Sleep Theory’s debut album ‘Afterglow’ ushers in a heavier era for the band

Recommended tracks: “Gravity,” “Static,” “Stuck In My Head”
Artists you may like: Rain City Drive, Catch Your Breath, Magnolia Park

Rising from the heart of Memphis, Sleep Theory has rapidly evolved into one of the most compelling bands in alternative rock. With the release of their debut album Afterglow, the band — comprising vocalist Cullen Moore, guitarist/screamer Daniel Pruitt, bassist Paolo Vergara, and drummer Ben Pruitt — delivers a collection that’s as emotionally vulnerable as it is sonically explosive.

Following the success of their 2023 breakout EP Paper Hearts and their viral single “Stuck in My Head,” Afterglow is a bold leap forward into a harder, more rock sound for the band. Fusing alt-metal, nu-metal, and R&B-tinged rock, it’s clear the polished alt-rock we heard on Paper Hearts has grown louder, heavier, and more unapologetically rock.

Afterglow finds Sleep Theory leaning hard into their heavier instincts, with sharpened guitars, more breakdowns, and more additions of guitarist Daniel Pruitt’s guttural screams. Tracks like “Static,” “III,” and “Hourglass” explode with energy and deep growls, pairing Moore’s soulful vocals with Pruitt’s aggression. These songs showcase the direction the band is heading in while balancing chaos and clarity in a way that few debut albums manage.

But Sleep Theory isn’t content with just going heavy on their new album; they also explore moments of vulnerability with surprising nuance and a softer side of things. “Gravity” and “Afterglow” slow the pace, offering softer textures and a more palatable R&B and rock sound. “Gravity,” a song the band premiered mere hours before the album release, brings a genre-blurring R&B-meets-twang vocal approach that’s unexpectedly not rock, but it works. Meanwhile, “Afterglow,” a song the band premiered at their first headlining show in Memphis in late 2024, reflects on the aftermath of love. Together, they provide a crucial emotional breather in the record’s center, showcasing the band’s versatility and allowing Moore’s vocals to take front stage.

Throughout the album, themes of inner conflict and toxic cycles repeat like echoes in a chamber. “Paralyzed” and “Numb” wrestle with trauma and emotional numbness, while “Just a Mistake” and “Words Are Worthless” touch on miscommunication and the futility of trying to fix what’s already broken. Despite the dark subject matter, there’s a cathartic release in how these moments are delivered: punchy, heartfelt, and honest.

Production-wise, Afterglow is clean but not sterile. The mix lets every element breathe: Moore’s voice soars without drowning out the aggression beneath it, and Pruitt’s screams cut through with purpose rather than shock value. It’s a dynamic push and pull that defines the entire record — a move that is bold and works for Sleep Theory.

With Afterglow, Sleep Theory successfully connects alt-metal, nu-metal, and modern rock, all while maintaining an emotional core that feels personal and authentic, something Sleep Theory has done from the beginning.

In support of the album, Sleep Theory is embarking on their first-ever headlining tour, The Afterglow Tour. The tour, which kicks off directly following the band’s performance at Welcome to Rockville, will start on May 20 in Alabama, and hit major cities such as Denver, Chicago, Syracuse, and Nashville, culminating in a hometown performance at Memphis’ iconic Minglewood Hall on June 28. The band will be joined by supporting acts Nevertel, Oxymorrons, and Stray View.

Tickets for “The Afterglow Tour” are available through Sleep Theory’s official website. VIP and GA tickets are expected to sell fast and will be available at Soundrink.

The Afterglow Tour:
May 20 // Birmingham, AL // WORKPLAY
May 21 // Mobile, AL // Soul Kitchen Music Hall
May 23 // Corpus Christi, TX // Brewster Street Ice House
May 27 // El Paso, TX // Lowbrow Palace
May 28 // Tempe, AZ // Marquee Theatre
May 29 // Las Vegas, NV // Brooklyn Bowl | Las Vegas
May 30 // Anaheim, CA // House of Blues | Anaheim
May 31 // Reno, NV // Virginia Street Brewhouse
June 3 // Boise, ID // Knitting Factory | Boise
June 4 // Spokane, WA // Knitting Factory | Spokane
June 7 // Colorado Springs, CO // The Black Sheep
June 8 // Denver, CO // Summit
June 10 // Lincoln, NE // The Bourbon Theatre
June 11 // Minneapolis, MN // Varsity Theater
June 13 // Madison, WI // The Majestic Theatre | Madison
June 14 // Chicago, IL // House of Blues | Chicago
June 15 // Detroit, MI // St. Andrew’s Hall
June 16 // Grand Rapids, MI // Elevation
June 18 // Syracuse, NY // Westcott Theater
June 19 // Cambridge, MA // The Sinclair
June 20 // New York, NY // The Gramercy Theatre
June 22 // Portland, ME // State Theatre | Portland
June 24 // Millvale, PA // Mr. Smalls Theatre
June 26 // Nashville, TN // Brooklyn Bowl | Nashville
June 28 // Memphis, TN // Minglewood Hall