Bad Omens released their self-titled debut through Sumerian Records on 19 August 2016. Its twelve tracks included Glass Houses, Exit Wounds and The Worst In Me, introducing the low-tuned guitars, dramatic melodies and atmosphere that became familiar parts of the band.
The clean hooks and electronics were already there, but inside heavier, more conventional metalcore arrangements than the band would use later.
The 2016 version of Bad Omens
Glass Houses starts hard, Exit Wounds keeps the verses tense, and The Worst In Me gives Noah Sebastian's clean and harsh vocals equal space. You can hear the interest in cinematic songs, with breakdowns still firmly in place.
What carried forward
The clean hooks, electronics and atmospheric transitions grew much bigger on later records. Going back to the debut, it's interesting to hear those ideas while the band were still working within a more familiar metalcore sound.
Put it beside The Death of Peace of Mind and the change is obvious. Some of the instincts were there from the start, even if the sound around them changed almost completely.
