Photography: Matt Pratt
It has been quite the breakthrough year for Sleep Token. Massive arena tours paired with headline slots at some of the planet’s biggest festivals, including our very own Download, have cemented their place atop the Heavy Metal mountain.
Their success has been so prominent that they have been afforded an honour typically reserved for the icons of music, their very own tribute act. 
Sleep Token’s image is one of their most powerful assets, so it stands to reason they would protect it with all their might. This makes it all the more impressive that Sleep Broken are allowed to perform freely behind the iconic masks, a potent seal of approval.
A stone’s throw away from the Lake District, Barrow-In-Furness has no shortage of beautiful open space and breathtaking views. However, where the small town benefits from peace and nature, it often misses out on offerings of live music.
With only a handful of intimate venues in the town, and the nearest Arena-size space no less than 100 miles away, each show must be savoured.
The Barrovians got the memo, as the Halloween spirit takes hold of The Meeting Place, with costumes ranging from Corey Taylor to Daft Punk to Deadpool and Wolverine. With so much effort invested in the costumes, the crowd are in it for the long haul, desperately waiting for the headline act.
You may have thought a masked band on Halloween would consider themselves lucky that their very identity is fitting for the celebration, and no further effort needs to be made.
No such laziness for Sleep Broken as all four members enter the stage, each dressed as a different member of the Mario franchise, on top of their trademark Sleep Token uniforms.
In an industry where expression of emotion is paramount, masks could be considered a hindrance, despite their visual appeal. In spite of this, Sleep Broken arguably show more emotion than most, their expressive, bombastic behaviour onstage makes everything feel heightened, whether it be slapstick comedy or emotive sincerity.
The first half of the show goes by exactly as dreamt. Sonically, the band matches the real article with such proficiency that one could easily believe they are the very same. Maybe they are?
Pulling out all the hits, the appetite of the attendees is met plentifully, with tracks such as Emergence, Hypnosis and The Offering filling the sweltering room.
Just as things are in full swing and it seems nothing can go wrong, what seems to be technical difficulties plague a rendition of Emergence just as they had for Groblin And The Ballistics earlier in the evening.
The band recover well and leave the stage upon completion of the song for an unusual but seemingly planned intermission, a great opportunity to get outside for some respite from the oppressive heat.
As the band returns, it is clear that things are not going as planned. The four-piece resurface as a trio, and as they are reintroduced, it is explained that frontman Bessel is unable to perform.
For most shows, this would be a dealbreaker. Few can boast a backup vocalist, let alone one with the signature sound that Bessel possesses, but the three march bravely on, sharing vocal responsibilities between them.
Despite the impactful interruptions, the remaining members of the band do an incredible job. Bassist Biii takes the bulk of singing responsibilities and, with little more than a mobile phone for lyrical support, pulls off a rendition that Vessel himself could feel proud of.
Drummer Bii also offers his support to vocal duties, and the mood on the stage shifts dramatically to that of support and camaraderie. It is a difficult moment, but they are in this together, and they are doing a magnificent job.
The dramatic story of the evening culminates in perfect fashion, our fallen frontman emerges for the final two songs of the set to deliver Caramel and Euclid, with a face bursting with remorse and thanks, deeply moved by the support of the engaged crowd and the efforts of his brothers, who kept the show going in his absence.
As the band take their bows and once again thank the crowd for their dedication throughout a tumultuous set, you cannot help but reflect on the atmosphere of the evening.
The expectation would be that music does not often reach Barrow-In-Furness because there is no audience to be found there, but that could not be less true.
In a town with limited access to the popular alternative culture that thrives in our cities, it can be difficult to fully own your identity. This is why it is essential to keep offering these spaces to those who need them and foster an environment that encourages new acts from all corners of the country. 
Tonight was all treat, no trick, and while the bands experienced some horror stories on stage this evening, the fond memories of a job well done will not be haunting anyone anytime soon.
Groblin And The Ballistics
Opening the evening’s entertainment, we have local band Groblin And The Ballistics. It is incredibly reassuring to see a hometown band take this opportunity to get the word out about their infant project while getting vital live show experience.
This is what grassroots music is about, and this is what keeps our scene so fresh and exciting.
From the second the band walk on stage, you are engaged largely by the unexpected attire of the lead vocalist. Complementing his beard is a full Glinda The Good Witch costume, complete with wig and tiara, a bit of foreshadowing for the Wicked time we are about to have.
While undoubtedly part of the same Metal umbrella, Groblin And The Ballistics have a much heavier offering akin to the likes of Slaughter To Prevail, and though they are still making their first steps into a crowded Metalcore market, they would stylistically fit comfortably in a support slot for bands like Bury Tomorrow or Thy Art Is Murder.
It can be difficult to tame a bustling room of gig goers as a support act, but attention was neatly grasped by the incredibly comfortable looking quartet.
The dramatic gesturing of the frontman and the ceaseless erratic movement of the bassist ensured there was never a dull moment, which, paired with the tight musical presentation, in spite of technical difficulties, really emphasised the talent we have on our hands.
Though Metal 2 The Masses does not venture so far as this remote corner of the country, I have no difficulty imagining Groblin And The Ballistics taking to the New Blood stage for the next edition of Bloodstock festival, and I do not think it will be awfully long before that premonition becomes reality.
