SLEEPING WITH SIRENS // On Returning To Their Roots For Album Number 7 'Complete Collapse'

Considering the metal world has seemingly taken a sharp turn into the realm of pop over the last few years, it comes as quite a surprise that one of the heavier albums to drop as of late is the newest Sleeping With Sirens.

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As one of the acts at the forefront of the pop/screamo cross over for over a decade now, many would assume that Complete Collapse would be an album that comfortably fits the mould of modern metalcore. Instead, it’s unflinching in its approach, with SWS arguably reserving their heaviest work to date for their seventh full length release.

But whilst the changeup may have come as a surprise for many listeners, it was a very intentional move for the band, who at this point just “wanted to take it back to basics.” A notion which has been reflected by their National US run, in which the band has taken to returning to the intimate club shows that they cut their teeth on.

“The shows so far have been wild,” reflects the group’s long standing guitarist Nick Martin.

“We just finished soundcheck for a show tonight and it’s probably the smallest room we have played in a really, really long time. The stage is so tiny that I’ll literally be nuts to butts with Matty. But it’s so tight, that’s the reason we wanted to do this tour, just to keep it really punk rock and going back to our roots.”

“It’s how all of us started out, so we really wanted to capture that feeling again.”

A statement that rings especially true, with the band quickly squeezing in a chat before their headline show at the revered underground Anaheim club Chain Reaction.

“It’s honestly the venue that I started out in,” states Martin, “back in my old band many, many moons ago, we used to exchange shows with Avenged Sevenfold at the Chain.

Only recently we’ve been debating what our setlist is going to look like for both When We Were Young Fest and Good Things. At the start we weren’t sure what new songs to play or if we should just play older songs, but I think we are pretty confident now that the new songs have really been crushing it.
[ Nick Martin ]

“It’s really crazy to have such a full circle moment by playing there again. It’s been a really awesome and humbling experience.”

A statement affirmed by the group’s drummer Matty Best, who first joined Sleeping With Sirens in 2020 after the announcement of Tonight Alive’s touring hiatus.

“My first show in the States was at Chain Reaction,” laughs Best whilst realising how Martin’s full circle moment also applies to himself.

“That would have been 12 years ago or something with Tonight Alive, so it’s quite nostalgic for me too.”

“I think that’s the great thing about this album as well,” he continues, “the song’s on it can easily be adapted to smaller venues as well as to large scale festivals.”

“Only recently we’ve been debating what our setlist is going to look like for both When We Were Young Fest and Good Things. At the start we weren’t sure what new songs to play or if we should just play older songs, but I think we are pretty confident now that the new songs have really been crushing it.”

“I’ve literally noticed a difference since the record came out last Thursday,” agrees Martin,

“In the week of shows that we have played leading up until now, every single night the new songs are getting louder. Fans have been learning the words really quickly and we can already hear and see that response every night.”

With it only being a month until Sleeping With Sirens hit our shores for Good Things, it’s only a matter of time until we can witness just how insane their new live show is, but according to the group, we won’t be waiting as long for them to come back for another trip, with Best confirming (through a wink) that 2023 may even see an intimate club tour heading our way as well. I guess we can only hope.