Los Angeles-based rock sensation Bad Omens have today released the eagerly anticipated music video for their smash hit, "Just Pretend" (via Sumerian Records). The music video was directed by Erik Rojas (Chase Atlantic, Jessie J, Waterparks) and based on a story written by vocalist Noah Sebastian. The track itself has taken a life of its own,peaking at #1 on Active Rock radio while currently in the top 10 on Alt radio, and has amassed over 135 million streams and counting. Watch the official music video below.
The band also recently unveiled their new comic book series "Concrete Jungle" (via Sumerian Comics). Co-written by Noah Sebastian and Kevin Roditeli ("Freak Show") and illustrated by Nicola Izzo, the four-issue monthly series will be available for purchase in stores beginning September 6. Be sure to keep an eye out for limited edition bundles later in the year and for further information, please click here.
See Bad Omens on their CONCRETE FOREVER fall headlining run with ERRA and I See Stars as support. For tickets, please click here.
CONCRETE FOREVER North American Dates
September 1 - Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center (Sold Out)
September 2 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater (Sold Out)
September 4 - New Orleans, LA @ Joy Theater (Sold Out)
September 5 - St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live (Sold Out)
September 6 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues (Sold Out)
September 8 - Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy (Sold Out)
September 9 - Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works (Sold Out)
September 12 - New York, NY @ Terminal 5 (Sold Out)
September 13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall (Sold Out)
September 14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE (Upgraded)
September 15 - Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore (Sold Out)
September 16 - Boston, MA @ Roadrunner (Sold Out)
September 18 - Montreal, QC @ MTELUS (Sold Out)
September 19 - Toronto, ON @ Rebel (Sold Out)
September 21 - Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed (Sold Out)
September 24 - Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live!
September 26 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Eagles Ballroom(Sold Out)
September 27 - Minneapolis, MN @ Myth Live (Sold Out)
September 29 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium (Sold Out)
September 30 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union (Sold Out)
October 2 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom (Sold Out)
October 3 - Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre (Sold Out)
October 4 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo (Sold Out)
October 8 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium (Sold Out)
October 9 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels
October 10 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre (Sold Out)
October 11 - Albuquerque, NM @ Revel (Sold Out)
October 13 - Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum (Sold Out)
Fall Festival Dates
September 10 - Alton, VA @ Blue Ridge Rock Festival
September 22 - Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
October 6 - Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock
Bad Omens slither through boundaries, only to ultimately choke convention in the process. The quartet—Noah Sebastian (vocals), Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson (guitar), Nick Ruffilo (bass), and Nick Folio (drums)—materialize with ghostly atmospherics, striking hooks, and the tingles of sensual high-register harmonies uplifted by cinematic production. Racking up over 250M worldwide streams to date and earning acclaim, the band presents an uncompromising and undeniable vision on their third full-length album, 'THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND' (Sumerian Records).
“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.”
They’ve always wielded this level of magic though…
The group’s 2016 self-titled debut, 'Bad Omens', yielded fan favorites such as “Glass Houses” and “The Worst In Me” which eclipsed 38 million Spotify streams. On its heels, 2019’s 'Finding God Before God Finds Me' spawned “Dethrone” (27 million Spotify streams) and “Careful What You Wish For”. Along the way, they toured with numerous marquee acts and received tastemaker praise.
After their first headline tour was canceled mid-way at the top of the global pandemic, the band found themselves at home in Los Angeles with plenty of time. Where they absorbed and imparted a different palette of unexpected inspirations. Channeling what the frontman describes at times as a “cursive sound” they embraced newfound confidence and boundlessly loose creativity. Anything went in the studio, and all “rules” were broken. Noah and Jolly wrote, produced, and engineered the music themselves while GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer and songwriter Zakk Cervini (Halsey, Grimes, Poppy, blink-182) lent his talents with the mix and master. Challenging himself, Noah decided to “make a track sampling items around the house, none of which were musical instruments”.
This ultimately became the framework for the first single “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND”. Claps puncture the icy soundscape as his voice stretches from a breathy moan into an evocative and entrancing hook, breaking from a whisper into the seductive chant, “It wasn’t hard to realize. Love’s the death of peace of mind.” It culminates on a climactic scream uplifted by a distorted crunch.
“The whole record really details the loss of peace of mind,” he explains. “The lyrics in the title track are a little more specific in terms of the conflict at the heart of something more intimate and personal.”
By speaking it aloud, Bad Omens offer a level of comfort and empathy, with a sinister shroud. At the same time, they also give rock music a sexy new shape on 'THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND'.
“Sonically, we want to do something you can’t arrive late or early too,” he leaves off. “You can’t cheat your way to the final act. You have to get on the ride and process it until the end. The songs are meant to be heard from start to finish. We want you to take the whole trip with us.”