Bad Omens Dethrone LA with Support from Beartooth & PRESIDENT
Los Angeles returned to the Concrete Jungle as Bad Omens created a spectacle at the Kia Forum that left the audience reeling through the full emotional spectrum. The collective energy of the crowd resonated so strongly that every stranger next to you became your friend. Few bands can command a massive crowd where a sold-out 18,000-capacity venue still feels larger than life. Metal is in the midst of a renaissance, one that Bad Omens has helped lead since their debut in 2014, cementing themselves as titans with the release of ‘The Death of Peace of Mind’ in 2022. Their recent singles, from ‘Specter’ to ‘Left for Good’, promise another knockout album on the horizon and build anticipation for what’s next. Frontman Noah Sebastian made sure this was a cinematic, larger-than-life event that fired on all cylinders, from the pyramid-esque structure hovering above the stage like an obelisk to the lasers and confetti-laced explosive finish that felt almost ethereal.
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All Rise for Your President!
PRESIDENT is on such a meteoric rise that it’s hard to look away. Emerging seemingly out of nowhere, they’ve tapped into the growing trend of masked, anonymous bands and it’s a formula that’s clearly working. Following their ‘King of Terrors’ EP, a well-crafted and ideological project in its own right, and their infamous Download Festival debut that became an immediate buzz within the metal community, it’s no surprise Bad Omens chose them to open. Having already visited the City of Angels for a sold-out ‘inauguration rally’ (their take on shows), PRESIDENT came in with both hype and pressure. The question was whether they could deliver on a stage this big and the short answer is yes. If you hadn’t pledged your allegiance before, you likely did after witnessing one of the strongest openers in recent memory.
Amid darkness, a neon-pink hue illuminated their signature Cross of Lorraine standing at the center of a presidential podium. Industrial reverbs echoed through the venue before the “I Like Ike” Eisenhower campaign anthem played, only to plunge into darkness moments later. As the “final rise” audio echoed, PRESIDENT and members Heist, Protest and Vice manifested on stage. There’s a challenge in not interacting with the audience in the traditional sense, but similar to Sleep Token’s Vessel, they rely on controlled body movement and commanding presence. PRESIDENT’s vocals were a standout – unmatched in their ability to shift between soaring, clean power and devastating screams. Opening with ‘Fearless’ into ‘Dionysus’, they immediately set the tone. The electronic chaos of ‘RAGE’ paired with crushing breakdowns became another highlight, with the audience singing along before diving headfirst into headbanging.
ARE YOU READY TO BE FREE!
Beartooth are no strangers to the scene, veterans in their own right, and they delivered. After heavy online criticism of their new single ‘Free’, the Los Angeles crowd made their stance clear, shouting encouragement, holding signs and chanting singer Caleb Shomo’s name before he even took the stage. A single spotlight illuminated Shomo as he opened with an acoustic ‘Might Love Myself’, immediately showcasing his range. From there, the energy never dipped and what followed was one of the most explosive sets of the night, on par with the headliner. ‘In Between’ and ‘Doubt Me’ carried the momentum as crowdsurfers and moshers pushed the floor to its peak. ‘Free’ became a defining moment, with the crowd shouting every lyric back and feeding off Shomo’s energy. The setlist traced Beartooth’s evolution, balancing heavy hitters with melodic tracks, ‘Disease’ and ‘You Never Know’ for throwback fans, ‘Sunshine’ and ‘ATTN’ for their pop-infused side. Closing with ‘Riptide’, the pit erupted into a massive whirlpool.
Do You Feel Love?
The pyramid-like obelisk hovered above the crowd as white noise filled the arena, building anticipation in the darkness. A series of poetic VO tapes played overhead, pulling at themes of yearning and loss. Fog and stark white light engulfed the stage before Noah Sebastian’s haunting vocals pierced through the noise. ‘Specter’ grounded the crowd into a shared emotional release. Just before the first chorus, the forum went pitch black suspending the moment in time, before a blinding light hit perfectly on the lyric “Do you feel love?” The eruption that followed carried through the rest of the night.
Switching gears into full brutality, ‘Glass House’ sent surfers and moshers colliding in unison. ‘The Drain’ brought out HEALTH’s Jake Duzsik, sending waves of excitement through the venue. Fan-favourite ‘THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND’ transformed the arena into a slow-burning frenzy of dancing, movement, and raw emotional connection.
A standout moment came when Caleb Shomo returned to join Noah on ‘Nowhere to Go’, extending the mid-chorus instrumental to expand the pit as large as possible, urging the crowd to move with purpose.
The second half of the set balanced aggression with vulnerability, creating an ouroboros of tension and release. ‘Just Pretend’ served as a soul-crushing penultimate moment. The lyrics hit deeply, and the crowd responded in kind, each person carrying their own emotional weight. Faces told different stories: anguish, joy, love, longing. Strangers embraced, some singing through tears, others finding comfort in the shared moment. Noah paused to ask for lights, turning the Forum into a constellation of swaying brightness. The moment carried into ‘Impose’, a cathartic and visually stunning closer. Blue lights and lasers painted the stage as confetti rained down, creating a euphoric, almost indescribable sense of release.
DETHRONE
In the silence that followed, the aggression began to build again. The crowd opened up the floor in anticipation, some doing push-ups, others chanting “De-throne!” in rhythm. The red, ember-like visuals lit the Forum as Noah led the call: “Concrete!” with the audience responding “Jungle!” louder each time. When the breakdown hit, it was pure, unfiltered brutality. Flames erupted across the stage as bodies collided in every direction. It was a test of endurance where every bruise, cut and drop of sweat became a badge of honour.
The ‘Dying to Love’ tour was a true tour de force, featuring some of the best in modern metal, where each act felt like a headliner. PRESIDENT rallied the crowd, Beartooth reignited a sense of freedom and Bad Omens delivered a cathartic, full-spectrum experience. Rally for PRESIDENT, set yourself free with Beartooth and be Dying to Love with Bad Omens at the next opportunity.