Bad Omens and the Unstoppable Rise of “Just Pretend”
In a rock landscape often overrun by recycled riffs and predictable lyrics, Bad Omens has managed to carve out a sound — and a story — that’s anything but ordinary. Their breakout hit “Just Pretend” is a perfect example: a song that was never meant to be taken seriously ended up redefining their career and elevating them into rock’s major leagues.
Formed in 2015, Bad Omens — fronted by vocalist Noah Sebastian along with Nicholas Ruffilo (bass), Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson (guitar), and Nick Folio (drums) — had already been steadily building a dedicated following. Their earlier releases showed off a sharp blend of metalcore grit and cinematic atmosphere. But it was their 2022 album The Death of Peace of Mind that shifted everything, largely thanks to the unexpected runaway success of “Just Pretend.”
Ironically, “Just Pretend” wasn’t originally written with grand ambitions. Noah Sebastian has openly said the song began as a bit of an inside joke — an experiment to see if they could write a stereotypical, radio-ready rock track. Instead, what they stumbled upon was a chorus and melody too powerful to ignore. Stripped of its initial tongue-in-cheek intent, the final product captured something raw, emotional, and instantly relatable.
Musically, “Just Pretend” straddles the line between alternative metal and mainstream rock. It’s built on surging guitars, aching vocals, and an unforgettable hook that feels both massive and intimate. Lyrically, the track deals with emotional suppression, self-deception, and the lingering ghosts of a relationship falling apart. Lines like “I’m not okay, but I guess I’ll just pretend” feel devastating in their simplicity, giving listeners an honest look at the human instinct to mask pain rather than confront it.
The accompanying music video, directed by Erik Rojas, only deepened the emotional resonance. Featuring a man trapped in a crumbling memory simulation, it added a sci-fi edge to the heartbreak — a metaphor for the inescapable cycles of loss and denial.
Following its release, “Just Pretend” exploded across platforms like TikTok, with users setting deeply personal stories to the song’s haunting melodies. By early 2023, it had topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock and Alternative charts and earned a Gold certification from the RIAA, later climbing to Platinum status in 2024. Bad Omens had arrived — but not by playing the game. They had bent the rules entirely.
What makes “Just Pretend” so magnetic isn’t just the catchiness — it’s the authenticity behind it. Even though it started as satire, the song’s emotional core struck a nerve in a world where people are desperate for honesty beneath the noise. Bad Omens, intentionally or not, captured something that modern rock desperately needed: vulnerability without pretense.
As they continue to sell out venues and headline festivals, Bad Omens is proving they’re more than just a viral moment. With “Just Pretend,” they didn’t just craft a hit — they crafted a cultural touchstone, showing that even in a genre often dismissed as over-the-top, there’s still plenty of room for truth.
At Riot Media, we’re watching closely — and if “Just Pretend” is any indicator, Bad Omens is just getting started.