The 5 Best Bad Omens Songs That Define the Band

2025-09-24

Metalcore band Bad Omens.

Metalcore band Bad Omens is one of the hottest bands on the circuit, so Audio Ink Radio is highlighting five of their best songs. – Author: Cat Badra, Photo from Oswaldo Cepeda

When Noah Sebastian, Nicholas Ruffilo and Vincent Riquier first conceived Bad Omens circa 2013 (while Sebastian was writing lyrics on the side of his band Immoralist), they probably didn’t foresee that their namesake would become one of modern metal’s most talked-about acts. By 2015, the trio formally launched Bad Omens in Richmond, Va. They soon added Swedish guitarist Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson and drummer Nick Folio (the latter after submitting an online drum cover) to solidify the lineup, according to The Metalverse.

The band’s self-titled debut arrived in August 2016 on Sumerian Records, laying down a foundation of metalcore tempered with ambient and melodic ambition, Last.fm notes. Touring with acts like Asking Alexandria and Parkway Drive in those early years helped them gain traction within the heavy music circuit, according to The Metalverse. In 2019 came their second LP, “Finding God Before God Finds Me,” and in 2022, their third, “The Death of Peace of Mind,” marked a turning point, a more expansive sonic palette that blended industrial, pop, electronic touches and infectious hooks.

In a fan poll conducted by Revolver, readers ranked their top five Bad Omens tracks as, “Dethrone,” “Artificial Suicide,” “Limits,” “The Grey” and “Like a Villain.” That list offers a guide, but not necessarily the definitive truth. Here is my own view, and the story behind each, of what I believe are the five best Bad Omens songs to date.

Audio Ink Radio’s Favorite Bad Omens Songs

“Dethrone”

When Revolver fans voted, “Dethrone” claimed the top spot, that position didn’t surprise me. It stitches together jagged riffs, urgent screams, and poetic tension. Its breakdowns hit with precision, and live, it often serves as a climactic encore moment. In my listening, “Dethrone” embodies the tension between aggression and melody that Bad Omens often walk so well.

“Limits”

What’s notable is that “Limits” originally appeared as a deluxe bonus track on “Finding God Before God Finds Me”, not the main album. Yet fans elevated it to No. 3 in Revolver’s poll. That says something, the song’s emotional resonance, soaring clean vocals, and memorable guitar hooks connect beyond just the heavy crowd. I often return to “Limits” when I want a moment of catharsis, it balances weight and melody with elegance.

“The Grey”

“The Grey” finds its place at No. 4 in the fan poll from Revolver. It’s moody, atmospheric, even minimal in parts, before erupting into a dramatic hook. Its restraint is just as compelling as its intensity. In my estimation, this track demonstrates Bad Omens’ willingness to let silence and subtlety breathe, before delivering emotional payoff.

“Like a Villain”

Rounding out the Revolver fan poll is “Like a Villain.” This is the track I personally find myself replaying the most. The chorus is both haunting and infectiously catchy, and the fusion of ambient synthesis with crushing guitars and pounding drums feels like a signature moment, the band fully leaning into their evolved identity. For many listeners, including myself, this is where Bad Omens truly touch something transcendent.

My Personal Wildcard, “Just Pretend”

Though it did not appear in that particular fan poll top five, I would argue “Just Pretend” deserves mention as a kind of honorary sixth pick. The song went viral via TikTok, becoming their first major radio breakthrough with chart success on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock and Alternative Airplay. The result, a sleek, emotive yet heavy rock track that broadened the band’s reach. To me, it represents cultural impact as well as musical merit.

The arc of Bad Omens is striking. They started within the more traditional boundaries of metalcore, but by “The Death of Peace of Mind” they had consciously stretched outward, sampling household sounds and integrating nontraditional textures, according to The Metalverse. That leap paid dividends, the album earned critical praise, and the band’s influence widened, including a spot in Revolver’s 25 Best Albums of 2022.

And though not every fan agrees on the “top five,” the Revolver poll reflects the core of what many listeners cherish, songs that merge heaviness with melody, intimacy with spectacle, notes Revolver.

So, if you’re really new to Bad Omens, or just rethinking their catalog, I would start with “Like a Villain,” “The Grey,” “Limits,” “Dethrone” and then listen to “Just Pretend” to see how far the band has journeyed. Over time, that list might shift. But right now, these are the songs that strike me as the band at their most potent, visceral, vulnerable and unafraid.

Cat Badra
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Posted by Cat Badra | Rock News

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