Bad Omens Ignite Glasgow's OVO Hydro
American melodic metalcore band Bad Omens launched their first UK arena headline tour with a pyrotechnic display at Glasgow's OVO Hydro. The performance, packed with huge riffs and pillars of fire from the very first minute, marked a significant graduation for the group, placing them in a similar league to genre titans Bring Me the Horizon, whom they supported last year.
A Genre-Fluid Spectacle
Formed in 2015, the band found mainstream success with their 2022 third album, The Death of Peace of Mind. Their setlist, while rooted in metal, ambitiously incorporated elements of industrial, electronica, and drum'n'bass. This sonic diversity was anchored by frontman Noah Sebastian's remarkably adaptable vocals, which switched seamlessly from a croon to a scream to a whisper. The anthemic recent single Specter justified their step up to arena status, while tracks like Dying to Love and Nowhere to Go showcased their gothic and pop-punk influences, respectively.
Drummer Nick Folio received particular praise for his performance, expertly balancing visceral power with expansive resonance. The band's willingness to embrace zeitgeisty pop sounds, drawing comparisons to The Weeknd's gloomy R&B, is a key component of their broad, TikTok-fuelled appeal.
Arena Ambitions and On-Stage Tension
Despite the unabashedly big sound and production perfectly suited to an arena, Bad Omens appeared to be battling nerves on the large stage. The performance felt like a consummate but slightly disconnected reproduction of their records. The band members, spread out across the stage, lacked visible chemistry, creating an impression of a reluctant star with his backing band rather than a cohesive unit. This was highlighted when Sebastian addressed the crowd, asking if they were having fun, while not appearing to fully share in that enjoyment himself.
The group continue their tour with a date at Alexandra Palace in London on 26 November, with their fourth studio album still awaited.
