LIVE REVIEW: BAD OMENS AT ALEXANDRA PALACE, LONDON 26/11/25
Photos copyright: Bryan Kirks (press)
The last time Bad Omens played a headline show in London it was to 600 people at The Dome in 2023. Two years down the line and they are a band in a different league, but in many ways, the band they were always meant to become.
Opening the night, The Ghost Inside leant heavily on tracks from their 2024 album ‘Searching for Solace’, leaving everything out on the stage with an authentically punk performance.
Amongst the heavy breakdowns and riffs perfect for mosh pits were soaring melodic moments, like the heartfelt chorus of ‘Earn it’, demonstrating the band's duality between brutality and sensitivity.
“England is my city”, was the opening call, hailing Bilmuri to the stage and straight into ‘EMPTYHANDED’. For this second support the energy, genre and even instruments were switched up, somewhat chaotically.
Bilmuri may still officially be Johnny Franck's baby, but touring band members have taken more of a role within the performances in recent times. Bringing in saxophone player Gabi Rose on vocal duties more than ever before, as well as guitarist Reese Maslen providing guttural screams in places, including on ‘FLOURIDEINTHEHARDSELTZERWATER’ in which the chaos continues with Rose brandishing a flute, it's hard to remember our eyes should be on Franck himself.
New song ‘More Than Hate’ began with the heaviest part of the set, before settling back into the characteristic genre blend that Bilmuri is infamous for. In summary you could describe it as; country-emo-postpop-american-metalcore, and even then, you wouldn't have scratched the surface.
Prancing off the stage to ‘Better Hell’ any Bad Omen's fans with no prior knowledge of Bilmuri were certainly left open-mouthed at this unique experience.
Ushering in the new epoch of Bad Omens, Noah Sebastian stood centre stage to begin the night with ‘Specter', a fresh track that builds the excitement in the room perfectly.
Between the pyrotechnics, diamond shaped LED screens hanging overhead and ability of all four band members to seamlessly fill Alexandra Palace's vast stage, there feels an inevitability to Bad Omens rise. Their sound has always felt anthemic. The echoing ‘Glass Houses’ recorded all the way back in 2016 was made for stadiums rather than dive bars and managed to rile the crowd even further as the set got underway.
“Here’s the deal Ally Pally; the last two shows we've been leashed, tonight we are unleashed- No balcony, no seats- just me, you and the floor”. Sebastian addressed the crowd. Previously having shied away from much crowd interaction, it is good to watch a more confident and engaged version of the frontman.
Immersive in both sound and visuals, Bad Omens are clearly aiming to dazzle with their performances and take that responsibility seriously. It felt very much as if every detail, every moment, had been meticulously planned and considered.
Sensuality is introduced to the set with ‘The Death of Peace of Mind’. A complete change of pace, but fans needn't be concerned about genre whiplash, Bad Omens have exceptional skill in blending face meltingly heavy metal with sexy electronica.
The chorus of most recent release ‘Dying to Love’ is an instant earworm and despite only being released a few days prior, fans are already screaming along. This is another anthemic song with all sorts of theatrical elements.
As the set rumbled on with plenty of representation from 2022 album DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND, the much anticipated ‘V.A.N’ holds the torch for 2024 collaboration album CONCRETE JUNGLE [THE OST].
During ‘Anything > Human’ Jonathan Vigil from The Ghost Inside is welcomed back onto the stage and provides growling guest vocals.
“Shake that ass London” Sebastian instructed during “What do you want from me”, and London responded enthusiastically.
Before calling time on the night, Sebastian plays a clever game with phone torches, first instructing the returning fans to shine their lights and then switching to the first-timers. There is a vaguely even split in the room with the newcomers slightly outnumbering the returners, this ratio does make sense with the minimal performances Bad Omens have undertaken in the UK in recent years. Apart from featuring on Bring Me The Horizon's tour back in 2024 the outfit have scarcely been in the country, cancelling their planned appearance at Download Festival the same year. Opportunities to see the alt rock sensation live have been thin on the ground for UK audiences.
Wrapping up with the brutal ‘Dethrone’, Bad Omens leave London with a feverish energy. It's doubtful that fans will be sated by this ‘Do You Feel The Love’ tour, and will already be looking forward to the band's first successful outing at Donnington's Download Festival.
Roll on Summer 2026.
Words by Imogen Bird