Do You Feel Love?

The mission of the day was to see if Prudential was going to piss me off or not, considering the Nine Inch Nails incident. We arrived 15 minutes before doors opened at 6 pm and got through in 5 minutes, even though I was patted down by security. *Rolls eyes.* I know I’m a fiery short bitch, but all I had was jewelry on, no weapons. So Prudential is still on my shit list, but they have a chance at redemption. I really hope I never have to go back there, though.

Danny said we were the oldest there while standing in line. lmao. We definitely weren’t, but I do like the younger crowd. They’re more energetic, and the girls wear way cuter outfits. I’m dying for the younger crowds to infiltrate Korn shows. I’m tired of the alcoholic old heads at those concerts. I don’t even think this crowd was drinking that much. I definitely saw plenty of people without a beverage in hand. 

First up was President! President is an anonymous English band that emerged on the scene in 2025. Like Sleep Token, their identities are hidden, with the frontman going by “The President” and dressed in a black tuxedo, wearing a silver-haired mask that resembles a wrinkled wax figure. Interestingly, this band has only released seven songs and no full-length album. I remember the speculation that President was an industry plant because they made their live debut at Download 2025 without any prior music being released. I’m under the impression that the frontman might already be established, but I guess we won’t know for now.

I’m not going to lie, I’m a sucker for anonymous bands. If you’re an old Slipknot fan like me, you’ll remember the buzz and curiosity around their anonymity, but those days are long gone. I was really blown away when the frontman started their set. I didn’t expect a voice like that, as I didn’t get to listen to the band before the concert. The band sounded fantastic live, and Mr. President has such a powerful voice that really resonated with me. I genuinely enjoyed their songs. Their music feels like a blend of metalcore with touches of electronic and pop elements. They definitely piqued my curiosity, and I’ve been listening to them lately. Who knows, I might even become a fan.

Setlist:

1. Fearless

2. Dionysus
3. RAGE
4. Angel Wings
5. Conclave
6. Destroy Me
7. In the Name of the Father

Next up, Beartooth! Danny is a huge Beartooth fan, which really motivated me to get these tickets. While I’ve enjoyed a lot of the bands he’s introduced me to, I’ve had a harder time connecting with Beartooth. It just hasn’t clicked as naturally for me as it has for bands like The Devil Wears Prada or Bring Me the Horizon. That said, I DO like their new single “Free,” even though part of the fanbase seems to be losing their minds over it and the music video lol. I’m not super familiar with them overall, but it seems like Caleb is leaning into a more “feminine” look lately. And honestly, I can’t believe there’s still this much homophobia in metal in 2026. Like… are you serious? Frontmen in rock and metal have been playing with makeup, fashion, and gender expression for decades… David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Prince, Mötley Crüe… this isn’t new.

And even then, presenting in a more feminine way doesn’t automatically mean someone is queer. People still don’t seem to understand the difference between gender expression and sexuality, and it’s exhausting. You can be a man and dress in a more feminized way without it meaning you’re gay or trans. I don’t get why everything has to be so black and white for people. If someone expressing themselves more freely makes you uncomfortable, maybe that says more about you than it does about them. And acting like someone is suddenly “too much” or egotistical just because they’re more confident and expressive is ridiculous. But I digress.

Beartooth put on a great show. Caleb is seriously talented. His vocals were on point, and he brought so much energy and presence to the set. I also realized I know way more Beartooth songs than I originally thought, which is funny because I was wishing I had come in a bit more prepared and familiar with their catalog. Their earlier music blends hardcore energy with metalcore and really personal lyrics, while their newer stuff feels more polished and melodic. Honestly, that kind of evolution feels pretty natural for a lot of bands, even Slipknot sounds different from where they started. I usually don’t mind when metalcore bands move in that direction anyway.

Hearing the songs live definitely changed my perspective. It gave me a new appreciation for their sound and made me want to go back and listen to them more intentionally. Also, a funny sidenote. A girl behind us was talking shit and called Caleb pretentious. I guess she’s one of those online idiots. Danny said he wanted to punch her. LOL. 

Setlist:
1. Might Love Myself
2. In Between
3. Doubt Me
4. ATTN.
5. Disease
6. The Lines
7. Free
8. Sunshine!
9. You Never Know
10. The Past Is Dead
11. Riptide

Finally, Bad Omens took the stage! This was yet another concert I was on the fence about. I wasn’t sure if I was a big enough Bad Omens fan to justify spending that kind of money, but honestly, metal concerts always have me like “just do it.” And when I tell you I’m SO glad I went… girl. Bad Omens are incredible live. It’s kind of funny thinking about how different they seemed when they first started. I didn’t even realize Danny saw them up close at Warped Tour like 10 years ago until he showed me a video he shot. Now they’ve really locked into a signature sound, and people, especially girls, have latched on. And I mean latched on in an intense way… to the point where the frontman basically got driven off social media because of stalker-level behavior.

I’ll admit, I was a crazed teenager once, fully obsessed with Korn and Slipknot, but social media has seriously amplified that kind of parasocial energy into something way more unhinged. I genuinely feel bad for Noah Sebastian. You can tell he wants to be taken seriously as a metal artist, not reduced to an internet heartthrob. You just know he hates those stupid fucking duck memes. It’s all very juvenile. And with all that buzz and chaotic fanbase, my curiosity to dive deeper into their music spiked. I had already been hyper-fixated on “V.A.N.” and “The Drain,” and then I got into The Death of Peace of Mind plus their newer singles, and I’ve been playing them constantly. So… here we are. I think I’m officially a Bad Omens fan.

Honestly, if I had to put it in ✨pop girlie✨ terms (LOL), Bad Omens kind of remind me of Sabrina Carpenter. They’ve both really honed in on a distinct sound, aesthetic, and overall vibe. A glow up, if you will. And now they’re huge in their respective lanes, playing arenas instead of smaller venues like Irving Plaza. It was all so sudden and fast, and now we are forced to pay premium prices for concert tickets. *Sigh* 

I managed to grab really great seats, and thank the Universe, no one tall was blocking my view. Everything about this show was amazing, and it reminded me exactly why I’m a metalhead. The crowd was alive. People were moshing even during the slower, more melodic parts of songs. They followed every cue to open up a pit, and there were countless crowd surfers. The band sounded incredible, and Noah’s vocals were phenomenal live. He is the kind of frontman who has a monster voice with serious range and control. He honestly reminds me of Corey Taylor. Both have insanely powerful clean and unclean vocals that stand out. Funny enough, I just saw they collaborated on “Dust in the Wind” for The Queen of the Ring soundtrack. I need more metal vocalists like this, but it is also cool to see the torch being passed.

Bad Omens mostly played songs from The Death of Peace of Mind, along with some older tracks, new singles, and collaborations from Concrete Jungle. I have now seen both Poppy and Bad Omens perform “V.A.N.”… just not together lol. The visuals were also on point. I loved the stage design with fire, light shows, and even confetti. Noah talked to the crowd for a bit to rest his voice and said we were giving Canada a run for their money. People started chanting "USA," and he said we didn't have to do all that lol. Also, sidenote: I noticed he does not headbang like a lot of other frontmen, which I found interesting.

For once, there was a proper encore. Usually, bands leave the stage and come back a few minutes later because no one leaves without hearing Korn play “Freak on a Leash.” You just know the band still has 3-4 songs left to play. This time, people were genuinely chanting for “Dethrone,” and it felt like forever before the band came back out for one last song. I honestly do not know how some of you do not listen to metal. The scream that came out of that man was deep, visceral, and almost demonic. The note he held was insane. I loved every second of it.

At the end of the show, the band members traditionally throw guitar picks and drumsticks into the crowd. I noticed Noah come out with a video recorder, which I thought was really cute. He left for a moment, then returned with paper airplanes, which I suspect were setlists, and started tossing them into the audience. There is something about that that feels so wholesome.

I have no words. It was an incredible experience. Shows like this keep me going month to month. Even when I feel lazy and do not want to get ready, I know it is always worth it for a few hours of pure metal bliss. Nothing exciting is lined up for April yet, but I will be back on my concert grind soon. Stay tuned for my mission to score affordable Bring Me the Horizon tickets lol. There's just something about me missing BMTH at MSG that my stubborn ass won't accept. If not, it is on to Electric Callboy!

Setlist:

1. Specter
2. Glass Houses
3. THE DRAIN
4. THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND
5. Dying to Love
6. CONCRETE JUNGLE
7. Nowhere to Go
8. Limits
9. ARTIFICIAL SUICIDE
10. V.A.N
11. Left for Good
12. ANYTHING > HUMAN
13. What Do You Want From Me?
14. What It Cost
15. Like a Villain
16. Just Pretend
17. Impose

Encore:

18. Dethrone