Bad Omens – The Death of Peace of Mind
Release Date: 25th February 2022
Label: Sumerian Records
Buy/Stream
Genre: Metalcore, Electronic, Post-Hardcore, Pop.
FFO: Bring Me The Horizon, Asking Alexandria, Pierce The Veil.
Review By: Mike Leighton
Rising post-hardcore/metalcore quartet, Bad Omens, have released their newest, and third LP, The Death of Peace of Mind, since forming in 2015. Released through Sumerian Records, Bad Omens have crafted something that will definitely please fans of several genres, ranging from electronic and poppy to heavy and melodic. While there is something for a lot of metal fans, there are elements that might not please everyone, especially the songs that showcase the softer, more emotional side of Bad Omens. Regardless, fans will always be divided, especially when you’re a band that gains more and more popularity. Putting out an album they were truly proud of, and less about pleasing the masses, seems to be the case with this release as it was more of a direct and at times self-reflective expression from Bad Omens.
Bad Omens consists of Noah Sebastian on vocals (and he absolutely kills it), Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson on guitar, Nick Ruffilo on bass, and Nick Folio on drums! With this release, the guys have created quite a catchy, melodic and almost ethereal album with The Death of Peace of Mind. On that note, let’s dive into the tracks themselves! Concrete Jungle starts off with a real nice, almost atmospheric feeling alongside some fantastic vocals. We see this throughout the track until a little over halfway, when the track comes in like a freight train, almost out of nowhere. This is the first time we hear Sebastian’s harsh vocals enter when he screams “and I’m the f**king king!” Such a great line to usher in the first extreme breakdown of the album! This song brings to light everything you should expect on the rest of the album with electronic elements, vocal harmonies, crunchy guitars, pounding drums, a groovy breakdown worthy of jumping up and down to, and some nicely placed turntables reminiscent of Linkin Park.
Next, we get, Nowhere To Go, and again the vocals almost feel like they’re telling a dark, mystic tale; one that is hauntingly beautiful and quite capable of pulling in the listener until the end. Next, we have, Take Me First, which was the first standout track for me. Between the way the bridge is structured as well as the vocal range showcased at the end, this song hits differently than the rest so far. The title track, The Death of Peace of Mind is one that is extremely catchy along with being very electronically heavy. It’s almost spooky at times; almost harbours a feeling of foreboding. Bad Omens are excellent at breaking a repetitive track not only with absolutely beautiful bridges, but also their lead into breakdowns that more often than not showcase Jolly’s craftsmanship through crushing guitar hooks! This track is no exception to that fact.
I personally quite enjoyed What It Cost. Not only was it short and sweet, but it felt as if it was more of a preamble for Like A Villain than anything, and that was just fine with me. Like a Villain started out sort of unexpectedly following What It Cost, with a beautifully sung falsetto for the opening verse. The chorus was as I expected, melodic, catchy, and will have fans singing their hearts out at live shows! This song is no different than the titular track in that we get a full 180-degree turn with the crunchy guitar break at the bridge as it leads right back into the final chorus.
At this point, not only is it about halfway through, but the tone of the album is halted for a moment with bad decisions, being a more sombre, thoughtful track. Bad decisions has a very poppy feel to it, which is not a bad thing at all, with enough variance. This track gives the listener the chance to really focus on what the lyrics are saying. Overall, though, one of my least favorite tracks, only because it was a bit too repetitive; almost to the point it felt as if it detracted from what had been building the entire first half of the album.
Just Pretend, starts off where Like A Villain should’ve left off. This track has one of the more illustrious, and grand vocal moments on the album contained within its chorus. Between the sharp falsetto when Noah hits the “I” and the lyrical content, Bad Omens have crafted a very enjoyable, almost anthemic chorus. Along those lines, it also has a very strong Pierce The Veil sound to it. My favorite track on this release.
I can wait for you at the bottom
I can stay away if you want me to
I can wait for years if I gotta
Heaven knows I ain’t getting over you”
The Grey, another strong track and a personal favorite as far as the singles go. The song has everything heard from Bad Omens thus far. The lyrics also hit a bit close to home with it being about losing yourself, who you are, and trig to regain a sense of identity. We as humans can easily become lost in the moment, lose ourselves, and at that point it’s extremely hard to return, or even remember who we truly are after we fade away…into the grey.
IDWT$ was a nice change of pace. A very bouncy track, showcasing a mixture of Sebastian’s harsh vocals and his cleans. Going with the previous thought train, Jolly’s guitar playing was quite refreshing as well as all the other elements presented throughout this track. What do you want from me? was another standout track, and definitely one that will get the crowd going! It almost sounds like a build-up track leading to the fight of the decade. Overall, this track, littered with 80’s synth, feels like you’re inside a Tron movie (or Stranger Things). What do you want from me, was quite the unique track as far as this album is concerned. I felt very strong Powerman-5000 vibes from Jolly’s guitar playing on this one. Ending with Miracle, Bad Omens, tap into everything they have showcased so far to close out their newest album!
The Death Of Peace Of Mind is chock-full of absolutely gripping vocals and catchy hooks that just bleed melody, and what was really nice was that there was always some unique sounding instrument, or electronic element in every song. It really kept me on my toes throughout and helped to keep the album from sounding too repetitive. Noah Sebastian’s vocal harmonies and flourishes were really what separated this album from the rest of the genre for me. I’m just a sucker for melody, and well executed clean vocals. His vocal vibrato at times is, oddly enough, kind of reminiscent of the technique utilized by R&B titan, Post Malone, and really made for some unique singing moments on this album. The electronic elements presented throughout feel very much like those used by Bring Me the Horizon on That’s the Spirit. Overall, an extremely solid effort by Bad Omens through their blending of not only several genres, but also sounds.
(4 / 5)
