8/10

Sleep Stage’s eagerly-awaited debut album 'Warning: Toxic' is like taking a reckless dive into the emotional debris of a broken heart, armed only with guitars, drums, and an unapologetic scorn. From the opening track 'Sick of Love Songs', the London-based frontrunner hits you with a gut punch of jagged guitar riffs and a tempo that refuses to slow down. The vocal delivery has that perfect blend of sarcasm and desperation, as if the singer’s only just holding onto his sanity. And then, when that bridge hits, the floodgates open.

But the real fun begins with 'Love At First Bite', a chaotic, intoxicating track that lures you in with its sinister rhythm and lo-fi fuzz. Sleep State’s delivery is a mix of numbness and delirium, blurring the line between love and poison. It’s a track that makes you feel the physical pull of self-destruction, much like the jilted lover who’s trapped in a cycle they can’t escape. The gritty guitars and thumping drums feel like the soundtrack to a feverish haze, leaving you dizzy and hooked at every turn.

The seminal 'Death in Those Arms' continues the ride through emotional muck, a track that simmers with frustration until it finally erupts. The verses feel like slow torture, but when the chorus hits, the rage spills over. There’s something almost haunting about it, with snarling vocals biting into the thick layers of instrumentation, clawing their way through the wreckage of a doomed love.

With Warning: Toxic', Sleep Stage dives headfirst into the mess of broken relationships, finding beauty in the chaos of love and loss. And honestly, who needs saving when the ride feels this thrilling? If you’re up for a visceral, gritty exploration of love’s darker side, 'Warning: Toxic' is a dangerous but addictive listen, but proceed at your own risk.