Type O Negative guitarist Kenny Hickey recently spoke about the contrast between vintage and modern music production, singling out contemporary acts like Sleep Token as lacking authenticity. He shared his views on the Badbrad Podcast, where he emphasized his preference for older recording methods and criticized the sterile nature he hears in today’s productions.

“You listen to the recordings, you know, even from the 50s, man. All the big two mics in it. This stuff sounds great. You can get those complex clarity now. But there’s some soul missing to it, you know?” Hickey explained. “I think the old recordings are just way superior to anything I’ve heard off of the new pro tool stuff.”

Hickey contrasted modern bands with the warmth of classic analog recordings.

“I mean I know Sleep Token and all these guys are going with all these complex stuff and all these great, you know, clear sounds, but there’s some kind of soul missing,” he added. “And it’s that soul you hear like in the old Motown recordings and the old Beatles recordings, it sounds so great. They use all analog everything.”

His stance on authenticity is rooted in his lifelong connection to classic rock and metal, which shaped his creative identity. Classic Rock History noted that Hickey often cites The Beatles’ Abbey Road as a transformative influence, describing it as “the fully realized magical musical dream” that sparked “an endless desire to freely explore through the movement and colors of music.” This early exposure to analog classics helps explain his deep respect for vintage production and his skepticism toward digital techniques.

Hickey’s own guitar work reflects this philosophy. According to Guitar World, his reputation rests on atmospheric tones and memorable phrasing rather than technical flash, with artists like Ace Frehley influencing his phrasing more than his tone.

This approach underscores Hickey’s belief that emotional resonance matters more than polish, a view that contrasts sharply with what he perceives as the over-processed sound of modern productions. Wikipedia also notes that as a founding member of Type O Negative, Hickey was central to crafting gothic metal’s distinctive atmosphere, often using analog equipment that prioritized warmth and character over clinical precision.

Ultimately, Hickey’s critique speaks to a larger discussion within the music world: the impact of digital technology on authenticity. His preference for analog’s warmth and emotional depth highlights the enduring divide between vintage production values and the polished, digitally refined sound dominating contemporary music.

The post Kenny Hickey Says Sleep Token And Modern Bands Lack Soul appeared first on Ntertain Us!.

Lorna Shore’s lead vocalist Will Ramos recently sat down with Rock Sound for an interview and explained why Sleep Token is one of his favorite bands.

The singer expressed his love for Sleep Token with the following words:

“I’m gonna say it; I love Sleep Token. You guys are listening right now. I love you guys. I was just talking to your manager, and I was like, you guys are my favorite band.”

Ramos further said that Sleep Token’s style of music really fits him:

“I don’t get to sing often because people are like, ‘Will’s just the screaming guy.’ Yes… but I love singing. And Sleep Token are the perfect…hey, I can kind of fit in there; it’s in my range. Shout-out to Sleep Token, keep making amazing music, and I will keep listening to it and doing covers of it.”

Actually, his cover of Sleep Token’s ‘Chokehold’ in March had already shown Will’s admiration for the band. It proved that the vocalist could do more than extreme-metal screams. He said in the description for his cover:

“Sleep Token is putting out their new album on May 19, and I am absolutely loving it so far. Vessel’s voice is right in my range, so I figured I’d keep dropping covers! On that note, I hope you enjoy my cover of Sleep Token’s new song ‘Chokehold.'”

You can listen to Ramos’ version below.

The post Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos On Why He Loves Sleep Token appeared first on Ntertain Us!.