Sleep Token mask creator shakes off Mushroomhead comparisons
In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Lani Hernandez-David, the sculptor behind Sleep Token's enigmatic new masks, addressed recent comparisons made between their masks and those of Mushroomhead, firmly denying any imitation.
The artist was introduced to the world of Sleep Token at a music festival in 2022. Hernandez-David explains:
My first time ever hearing of them was my friend going, 'We should go see Sleep Token,' at Bloodstock last year.
The casual introduction took a professional turn in late October 2023, when Hernandez-David received a message from Sleep Token member II, expressing admiration for his work and a desire to collaborate on mask designs.
Hernandez-David shared:
This was huge for me. I've always wanted to create masks for a well-known band, but Sleep Token hadn't crossed my mind.
The timeline for this project was tight. Hernandez-David was about to leave for America and was faced with the challenge of completing these intricate masks by December 2, just a few days after his return.
It sounds like a lot of time, but it's not.
The process involved life casting, sculpting, molding, painting, and casting.
When Sleep Token's instrumentalists debuted their new masks, comparisons to Mushroomhead's iconic masks surfaced immediately online. However, Hernandez-David dismisses these as superficial. In his view, the Sleep Token masks bear no resemblance to those of Mushroomhead, pointing out that the world of metal band masks is inherently derivative.
I was aware of Mushroomhead but never studied their designs closely. To me, our designs are distinctly different.
Hernandez-David noted the cyclical nature of mask design in the metal scene, arguing:
Masks with features like ponytails and eyebrows aren't unique to Mushroomhead or even Slipknot. It's a broader creative field, and no one can claim to have invented these elements.
36 comments
Post Comment"Haters gonna hate hate hate. I'm just gonna shake shake shake. Shake it off!" - Lani Hernandez-David
Too bad I'll never be able to shake off the smell of Emily Soto's rancid vag.
I love how the metal community nowadays thinks that there is any redeeming factor to these talentless clowns. They're anonymous because they do shameful things to your family and friends behind your back.
It's amusing how this band has been paying for the most banal stories here the past few weeks.
Imagine being a grown ass man designing Halloween masks for a perennial opening act... and then being so in your feelings about criticisms over your "work" that you have to formally let people know that you're "shaking off" hurtful comparisons to another band. Absolute. F*cking. Joke.
These masks are black face and therefore raysist
So they ripped off of Mushroomhead for their gimmick? Classic English people, taking advantage of others hard work and claiming it as their own.
They are all ripping off Gwar so who cares
Guy is the most hated bass player in Philly
Band f*cking sucks so who gives a flying wanking f*ck?
They look like the zombie leper pirates in the original The Fog LOL
Gimmick shit band that needs headlines because of their masks and not because of their never ending musical talent that pushes the boundries of audial perception into the realities man hasnt even discovered yet. F*ck off, you blokes.
Thanks for sharing this dumbass news. Much Preeshies
Great way to show it doesn't bother you by having a shit article written about how uncreative and shitty you are. Band sucks. Photo sucks. Photographer sucks.
These dorks look like David Lee Roth's "EAT EM AND SMILE" album artwork...
Dog shit band. Gimmicks for industry hacks and dumb ass know nothings
"Band f*cking sucks so who gives a flying wanking f*ck?" God f*cking damn it, I hate it when I agree with a post and it ends up being rick
Christ. Mushroomhead, a legit terrible band, has made more headlines with beefs, real or imagined, with better bands their entire career. Also, Sleep Token sucks.
Oh yeah thats whose opinion matters, the guy whose work is being scrutinized.
Mushroomhead brought us black metal Joe tho you pvsseys
Gimmick shit band that needs headlines because of their masks and not because of their never ending musical talent that pushes the boundries of audial perception into the realities man hasnt even discovered yet. Fuck off, you blokes. Settle down, pedochet.
Pretty sure that's actually a girl cosplaying as a guy. Also, is it he/him or they/them. Make up your mind.
Shot Token brought to you by Party City. Who could take any of this trash seriously.
This guy shook my mushroomhead for tokens ($15 to be exact) in my truck behind an O'Reily Auto Parts store. The only thing he created was a rope of goo on a ratty beach towel though.
Masks are masks and they're all used by assholes to distract from the fact that they play shitty music.
Their old mask were simpler, more original, and cooler. These new masks are literally Slipknot/MRH rip offs
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