Caramel (Sleep Token song)

"Caramel"
Single by Sleep Token
from the album Even in Arcadia
Released	4 April 2025
Genre	Progressive metal reggaeton alternative R&B
Length	4:50
Label	RCA
Songwriters	Vessel II
Producer	Carl Bown
Sleep Token singles chronology
"Emergence" (2025) "Caramel" (2025) "Damocles" (2025)
Music video
"Caramel" on YouTube

"Caramel" is a song by anonymous English rock band Sleep Token, released on 4 April 2025 as the second single from their fourth studio album Even in Arcadia . The song became the band's first top 10 single in the UK and first top 40 single in the US. ^{[1] [2]} "Caramel" was nominated for a grammy for "Best Rock Performance" at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

Sleep Token teased the song via North Carolina weatherman Chris Michaels, who is known for referencing metal lyrics in his weather reports. Michaels posted a video on social media announcing a release from Sleep Token on March 27, 2025, following with two more on March 29 and April 2. Each teaser included a puzzle regarding the song in a weather segment for fans to guess and the date of the next update. ^[3]

Composition and lyrics

The instrumental begins as soft, soothing ^[4] and stripped-down for the first two minutes, ^[5] The song gradually incorporates poppy sounds as it adds more layers of instruments ^[6] and uses a pop-influenced chorus. ^[7] The pop-like sections are also paired with a reggaeton beat. ^[8] A breakdown in the style of metal (particularly deathcore) occurs three and a half minutes into the song. ^{[5] [7] [9]}

The lyrics find Vessel exploring his struggles with fame, ^{[8] [9]} including achieving it from music made from his own sadness ^[9] and dealing with fans attempting to uncover Sleep Token's real identities. ^{[4] [9]}

Accolades

Year	Organization	Category	Result	Ref.
2026	Grammy Awards	Best Rock Song	Pending	[10]

Charts

Chart performance for "Caramel"

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA) [11]	36
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [12]	59
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [13]	46
Ireland (IRMA) [14]	61
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) [15]	52
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [16]	28
Portugal (AFP) [17]	178
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) [18]	5
UK Singles (OCC) [19]	10
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [20]	1
US Billboard Hot 100 [21]	34
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [22]	6

References

1. Ambrosio, Isabella (2025-04-13). "SLEEP TOKEN Achieve First Top 10 Hit in The UK with "Caramel"". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
2. Rutherford, Kevin (2025-04-16). "Sleep Token Scores First Hot Hard Rock Songs No. 1 Debut With 'Caramel'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
3. "WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels collaborates with band, Sleep Token, ahead of single release". WRAL-TV . April 2, 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
4. Dunworth, Liberty (4 April 2025). "Sleep Token play with "real" identity on personal new single 'Caramel'". NME . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
5. Kaufman, Spencer (April 4, 2025). "Sleep Token Unveil New Song "Caramel": Stream". Consequence . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
6. Childers, Chad (April 4, 2025). "Here Are the Lyrics to Sleep Token's New Song 'Caramel'". Loudwire . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
7. Wilson-Taylor, James (April 4, 2025). "Sleep Token Drop New Offering 'Caramel'". Rock Sound . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
8. Thane Singer, Quentin (April 4, 2025). "Sleep Token Release Genre-Bending Single, "Caramel"". Forbes . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
9. Loo, Kevin (April 14, 2025). "On "Caramel," Sleep Token Address The Paradoxes Of Fame & The Importance Of Remaining Anonymous". Genius . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
10. Atkinson, Katie (2025-11-07). "Grammy Nominations 2026: See the Complete List". Billboard . Retrieved 2025-11-07.
11. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
12. "Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
13. "Billboard Global 200". Billboard . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
14. "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 15, 2025)". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
15. "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Apr 24, 2025". TopHit . Retrieved 25 April 2025.
16. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
17. "Top 200 Streams Semana 15 de 2025" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 10. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
18. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 15, 2025". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved April 18, 2025.
19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
20. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
21. "Billboard Hot 100™". Billboard . Retrieved 17 April 2025.
22. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of April 19, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved 17 April 2025.