If you can believe it, there was actually a time where Bad Omens were looked at as little more than Bring Me The Horizon clones. The immediate comparisons were easy to draw, to be fair. In 2016, BMTH had released the one-two punch of Sandpit Turtle and That’s The Spirit, two records that cemented their worldwide popularity. Rarely does a metalcore band achieve crossover success to the mainstream in this way, so seeing multiple labels try to find a band in the genre with strong songwriting wasn’t a surprise.
Unlike their breakout record TDOPOM, the self-titled debut album from Bad Omens wasn’t an immediate viral success or anything. In fact, they mostly opened or supported tours as the goal was mainly to make an inroads into the music scene at large.
Even early on, though, these songs proved particularly catchy. The first four tracks, in particular, are sequenced for maximum effect – but also showcase the catch-all songwriting that they’ve become extremely popular for now. “Glass Houses”, “Exit Wounds”, “The Worst In Me”, and “F E R A L” showcase their obvious influences, and vocalist Noah Sebastian proved to be a force from day one.
There’s also hints, sometimes strong ones, of the band they’d morph into. Album closer “The Fountain” is a notable example. A ballad that explodes into a cathartic experience for the listener, it remains one of the best songs Bad Omens have ever put to tape, and is also a great lead-in introduction to new fans. While the record isn’t perfect by any means, it did prove to be a solid opening salvo. The future would be brighter than anyone could have guessed.
