By Clara Tsac
Twin Cities artist Omen packs a heavy metal punch in new album Bad A fusion of hip-hop and rock, Omen spits smooth existentialist bravado over distorted guitar lines and punk drums. Produced by DJ Name and Wesley Opus with additional backup vocals by Wesley Opus, the instrumentation leans towards the Midwestern punk-rap sensibility of Doomtree. It’s difficult to say whether the album is a rap album steeped in metal, or a heavy metal album with no singing.
The opening track, “Bad,” embodies the essence of the album: Weirdly catchy, full of warped instrumentals, substantial drum lines. One of the most lyrically advanced tracks on the album is “The Woods.” If you ever wondered what your spirit animal is, you’re not alone. Apparently Omen spends quite a bit of time pondering this too, as expressed in this slightly esoteric homage to Minnesota. “With the spirit of our pure-hearted ancestors/ I hear the battle cry when I feel the damn pressure/ I answer back to stay in touch with the fold/ My habitat is Minnesota and that answers it all,” Omen spits.
At times the delivery verges on cheesy, but is balanced with sick drum lines that could make anybody nod along. Although “Bad” is an album that has room for growth, it makes us take note of Omen as an artist to keep an eye on.
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