The group utilised their range of instruments and the atmosphere of the venue’s spacious Great Hall to showcase their undeniable talent to an enthusiastic sellout crowd, all eager to see one of the most highly regarded bands in the industry, who have had a meteoric rise since forming in 2015.
The Ghost Inside were first to perform, gaining the attention of the jubilant audience with a wide range of hits spanning over twenty-one years, such as ‘Engine 45’ and the hardcore classic ‘Death Grip’. The California-based metal group were a perfect opener to an evening of frenetic and exciting metalcore, revealing both experience and ability in abundance.
As the lights dimmed once again in the venue, the night’s second support act Bilmuri took to the stage. With a roar of “England is my city!” lead singer Johnny Franck launched straight into ‘EMPTYHANDED’ before moving onto ‘ALL GAS’. Bilmuri went through a catalogue of their hits, strong guitar riffs and drumbeats blending with the incredible harmonies of Franck and multitalented saxophonist Gabi Rose. There was also a slightly comedic aspect to the set with witty one-liners during songs. Towards the end of the set, they played their latest song, ‘More Than Hate’ which was very well-received by the audience.
Around half an hour later, Bad Omens came on to mass applause and raucous cheers. The show - which lasted just shy of two hours - was sensational from start to finish as the band played a plethora of fan favourites, new tracks and deep cuts whilst providing the high-octane energy they are known for. Frontman Noah Sebastian was on top form as he enraptured the crowd with his signature style, mixing angelic vocals with guttural screams, hitting high notes with surgical precision and encouraging the crowd to get involved.
The high levels of participation were most notable in ‘Dethrone’, the final song of the night, which saw a unified, vociferous response of “jungle!” in response to a cry of “concrete!”. This is a regular occurrence at their shows, a moment that brings the audience and the band together, solidifying their love for their fans. The group have recently released their latest EP 'Left For Good', incorporating all four tracks into the concert’s setlist, opening with ‘Specter’ and also playing ‘Dying to Love’, ‘Impose’ and ‘Left For Good’. The latter was a standout, with an outstanding transition into crowd pleaser 'ANYTHING > HUMAN' and the addition of ‘Glass Houses’ rolled back the years and was a firm favourite.
The tapes between tracks were excellent. These consisted of four short videos, delving into the band’s lore and giving subtle hints about what was to come, such as the second tape referencing the song 'CONCRETE JUNGLE'.
To add to the powerful live performances, the on-stage visuals were mesmerising, a myriad of brightly coloured patterns moving on the giant screens and providing ambience throughout the evening. Overall, this was a fantastic live event. Everything came together perfectly in a fantastic venue to create a memorable night, which only further demonstrates how Bad Omens are one of the most influential artists in rock music.
Image: Bryan Kirks
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