Not an empty seat in sight as metalcore band Bad Omens performed an electrifying show for a sold-out crowd at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on March 26. Smoke filled the stage as vocalist Noah Sebastian set the atmosphere for the night, belting out the opening lines of the haunting love track “Specter.” Slowly his band mates bassist Nicholas Ruffilo, guitarist Joakim Karlsson and drummer Nick Folio joined the stage as the song picked up momentum. They followed with lots of energy as they performed their first ever single “Glass Houses,” the song has some catchy anthemic chorus lines (I see through you, I know what you are / I've seen the Devil more than I've seen God) that is fun to rock out to. The first section of the show ended with “The Death of Peace of Mind.” I was surprised they performed the song so early in as it’s one of the most popular from their catalog. The song really showcases Sebastian’s vocal talents.
He’s a chameleon, able to adapt to various different vocal tones from soft falsetto to belting screams. His vocals really shined in “ARTIFICIAL SUICIDE” and “What It Cost.” To complement his vocals, the group likes to experiment with different sounds by incorporating industrial and electronica with heavy metal riffs. Bad Omens music follows a formula that works for them. The music often starts dark and mellow, and picks up with guitar riffs and drum kicks as the music progresses through the chorus and bridge. This helps make their music sound larger than life, especially on performances like “Dying to Love” and “Just Pretend.” The band gave 100% to each song performance, so much so that Folio broke his snare after the performance of “Dying to Love.” The entire floor of the Kia Forum was GA, which gave fans plenty of chances to form most pits and rock out along the songs.
The production for this tour is immersive and ambitious. The stage design features multiple LCD screens layered up towards the rafters that created an ominous atmosphere. Throughout the show various pyrotechnics, smoke and laser effects would go off and match each song's pacing. The most memorable production was during "CONCRETE JUNGLE,” as it felt like we were transported into an apocalyptic city. To further set up the mood, the show was broken up with five tape recording intros. The videos featured cryptic emotional themes similar to the messages of the Bad Omens’ songs. The show was an immersive spectacle that incorporated a lot of Bad Omens lore. The show ended with the explosive metalcore “Dethrone,” a fitting song that showcases the group's dynamic.
Photo credit: @brybarian
For more on Bad Omens, visit badomensofficial.com
