OMENS

While Canada has a rich history of exporting world-class musical acts, it’s been a minute since a heavy band with full-throttle hooks primed for rock radio made a dent in the permafrost. Enter OMENS.  “Winnipeg is a hard, badass place and it’s made us into a hard, badass band,” declares Mike Keller, guitarist for the newly minted trio.  Armed out of the gate with a full-length also called OMENS, there is palpable intent here through 12 thumpin’ bangers that add up to one heck of an opening calling card. An anthemic soundtrack for our strange, conflicted times, every song feels like a serrated stake being driven further into the ground. From the old-school metal intro of “Divide and Conquer” to the pummelling chug of the album’s first single, “Black Magic,” it’s clear OMENS is out to—as the album’s closer “Crowd Pleaser” promises—give the people what they want. So if you’ve been pining for downtuned riffs, singalong choruses, and cannonading drums, your new favourite band is probably OMENS. OMENS is... Mike Keller shredding on guitar Don Jacks hitting the drums real hard Trev Tuminski singing and playing guitar sometimes Mike Onufreychuk thumping on 5-string left-handed bass