Bad Omens Set Nottingham Ablaze With a Career Defining Performance

Stepping into Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, fans were immediately met with buzzing merchandise stands and bars. Proof that anticipation for Bad Omens was sky-high long before the lights dimmed.

But nothing could prepare the arena for what came next.

Bad Omens tore open the night with their new single “Spectre,” emerging through thick clouds of smoke as Noah’s chillingly smooth vocals drifted across the room. Backed by thunderous instrumentation, the band had the audience locked in from the first note.

The setlist hit every corner of their catalogue, firing off fan favorites like “The Death of Peace of Mind,” “Nowhere to Go,” “Artificial Suicide,” and “V.A.N.”

And then came “Dying to Love.” When the stage dropped into silence and Noah unleashed that infamous off-mic scream, the entire arena erupted. Combined with Joakim Karlsson’s rhythmic backing vocals, it became clear just how much raw versatility each member brings to the Bad Omens identity.

One of the standout moments was the band’s newest release, “Left for Good.” Even two days later, that soaring, gut-punch chorus still rings in my mind. Watching Noah effortlessly command thousands of people circle pits breaking out, fans screaming along. The emotion in the room was overwhelming. His shifts between melodic belts and vicious barks hit with goosebump inducing intensity.

The production alone was a spectacle. Flames, smoke cannons, perfectly timed bursts of light it all pulled the crowd even deeper into the show. And in true fan-family fashion, the entire arena came together to celebrate Nicholas Ruffilo’s birthday, sending a chorus of 8,000 voices into the air.

Between the infamous UK mosh-pit mime, the tears, the screams, and every lyric shouted back at the band, the energy never dipped for a second.

When the opening note of their Billboard #1 hit “Just Pretend” rang out, you could feel the shift. Thousands stopped, breathed in, and sang with every ounce of emotion they had left. Arms raised, voices shaking it was a moment that perfectly captured why Bad Omens means so much to so many.

The intensity surged again when Jonathan Vigil of The Ghost Inside joined the band for “Anything > Human.” His pulverizing screams paired with Noah’s melodic tone created one of the night’s most electrifying combinations.

Photo Credit: Bryan Kirks

Closing the main set with the haunting “Impose,” confetti rained down while flames and smoke erupted in perfect sync. Drummer Nick Folio delivered a masterclass performance, navigating genre-bending rhythms with unreal precision. “Impose” hit even harder live, its message about toxic relationships amplified by the weight of the moment. But the night wasn’t over.

Noah began the deafening chant “CONCRETE!” Then came the rapid-fire response “Jungle!” Faster. Louder. Building like a storm.

Then Noah detonated the encore with: “THIS IS DETHRONE, MOTHERFUCKERS!” The riff hit like a bomb. Flames shot skyward. The floor transformed into a swirling mass of mosh pits and adrenaline. It was pure, unfiltered chaos in the best possible way an ending worthy of one of the strongest rock tours of the year.

Bad Omens didn’t just put on a show. They delivered a cathartic, emotional, full-body experience. If you ever have the chance to see them live, take it. This is a band that will leave you breathless, speechless, and absolutely desperate to do it all again.