Sleep Token’s Guitar Hero: The Rise of IV and the Gear Behind the World’s Hottest Hard Rock Album

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Mysterious and masked progressive metal band Sleep Token have shattered expectations with their fourth album, Even in Arcadia. Released earlier this month, the record stormed to the top of the charts in both the U.S. and U.K., overtaking mainstream giants like Thom Yorke, PinkPantheress, and former Glastonbury headliner SZA.

This remarkable climb didn’t just secure top chart positions — it broke global records. According to Billboard, Even in Arcadia is the best-selling hard rock album of the last two years and now holds the title for the highest number of weekly streams in hard rock history.

Beyond streaming success, the album’s physical sales are equally impressive. With over 47,000 vinyl copies sold, Even in Arcadia has become the highest-selling hard-rock album in the modern era, narrowly surpassing Ghost’s Skeletá, which recorded 44,000 vinyl sales.

Sleep Token’s trajectory has been steep and steady. Their 2023 album, Take Me Back to Eden, hinted that a breakthrough moment was inevitable. The band’s appeal cuts across genres and demographics, cultivating a fanbase as diverse as their sound.

But who are Sleep Token?

The group is fronted by a masked figure known only as Vessel, who writes all the band’s music alongside drummer II — soon to appear at Black Sabbath’s star-studded farewell show. Other members, such as IV on guitar, are identified by numbers rather than names. While it’s uncertain if IV contributes in-studio, he is an instrumental figure in live performances and the band’s mythos.

At the heart of Sleep Token’s mystique is their narrative: they are messengers of an entity called Sleep, which Vessel claims to have encountered in a dream. Though personal details are scarce, fans and critics have identified influences ranging from Deftones and Meshuggah to Bon Iver.

Despite the band’s veiled identities, one element of IV’s identity has been made public — his guitar rig.

IV primarily plays eight-string guitars, showing loyalty to Jackson Guitars. His early go-to model was a Jackson X Series Soloist SLAT8, but he now plays a Jackson USA Custom Shop Monarkh — a high-end, Les Paul–style instrument. This 28-inch-scale guitar is equipped with Fishman Fluence active pickups, an EverTune bridge, and a stunning Pale Moon Ebony fretboard featuring the band’s logo at the 12th fret. His tuning preference is E A E A D G B E, and he favors “long necks and heavy-gauge strings,” particularly .010–.084 gauge sets.

In addition to his Jacksons, IV also uses an Aristides 080SR multiscale eight-string, boasting a Richlite fretboard, Bare Knuckle Ragnarok pickups, and another EverTune bridge. This guitar brings a unique modern sound that complements the band’s dynamic arrangements.

Another mainstay is the Jackson So-Cal Strat-style model designed in collaboration with Periphery’s Misha Mansoor. Though it mimics a vintage Strat, its specs — including a basswood body, caramelized maple neck, stainless-steel frets, and Mansoor’s Bare Knuckle pickups — make it a modern shredder’s dream. It was originally Daphne Blue but later resprayed to match the band’s signature cream-colored aesthetic during the Take Me Back to Eden tour.

IV’s arsenal also includes:

A custom Balaguer Espada seven-string with a 28.5-inch scale, a roasted maple/walnut neck, and Fishman Modern Fluence pickups, tuned to drop D.

A Fender Telecaster American Ultra II, used by Vessel during the emotional solo performance of “Missing Limbs,” played with a capo on the fourth fret.

In terms of amplification and effects, IV has fully embraced the digital realm. He transitioned from Kemper profiling amps to the Neural DSP Quad Cortex, touring with two units controlled via MIDI and kept offstage. According to his tech, Billy, his core tones are based on a Revv Generator amp head and a Mesa cabinet — both profiled and captured for use with the Quad Cortex. The signal runs in stereo, creating a lush, wide soundstage.

A standout trick in IV’s setup is the use of the Quad Cortex’s doubler function, which splits a mono signal and adds a slight delay to create the illusion of two guitars playing in tandem. This technique plays a key role in Sleep Token’s thick, atmospheric live sound.

Altogether, IV’s guitar rig reflects the band’s ethos: genre-blending, high-tech, and visually striking. The gear allows IV to move seamlessly from sparkling clean tones to crushing metal riffs — all while maintaining the cinematic flair the band is known for.

Sleep Token has firmly captured the attention of younger generations, but now even older rock fans are taking notice. Their meteoric rise is rare in today’s fragmented music landscape. With chart-topping records, world-breaking sales, and a gear setup that represents the future of hard rock, Sleep Token — and IV — are no longer the genre’s best-kept secret. They are its defining force.

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