Image: PRESIDENT – In the Name of the Father [YouTube, Official Video]
No faces, no names, no interviews - just one name: President. The previously unknown group suddenly appeared in the Download Festival lineup, leaving the music community puzzled. Here's a recap of how all the theories took off.
The Beginning: No Songs, Just Speculation
It’s highly unusual for a band with no background story to be booked for a major festival like Download. But that’s exactly what happened with President. When the festival announced 22 new acts, President was simply included - without introduction or explanation. No one had heard of them, and as it turned out, they hadn’t released a single song.
The Download Festival site listed only this cryptic message:
“Citizens, the time has come.
No names. No past. No distractions. Only the mission ahead.
At Download Festival, the inauguration begins. Not with words, but with action. Not with empty promises, but with undeniable force.
There will be no campaign, no debate, no opposition. Only one truth: President has arrived.
The oath will be taken. The people will decide. History will be made.”
New social media accounts were slowly filled. Naturally, the theories exploded.
Between Sleep Token, Charlie Simpson and Slipknot
The internet reacted instantly. Within hours of every new teaser, fans and journalists have been comparing voices, analyzing symbols, and dissecting visual clues.
One of the first theories: “This is a new project from Sleep Token.” The similarities were striking - the masks, the mystery, the cryptic messages. Where Sleep Token says “Gather in Worship,” President writes “Be Among The Faithful.” Both bands also used Allotment Productions for their websites and are managed by Future History Management.
Some speculated that Chino Moreno (Deftones) and his side project Crosses were behind it, due to the aesthetic similarity. Deftones were also the very first account President followed.
Further speculation came from other accounts President followed at that point - suggesting a possible supergroup involving members from Deftones, Mogwai, The Cure, or Underoath.
Even Slipknot entered the conversation - of course, another masked band. In one teaser, fans think to have spotted a mask resembling an older one worn by Clown or Joey Jordison.
The Debut Single: “In the Name of the Father”
On May 15, 2025, President finally eased the curiosity, dropping their debut single “In the Name of the Father”. Immediately, sound and voice sparked fresh identity theories: many pointed to Charlie Simpson (Fightstar, Busted). Others still believe Sleep Token to be involved, especially due to the drumming style, reminiscent of II.
What became clear above all: President aren’t just good at mystery - they also deliver musically. Countless early fans have already gathered around them.
The Aesthetic of the Unknown
What’s made President so fascinating from the start isn’t just the sound. The band cultivates distance - and that in itself inspires curiosity. Much like Ghost, who stayed anonymous for years, President embraces the myth. At a time when music often serves as a backdrop for reels, algorithms, or playlists, President - like Sleep Token - has become a true event.
With just one release, President have shown that less can truly be more - and that the unknown, the mysterious, and the ambiguous still have a place in music today.
Shop official President merchandise here.
