Bad Omens headlined their first UK arena tour at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, pulling out all the stops with huge riffs, pillars of fire and supernatural horror-inspired visuals. The US metalcore band, formed in 2015, found mainstream success in 2022 with their third album The Death of Peace of Mind, which blended hooky pop songwriting with complex storytelling.
The set list was rooted in metal but incorporated elements of industrial, electronica and drum’n’bass, anchored by frontman Noah Sebastian’s versatile vocals that switched deftly from croon to scream to whisper. Drummer Nick Folio balanced visceral crunch with expansive resonance, while the band’s willingness to lean into zeitgeisty pop sounds—including falsetto and moody beats with heavy metal drops—helped their mainstream appeal.
However, the review noted that Bad Omens were not yet fully suited to arenas, lacking the chemistry of a cohesive group. Sebastian appeared reluctant on stage, and the band came across as a star with a backing band rather than a unified ensemble. Despite the impressive production, the performance felt like a good reproduction of recorded material rather than a live connection.
