"Paper Hearts" By Sleep Theory (EP Review)

After becoming a viral sensation on social media, Sleep Theory has quickly taken over the rock scene with their unique blend of R&B and metalcore elements. Vocalist Cullen Moore, Bassist Paolo Vergara, Guitarist Daniel Pruitt, and Drummer Ben Pruitt, all contribute to the band's rare sound with three of the members having the potential to front. The brutality, the serenity, the riffs, and the melodies, give the band a nostalgic 2000’s nu-metal-esque feel which has since seen a reemergence of popularity in recent times.

The “Paper Hearts” EP contains six tracks combining various styles of rap, R&B, rock, and metal components contributing to its immediate success. Killer fry screams embodying edgy metal techniques and smooth rhythm blue vocals create a hypnotizing mix of sounds that go hand in hand throughout the duration of the EP, giving listeners the best of both worlds. The band states “Paper Hearts is not just music; it's our story, our passion, and our dreams set to sound." (qt via. Epitaph Records website) reminding listeners that the best is yet to come.

The tracks are as follows:

1. Fallout      3:17

2. Enough     3:29

3. Another Way     3:37

4. Gone or Staying     3:30

5. Numb    3:35

6. It’s Over     3:50

1. “Fallout”: Fallout being one of the more popular tracks on the EP makes more than enough sense. It gives a very radio rock vibe and accompanied by Cullens dominating vocals alongside Daniel’s piercing fry’s it's hard not to begin nodding your head with every bump of the song. It’s catchy, melodic, and a great song overall. Final Rating, 8.5/10

2. “Enough”: The opening riff immediately catches listeners attention with the chunkiness of the melody only to be quickly quieted by lead vocals. Then it comes back full force only to be silenced again. A never ending chase of harmonies with powerful chords, This track has just the right amount of push and pull never losing the listeners attention. Final Rating, 8.5/10

3. “Another Way : The chop/trap snare beat at the beginning immediately pulls listeners in and continues to do so throughout the track. The mix of trap beats and rock melodies can easily overpower each other creating dissonance, but this track manages to blend the two in a melodically captivating way. Final Rating, 9/10

4. “Gone or Staying”: This distinctive track is the meaning of R&B meets metalcore and it couldn't be more spectacular. We begin to hear a gruffer side of Cullens vocal range in this track, met with Paolo’s vocals in the background (a personal favorite part of the song) and they create a type of call and response melody when Cullen sings only to have the counter melody of Paolo’s vocals swoop in and change the direction of attention. Daniel’s fry’s and gutturals can also be heard throughout the duration of the song making for a perfect touch of darkness to draw balance to all the high harmonies. Final Rating, 10/10

5. “Numb”: As another more popular track on the EP, the lyrics are what draw the most attention to this track. We are once again met with a chop/trap snare beat mixed into the background of chunky riffs, buzzing synth, and relaxing rhythm blues. The breakdown on this track seems to be the nastiest of all the others, giving this song another reason for its popularity. Final Rating, 9.5/10

6. “It’s Over”: The final track on the EP depicts a melancholy end to a romantic relationship which most people relate to, and it conveys the emotions of a calm after a storm. This track is definitely the most toned down of the EP while still keeping its rock edge. It’s beautiful, hopeful, tragic and bittersweet, all while still keeping the balance between light and dark. Final rating, 9.5/10

Album Rating Overall: 9.5/10 

Sleep Theory’s “Paper Hearts” EP was a rollercoaster of emotions keeping listeners on their toes throughout the entirety of the listening process. The guitar tone is chunky, the drums are killer, the bass sits right under balancing all the harmonies, and the vocals just top off the song’s like a cherry on top. This EP deserves all the attention it’s getting on social media, and I’m sure most people can agree that the mixing of different genre styles is refreshing. Sleep Theory has managed to successfully create some of the best music in the scene right now and it'll be an amazing experience to see where they go from here. Best of luck to them on their musical journey, and we hope to see more from them in the near future!