Palm Reader’s trajectory to date has been nothing short of astounding; from their humble beginnings playing house shows in the sleepy commuter towns of Surrey, to supporting Glassjaw at the world renowned Brixton Academy. If it’s not already abundantly clear at this point, in their best part of a decade together, that this band possesses something special then Palm Reader in 2020 are poised to indelibly mark themselves out as expert purveyors of their craft.

This success did not come without hard work and incredible musical talent, of course. The band have been honing their sound tirelessly over the years through three critically acclaimed albums, fighting tooth and nail to win over fans around the world by playing festivals such as Download, Pukkelpop and Greenfield (to name but a few). All the while touring the same club show circuits that their peers such as Rolo Tomassi, Employed To Serve and Black Peaks established themselves in. Theirs is a hard won reverence that has posited them as bonafide contenders for modern metal and the underground at large’s title for most revered band.

Sleepless marks yet another sonic evolution for the Nottingham-based quintet; every successive release, from 2013’s Bad Weather to 2018’s critically acclaimed Braille, has shown progression, each album building upon the last without ever compromising the band’s ideals. Guitarist Andy Gillan is direct and to the point when he says ‘I don’t believe it’s healthy for musicians to write the same thing over and over again because as soon as bands find their formula, they become crap!’

On Sleepless, Palm Reader utilise ambient textures and swirling atmospherics which act as the complimentary yang to the band’s vicious yin. These extra elements are no mere garnish but integral parts of the musical landscape.

With Sleepless, Palm Reader capitalises and makes do on the promise of their previous material. The more seething barrages of metal found in their sound remain intact and their penchant for melody is more fine-tuned and purposeful, expounding on their inarguably growing appeal to fans old and new. Most importantly, however, the five-piece’s reputation finally stands unwavering in its own credibility as much as hard earned mythology.