Omen (band)
Encyclopedia
Omen is an American heavy metal
band. The band was formed in Los Angeles, California
, in 1983, by lead guitarist Kenny Powell, previously with the band Savage Grace
and signed on with Metal Blade in 1984, with whom they released their debut Battle Cry
(which contained "The Axeman", which appeared on the soundtrack for the Heavy Metal themed 2009 video game Brütal Legend
).
In 1985 the second album Warning Of Danger
followed, which could easily compare with their debut, and built up Omen's reputation as one of the forefathers of power metal
acts, launched with groups such as Metallica
, Anthrax
, Megadeth
, and Slayer
.
In 1986 they released The Curse
, their first release with major label distribution by Capital Records in the US. In Japan the band climbed to Number 14 in the Burrn!
Charts.
With new singer Coburn Pharr (who would later leave to join Annihilator
) the band released Escape To Nowhere in 1988; although considered a departure from the classic Omen sound, "Thorn in Your Flesh" was their first hit single
in the US.
In 1996, they signed with new label Massacre Records
, and toured Europe with Fates Warning
for the first time. In October 2003, their former singer, J.D. Kimball, died having succumbed to cancer after three years of treatment.
Currently, Omen has released ten albums worldwide, including a 20th anniversary box set and plans a new release Hammer Damage scheduled for summer 2011 via DSN Music.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band. The band was formed in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, in 1983, by lead guitarist Kenny Powell, previously with the band Savage Grace
Savage Grace (band)
Savage Grace was a power/speed metal band from Los Angeles, California, Formed by Chris Logue and Brian East active from 1981 through 1993.-Biography:...
and signed on with Metal Blade in 1984, with whom they released their debut Battle Cry
Battle Cry (album)
Battle Cry is the debut album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1984 by Metal Blade.In 2005 Metal Blade re-released Battle Cry on Picture LP format, limited to 500 copies and including two bonus tracks....
(which contained "The Axeman", which appeared on the soundtrack for the Heavy Metal themed 2009 video game Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
).
In 1985 the second album Warning Of Danger
Warning Of Danger
Warning Of Danger is the second studio album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1985 by Metal Blade. In 1989 Metal Blade re-released Warning Of Danger with the EP Nightmares as bonus tracks.-Track listing:...
followed, which could easily compare with their debut, and built up Omen's reputation as one of the forefathers of power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
acts, launched with groups such as Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, and Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
.
In 1986 they released The Curse
The Curse (Omen album)
The Curse is the third studio album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1986 by Metal Blade. In 1996 Metal Blade re-released The Curse with the EP Nightmares as bonus tracks....
, their first release with major label distribution by Capital Records in the US. In Japan the band climbed to Number 14 in the Burrn!
Burrn!
Burrn! is a monthly Japanese magazine, published since 1984, for fans of heavy metal music. It is published by Shinko Music in Tokyo. The magazine's content is in Japanese, but the covers are predominantly in English.-References:* Japanavision...
Charts.
With new singer Coburn Pharr (who would later leave to join Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
) the band released Escape To Nowhere in 1988; although considered a departure from the classic Omen sound, "Thorn in Your Flesh" was their first hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
in the US.
In 1996, they signed with new label Massacre Records
Massacre Records
Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany.The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. The label is specialized on bands of the harder varieties of metal...
, and toured Europe with Fates Warning
Fates Warning
Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman in Hartford, Connecticut. Fates Warning has experienced numerous line-up changes...
for the first time. In October 2003, their former singer, J.D. Kimball, died having succumbed to cancer after three years of treatment.
Currently, Omen has released ten albums worldwide, including a 20th anniversary box set and plans a new release Hammer Damage scheduled for summer 2011 via DSN Music.
Current line up
- Matt Story – Vocals
- Kenny Powell – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Andy Haas – BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Steve Wittig – Drums
Previous members
- J.D Kimball (deceased) – vocals
- Coburn Pharr – vocals
- Jody Henry – bass
- Gregg Powell – vocals
- Kevin Goocher – vocals
- Cam Daigneault – drums
- Chris Holly - Guitar ("Escape to Nowhere" Tour)
- Rick Murray – drums
- Scott Clute - bass
- George Call - vocals
- Danny White - drums
- Wampa - drums
Studio
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| November 1984 | Battle Cry Battle Cry (album) Battle Cry is the debut album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1984 by Metal Blade.In 2005 Metal Blade re-released Battle Cry on Picture LP format, limited to 500 copies and including two bonus tracks.... |
Metal Blade Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
| October 1985 | Warning Of Danger Warning Of Danger Warning Of Danger is the second studio album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1985 by Metal Blade. In 1989 Metal Blade re-released Warning Of Danger with the EP Nightmares as bonus tracks.-Track listing:... |
|
| October 1986 | The Curse The Curse (Omen album) The Curse is the third studio album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1986 by Metal Blade. In 1996 Metal Blade re-released The Curse with the EP Nightmares as bonus tracks.... |
|
| October 1988 | Escape To Nowhere | |
| June 1997 | Reopening The Gates Reopening the Gates Reopening The Gates is the fifth studio album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1997 by Massacre. Kenny Powell is the only original Omen member playing on that album, and also the producer of it.-Track listing:... |
Massacre Massacre Records Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany.The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. The label is specialized on bands of the harder varieties of metal... |
| September 15th, 2003 | Eternal Black Dawn Eternal Black Dawn Eternal Black Dawn is the sixth studio album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 2003 by Crash Music Inc... |
Mausoleum Mausoleum Records Mausoleum Records is a Belgian-based heavy metal label headed by Alfie Falckenbach, once considered by Billboard as "one of Europe's premier hard rock labels".-Recording artists:-External links:* * at Spirit of Metal... |
| Due in 2012 | Hammer Damage | DSN Music |
Live
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Into The Arena | DSN Music |
EPs
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| April 1987 | Nightmares Nightmares (Omen album) Nightmares is the first EP album of the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1987 by Metal Blade. It was included as bonus tracks on the 1989 re-issue of Warning Of Danger and the 1996 re-issue of The Curse.-Track listing:... |
Metal Blade |
Compilations
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| November 1989 | Teeth Of The Hydra Teeth of the Hydra The Best Of Omen: Teeth Of The Hydra is a compilation album by the American heavy metal band Omen. It was originally released in 1989 by Metal Blade.The album compiles songs from all five Omen albums released by 1989.-Track listing:... |
Metal Blade |
| January 1998 | Battle Anthems Battle Anthems Battle Anthems is a compilation EP album by the American heavy metal band Omen. It was released in 1998 with now-defunct Greek music magazine Metal Invader issue #27.The album compiles songs from the first three Omen studio albums.-Track listing:... |
Metal Invader |
| 2010 | Blood - Steel - Vengeance | KRP |
Box Sets
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| September 10th, 2003 | 20th Anniversary Box Set | Metal Blade |
Video Albums
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| September 10th, 2003 | Live At The Country Club, Los Angeles, September 1984 | Metal Blade |
External links
- Omen at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Omen on Reverbnation http://www.reverbnation.com/omenofficial
- Omen Signs to DSN Music http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=157075