REVIEW: Sleeping With Sirens - An Ending In Itself
- Con Macadam
- Jun 8
- 3 min read
From the very beginning, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS have built their music around connection. Their songs have always felt like a refuge for listeners navigating loneliness, frustration, heartbreak, and self-doubt. Whether through huge singalong choruses or cathartic post-hardcore breakdowns, the band have consistently created music that reminds people they are not alone. On An Ending In Itself, that sense of connection remains at the centre of everything they do.
Produced by Will Yip, the album feels both like a culmination and a continuation. It carries forward the emotional themes explored on How It Feels To Be Lost and Complete Collapse, while simultaneously reconnecting with the spirit that first made so many people fall in love with SLEEPING WITH SIRENS. The result is an album that feels confident in its identity, embracing the band's past without becoming trapped by it.
One of the album's greatest strengths is its balance. There is plenty of energy throughout the record, with catchy hooks and memorable choruses appearing at every turn, but there is also a clear emotional depth running beneath the surface. Kellin Quinn delivers one of his strongest vocal performances in recent memory, effortlessly moving between soaring melodies and more vulnerable moments. The album repeatedly finds ways to showcase the range and emotion in his voice without feeling forced or overly polished.
Tracks such as Forever/Always tap directly into the emotional intensity of the band's earlier material. There are echoes of previous albums throughout the song, particularly in the way it balances explosive sections with softer, more reflective moments. However, it never feels like an attempt to recreate the past. Instead, it feels like a band revisiting the qualities that made them special while applying everything they have learned over the years. The production also deserves significant credit. Small details constantly elevate the songs, whether it is the shifting guitar work, layered vocal arrangements, or clever use of dynamics. God In My Head is a perfect example of this, using subtle production choices and emotionally charged lyrics to create one of the album's most memorable moments. Likewise, Need You Here demonstrates how effective the band can be when they allow songs to breathe, stripping arrangements back before building them back up with precision and purpose.
Perhaps the album's most surprising moment arrives with Left On Repeat. It is unlike anything else on the record and arguably unlike anything else in the band's catalogue. From its unconventional opening to its stripped-back closing moments, the song constantly evolves while remaining remarkably cohesive. There is a lot happening throughout its runtime, yet it never feels overcrowded. Instead, it highlights just how versatile SLEEPING WITH SIRENS have become. Even after the track ends, it lingers in your mind long after the next song has already begun. Elsewhere, the album continues to showcase the band's ability to blend accessibility with emotional honesty. Songs are packed with hooks that feel destined for live performances, while the heavier elements are used purposefully rather than simply for impact. The balance between clean vocals, screams, and layered instrumentation gives the album a sense of movement that keeps it engaging from beginning to end.
One of the most rewarding moments for long-time fans comes during Process, which references Who Are You Now from Let's Cheers To This through the lyric "Sometimes you gotta fall before you fly". It is a simple callback, but an effective one. Rather than feeling like fan service, it reinforces the album's themes of growth, reflection, and perseverance. It serves as a reminder of how far the band have come while acknowledging the journey that brought them here. The latter part of the album also demonstrates impressive pacing. The frantic energy of PTSD captures the overwhelming feeling suggested by its title, while Looking Back At Me offers a moment of reflection and calm. The contrast between the two tracks is striking and allows the emotional weight of both songs to land more effectively.
What makes An Ending In Itself such a strong release is that it never feels like a band chasing trends or attempting to recapture former glory. Instead, it sounds like a band that understands exactly who they are. The album embraces the melodic, emotional, and energetic qualities that have defined SLEEPING WITH SIRENS for years while continuing to push forward creatively. For a band now well into their career, that is no small achievement. An Ending In Itself feels like both a celebration of everything SLEEPING WITH SIRENS have accomplished and a reminder that they still have plenty left to say. It is emotional, catchy, ambitious, and above all authentic. More than a decade after their breakthrough, the connection between the band and their audience remains as powerful as ever.
Score: 9/10
An Ending In Itself will be released on 12th June 2026 via Rise Records.
Words: Con Macadam
Photos: Travis Shinn
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