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It is the beginning of the year and we are still getting aftershocks from the events of 2020. If there is one good thing about the global issues that paralysed us two years ago, it is the insane amount of brilliant, imaginative and genre-defying music that has been hitting us since the start. From the dissapointments of first headline tour cancelled, and embracing all the free creative time given at their home studio, a bolder and freer Bad Omens emerged to reinvent themselves as songwriters and musicians, and change their past and future story once and for all with The Death Of Peace Of Mind.
If you are not familiar with the band, a simple check will have you believe they are a Bring Me The Horizon clone, as this has been the dominant narrative for the past few years. As usual, this does neither band justice and even though there are undeniable similarities between their self-titled debut from 2016, and Sempiternal (2013), as well as identical vocal style, this is more or less where the paralels stop. At this stage, the main thing they have in common is their forward-thinking innovative music writing and this is really something that more bands should embrace.
In other words, where Sempiternal ended, Bad Omens took off, pushed that signature sound further and ultimately made it their own with TDOPOM. While Bring Me The Horizon ventured deeper in uncharted alternative/pop territories, Bad Omens followed a different path, exploring the boundless creative possibilities of a genre that had seemingly exhausted itself. And if we are to draw paralels, then one should also mention Linkin Park, The Weeknd, Nine Inch Nails, and Depeche Mode just to scratch the surface of the endless pool of past and present legends that are influencing and fuelling Bad Omens. If there is one track that sums up all of this is the leading title single setting the tone of the record and opening a new chapter with its seductive yet ominous vibe.
The Death Of Peace Of Mind is not really a metal or metalcore record, at least not by the established conventions. Looking at the influences and similarities, it delves just as much in alternative, electronic, modern rock, electropop, new wave, industrial, even r&b, and somehow with all its creative branches widely spread across many music traditions, it remains distinctively metal in its lyrics and overall mood. To quote Sumerian Records that signed Bad Omens straight for their debut, the band "slither through boundaries, only to ultimately choke convention in the process", with their music rich in "ghostly atmospherics, striking hooks, and the tingles of sensual high-register harmonies uplifted by cinematic production".
Speaking of production, TDOPOM is absolutely immaculate in its execution. Since their inception, the band consisted of Noah Sebastian (vocals), Nicholas Ryan (bass), Joakim "Jolly" Karlsson (guitar) and Nick Folio (drums), and here Nick and Jolly handled the entire writing, producing and engineering process of their masterpiece. To add one final touch of brilliance, one should definitely mention the involvmenet of Zakk Cervini (BMTH, Blink-182, Limp Bizkit, Yungblud, Halsey) who hardly needs an introduction and, as usual, did a stellar job on mixing and mastering. With this level of creative and technical talent it is no wonder that Bad Omens became such a big name in arguably very little time, and are currently touring with Underoath, Spiritbox and Stray From The Path, a symbolic initiation to the scene's heavyhitters, and a statement of their relentless energy.
Speaking of their brand new album, Noah says: “Making the record changed us as songwriters and musicians. In many ways I feel like it set me free as an artist because every decision made in the writing process was for myself, with no fear for anyone else’s expectations of what our third album should sound like. Be it our fans or our record label.” In those lines, TDOPOM will piss off many people, but I have learned to pay attention to those controversial releases more, as this is where some of the best have emerged in recent years. It is that freedom and bravery that has been missing in Bad Omens' first two, and now that they have really found their purpose and directions, the future looks brighter then ever.
Aside from all five singles that have been absolutely brilliant in setting the expectations, the record opens with what is easily the best track 'CONCRETE JUNGLE' - a track that blends past and future with its subtle lyrical references to Bad Omens' previous work, offers a clever spin on the title single's already iconic loop, and puts Noah's stunning vocal range in the spotlight, all this culminating in pure madness. What follows is a restless series of modern alt/electro-rock anthems in 'Nowhere To Go' and 'Take Me First', the above-mentioned gem 'The Death Of Peace Of Mind' and 'What It Cost' - the surprising and brilliant extended intro to 'Like A Villian'.
The second part of the record significantly slows down the tempo and opens up a whole new world of beautiful ambient/r&b-infused compositions. While this more progressive middle section arguably lasts a track or two longer than it could have by modern standards, I would not replace a single track from it and, if listened properly, it flows seemlesly towards its logical conclusion in 'Who are you?' and 'Somebody else.' Enter the third act and we are back in Bad Omens' creative whirlwind of riff-led craze and post-apocalyptic industrial vibes, the final four tracks giving TDOPOM the grand finaly it deservse, with 'Artificial Suicide' a standalone pit-starter and an absolute beast of a modern metalcore banger.
I could carry on with the praise of the record but ultimately, you should all go and listen to it. Whether TDOPOM catapults Bad Omens to the top of the game is yet to be seen, but if early reactions are indications, it has already done enough to cement their name as one of the most innovative modern bands out there in a time of widespread defiance of established genre boundaries. Out in the end of February, it is already a solid candidate for Album of the Year and even if it does not beat all of the killer records promised for the remaining of 2022, then it is a certain personal Top 5.
Bad Omens - 'The Death Of Peace Of Mind'
Country: United States
Released: 25 February 2022
Label: Sumerian
Tracklisting:
1. "CONCRETE JUNGLE"
2. "Nowhere To Go"
3. "Take Me First"
4. "THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND"
5. "What It Cost"
6. "Like A Villain"
7. "bad decisions"
8. "Just Pretend"
9. "The Grey"
10. "Who are you?"
11. "Somebody else."
12. "IDWT$"
13. "What do you want from me?"
14. "ARTIFICIAL SUICIDE"
15. "Miracle"
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