Omen (band)

Omen
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Heavy metal
Speed metal
Power metal
Years active 1983–1988, 1996–present
Labels KRP, Metal Blade Records, DSN Music
Associated acts Savage Grace, Annihilator
Members Kenny Powell
Andy Haas
Steve Wittig
Kevin Goocher
Past members Coburn Pharr
J.D. Kimball
Greg Powell
Glenn Malicki
Scott Clute
Jody Henry
Cam Daigneault
Rick Murray
George Call
Danny White
Wampa Zayas

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[1] 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.

In 1986 they released The Curse, their first release with major label distribution by Capitol 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 seven studio albums worldwide, and a 20th anniversary box set. Promised release Hammer Damage has been delayed for more than 8 years and was released in 2016 via DSN Music.

Members

Current line up

Previous members

Timeline

Discography

Studio

Date of Release Title Label
November 1984 Battle Cry Metal Blade
October 1985 Warning of Danger
October 1986 The Curse
October 1988 Escape to Nowhere
March 1997 Reopening the Gates Massacre
September 15, 2003 Eternal Black Dawn Crash
2016[2] Hammer Damage DSN Music

Live

Date of Release Title Label
Dec 20, 2011 Into The Arena DSN Music

EPs

Date of Release Title Label
April 1987 Nightmares Metal Blade

Compilations

Date of Release Title Label
November 1989 Teeth Of The Hydra Metal Blade
January 1998 Battle Anthems Metal Invader
2010 Blood - Steel - Vengeance KRP
Dec 20, 2011 Into The Arena DSN Music

Box Sets

Date of Release Title Label
September 10, 2003 20th Anniversary Box Set Metal Blade

Video Albums

Date of Release Title Label
September 10, 2003 Live At The Country Club, Los Angeles, September 1984 Metal Blade

References

  1. ↑ Metal Blade Records. "Metal Blade Records – OMEN". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  2. ↑ "Omen - Hammer Damage". Metal Storm. Metal Storm. Retrieved 2011-10-09.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 11, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.