Bad Omens – Like A Villain

Bad Omens began their first headline tour, “The Killed & Born Again” tour, in early 2020 alongside Oh Sleeper, Thousand Below, and Bloodline. However, the COVID-19 global pandemic cut the tour in half. This left the band at home in Los Angeles, with nothing but time and endless ideas to explore. Boundless creativity led to heavy experimentation. They focused on what vocalist Noah Sebastian referred to as “cursive sound,” creating a new signature for the band. Noah and guitarist Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson took on the roles of writing, producing, and engineering all of the music. Grammy-nominee, Zakk Cervini, known for his work with Halsey, Poppy, and Grimes, mixed and mastered.

What emerged was the RIAA Gold-certified and BPI Silver-certified album, The Death of Peace of Mind. The album dominated charts and launched the band into massive global success after its release on February 25, 2022. Bad Omens stated, “Making the record changed us as songwriters and musicians. In many ways, I feel like it set me free as an artist because every decision made in the writing process was for myself, with no fear for anyone else’s expectations of what our third album should sound like. Be it our fans or our record label.”

In anticipation of the album, Bad Omens revealed the title track and “ARTIFICIAL SUICIDE,” followed by track six, “Like A Villain.” The single combines Noah’s breathy, light vocals and passionate belts with intense screaming. In true Bad Omens fashion, the verses are calm, building suspense for the catchy and bold chorus. Light screams forecast the breakdown, which appear in the second verse. A moment of pure atmosphere and quiet verse appears before the breakdown emerges with full force. The raw, confessional chorus belts, “I don’t wanna know all your secrets because I’ll tell / It’s hard enough being alone with myself / I don’t know how long I’ll be holding on / I know you tried your hardest I know that you meant well, / but you pushed me to the edge and I slipped and then I fell / I don’t know how long I’ll be holding on.”

Directed by Orie McGinness and produced by Michael Taylor, the music video is a snowy partner to “Like A Villain.” The band is depicted in the snow-covered mountains, on the streets at night, and in a glowing, orange space. The cinematic shots elevate the power of the song, leaving space for anticipation. Over the breakdown, a figure is depicted murdering someone as Noah screams, “I didn’t need it, it needed me.” As of 2025, the video has amassed over 50 million views on YouTube and almost 200 million streams on Spotify alone. Bad Omens continued their legacy of hard-hitting originals and immense fan engagement through “Like A Villain,” and its music video, continuing their massive success into The Death of Peace of Mind.