Constantly gaining acclaim and upgrading venues multiple times during their very first UK tour is a great way to start a career and Sleep Theory shows that they start as they mean to go on. Selling out The Ritz in Manchester is no small feat for a band of this level of scale and experience and if this show is any indication of Sleep Theory‘s trajectory, they’re only going to get bigger. The Pretty Wild also joined as main support.
The Pretty Wild went first and they got the crowd sufficiently amped for a night of emo-tinged hardcore complete with pulverising riffs and brilliant vocal harmonies. Despite having no bassist, the low end is really dense and carries some serious weight to it. You can genuinely feel it in your chest at times with tracks like ‘Omens‘ which feels like a mix of Bad Omens and Wargasm, complete with a head-smashing breakdown.
This is The Pretty Wild‘s first time in the UK and they made a stellar first impression as they dispelled the notion that “metal is traditionally for men”, a wholly ridiculous statement in the first place, which was met with boos and hisses. Metal is for everybody and they absolutely know that as they put in the work to create a welcoming, safe space for everyone.
There’s quite a bit of variety in The Pretty Wild‘s sound with the dual vocal attack of sisters Jyl and Jules Wylde mirroring the likes of Wargasm on ‘Living Ded‘ and the hefty and occasionally intricate guitar work giving In Flames vibes on tracks like ‘Vessul‘. If you’re in need of some pure female rage and some egregiously heavy modern metal riffing then The Pretty Wild are absolutely up your alley. Check out their debut album Zero Point Genesis.
Next up was Sleep Theory and, riding high on all the momentum they’ve developed, they blasted straight into a high-octane set in Manchester complete with amazing visuals and a phenomenal light show. The mix is brilliant and you could feel the bass in your chest on phenomenon-heavy tracks like ‘Fallout‘ and ‘Enough‘, which also demonstrated how much energy the band could exude with bassist Paolo Vergara doing his insane high kicks.
The raucous punk energy of ‘Hourglass‘ and the bouncy yet aggressive ‘Just a Mistake‘ contrast beautifully against the R&B-driven anthems like ‘Gravity‘ and the beautiful lighters-out ballad ‘Afterglow‘. There’s truly something for everyone at a Sleep Theory show and the pacing and structure is well thought out, which is all the more impressive for a band of young whippersnappers.
Sleep Theory‘s best asset is the smooth and soulful vocals of Cullen Moore. His ability to switch between emotive and anthemic is showcased beautifully on tracks like ‘It’s Over‘ and the soon-to-be iconic emo playlist mainstay ‘Words Are Worthless‘. There are plenty of sadboi tracks to choose from but a personal favourite is ‘Gone or Stayin’‘ which manages to maintain that same upbeat rock energy while carrying the classic, iconic somber strain we’ve come to love about emo music.
As is customary for a newer band on a headline tour, Sleep Theory performed several covers which shed some light on their musical backgrounds. These included ‘Bye Bye Bye‘ by NSYNC, ‘Can You Stand the Rain‘ by Boyz II Men and a Taylor Swift cover, because those seem to translate to rock versions fairly fluently.
The standout cover was ‘My Heart‘ by Paramore, featuring stunning, emotive vocals as well as a really sweet and charming story about how bassist Paolo Vergara and vocalist Cullen Moore met and how that song became important to them. The crowd was even informed that a married couple in the audience had their first dance to it. Many would struggle to comprehend just how important music is to people but it really is a powerful medium.
The show closed with the powerful, autotune-laden rager ‘Static‘. Pure power without sacrificing melody or catchiness, it genuinely has the potential to cross over into mainstream consciousness but for now, it remains something of a well-kept secret. Many will see the inclusion of autotune as a cardinal sin but it’s a tool that can be abused and here, it’s a brilliant stylistic choice.
Overall, it’s amazing to see a band as new as Sleep Theory gaining momentum at such a pace. This is their first UK headline tour and seeing them sell out and upgrade their Manchester show twice is awe-inspiring. 2026 is off to a great start and it’s only February. Stream Sleep Theory‘s new album Afterglow and with any luck, they’ll be back on our shores before long.
