Bad Omens brought their high-energy metalcore sound to the UK arena circuit for the first time, delivering anthemic songs and visually stunning visuals. The Los Angeles quintet's sophomore success on TikTok with 2022's "The Death of Peace of Mind" solidified their mainstream appeal, making them a staple alongside genre giants like Bring Me the Horizon. This week's tour represents their progression to arena status.
Specter, an anthemic recent single, kicked off the show with its atmospheric soundscapes and dry ice effects. The setlist showcased Bad Omens' eclectic approach, incorporating industrial, electronica, and drum'n'bass elements into their metalcore framework. Noah Sebastian's adaptable vocals seamlessly transitioned between crooning and screaming, even mirroring Poppy's delivery in their collaborative single VAN.
The band's willingness to experiment with pop sounds is key to their mainstream success. Tracks like Dying to Love and Nowhere to Go demonstrated the group's ability to craft catchy hooks and gothic undertones, while Impose found common ground between breakbeats and double-kick metal drums. Drummer Nick Folio was particularly praised for his skill in balancing crushing rhythms with expansive resonance.
However, amidst the show's grandeur, Bad Omens struggled to connect with their audience. Despite a polished setlist rooted in metalcore, the band's stage presence felt detached, akin to a backing band supporting a reluctant lead singer. Even Sebastian appeared uncertain, asking the crowd if they were having fun and seeming uninvested himself.
This lack of chemistry may be attributed to arena nerves or the physical distance between performers and audience. As Bad Omens take their place among genre titans, it remains to be seen whether they can overcome this hurdle and forge genuine connections with their fans.
Specter, an anthemic recent single, kicked off the show with its atmospheric soundscapes and dry ice effects. The setlist showcased Bad Omens' eclectic approach, incorporating industrial, electronica, and drum'n'bass elements into their metalcore framework. Noah Sebastian's adaptable vocals seamlessly transitioned between crooning and screaming, even mirroring Poppy's delivery in their collaborative single VAN.
The band's willingness to experiment with pop sounds is key to their mainstream success. Tracks like Dying to Love and Nowhere to Go demonstrated the group's ability to craft catchy hooks and gothic undertones, while Impose found common ground between breakbeats and double-kick metal drums. Drummer Nick Folio was particularly praised for his skill in balancing crushing rhythms with expansive resonance.
However, amidst the show's grandeur, Bad Omens struggled to connect with their audience. Despite a polished setlist rooted in metalcore, the band's stage presence felt detached, akin to a backing band supporting a reluctant lead singer. Even Sebastian appeared uncertain, asking the crowd if they were having fun and seeming uninvested himself.
This lack of chemistry may be attributed to arena nerves or the physical distance between performers and audience. As Bad Omens take their place among genre titans, it remains to be seen whether they can overcome this hurdle and forge genuine connections with their fans.
. I mean, the visuals were insane 
and the music was solid, but Noah's vocals felt kinda...off 
. He's got such a great range, but it felt like he was phoning it in at times 
. And can we talk about how cool it would've been if they had more stage presence? The crowd was meh, but I think it's 'cause the band is still trying to find their footing on this arena circuit 
. Let's see them next time and hope they're more connected with the audience 
90% of metalcore bands struggle to translate their sound to arenas - even Bring Me the Horizon had a rough start in bigger venues back in the day! 
Bad Omens' eclectic approach is defo key to their mainstream success tho, but they gotta work on that stage presence... Noah Sebastian's vocals are on point, tho! 
1 in 5 mosh pits have crowd-surfing incidents, let's keep it safe & respectful, fam! 
The energy in the crowd was electric 
but at the same time, I felt like the band was missing that extra spark 
to connect with us on a deeper level. I mean, their sound is insane 
and the visuals were straight fire 
. The rest of the guys were on point tho 
, Nick's drumming was on another level 
! And that setlist? Genius 
they really mixed up the genre vibes to keep us engaged 
. But yeah, I hope they can work on building that stage presence and we'll be all over it 
They had some serious production value going on, but the energy from the crowd didn't quite match up...felt like they were playing for an empty arena except for the people right in front of them 
that bad omens didn't bring more energy to the stage 
he just kinda stood there looking lost 
I mean, they're playing to sold-out crowds in arenas now! That's some big-time rockstar status 
. Their live show was like a wild rollercoaster ride, all high-energy and visually insane 
at the same time, I was kinda underwhelmed by their stage presence. Like, Noah seemed really disconnected from the crowd, asking them if they were having fun 
. Maybe it's just me, but I've seen other bands with a similar sound that just clicked 
. Like, have you seen Bring Me the Horizon live? That's what I'm talking about!