BAD OMENS have returned with their second single of 2025, “Impose,” a track that once again proves the Virginia-born outfit are at the forefront of modern heavy music. After the dark allure of “Specter,” the band double down on atmosphere and emotion with a song that blurs the lines between metalcore, alternative rock and cinematic electronics, showcasing a side of BAD OMENS that is as vulnerable as it is powerful.
From the opening bars, “Impose” sets a mood. Delicate piano chords echo against industrial-tinged electronic flourishes and hypnotic percussion, creating a soundscape that feels both intimate and vast. This minimal yet layered backdrop gives Bad Omens vocalist Noah Sebastian the space to deliver one of his most affecting performances to date. His voice moves from confessional whispers to soaring melodies as he explores feelings of self-doubt and alienation.
Lyrically, “Impose” is steeped in imagery of isolation and impostor syndrome. Lines like “their echoes sit alone in a prison made of bone, oh I hate it, but it’s home for me” and “in every place I’m on my toes, and still I feel like I impose” speak to a restless search for belonging and the struggle to let people in. The refrain “It’s okay to let me go if you need” underlines a theme of letting go while wrestling with one’s own flaws — a stark contrast to the bombast of many of Bad Omens peers.
The accompanying video, co-directed by Sebastian and longtime collaborator Nico Poalillo, mirrors the song’s emotional intensity with an indie-film aesthetic. Rather than a straightforward narrative, it captures a fleeting night of connection and disorientation, framing a woman caught in cycles of fast living while a silent observer looks on. It’s a visual metaphor for the lyrics’ push-pull between intimacy and distance.
With “Impose,” BAD OMENS continue to expand their sonic palette while remaining unmistakably themselves. It’s a haunting, genre-defying single that cements their reputation as one of the most compelling bands in heavy music today — and a powerful statement that their creative ascent is only just beginning.
