Omen (band)

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

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, 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.

Members

Current line up

• Matt Story – Vocals
• Kenny Powell – Guitar
• Andy Haas – Bass
• Steve Wittig – Drums

Previous members

• J.D Kimball (deceased) – vocals
• Coburn Pharr – vocals
• Jody Henry – bass
• Gregg Powell – vocals
• Kevin Goocher – vocals^[2]
• Cam Daigneault – drums
• Chris Holly - Guitar ("Escape to Nowhere" Tour)
• Rick Murray – drums
• Scott Clute - bass
• George Call - vocals
• Danny White - drums
• Wampa - drums

Prior contributors

• Glen Milicky - bass

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
June 1997	Reopening The Gates	Massacre
September 15th, 2003	Eternal Black Dawn	Mausoleum
December 2011[3]	Hammer Damage	DSN Music

Live

Date of Release	Title	Label
2011	Into The Arena: 20 Years Live	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

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

References

1. ^ Metal Blade Records. "Metal Blade Records – OMEN". http://www.metalblade.com/index.php?zenid=db99d7ff5a1439cffd21d047d8f22388&manufacturers_id=114&zenid=db99d7ff5a1439cffd21d047d8f22388&main_page=index&cPath=454_515. Retrieved 2008-08-11. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "OMEN Singer, Daughter To Take Part In VH1 Show 'I Know My Kid's A Star'". Blabbermouth.net. February 12, 2008. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90541. Retrieved 2 May 2009. 
3. ^ "Omen - Hammer Damage". Metal Storm. Metal Storm. http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/album.php?album_id=48614. Retrieved 2011-10-09. 

External links

• Omen at MySpace
• Omen on Reverbnation [1]
• Omen Signs to DSN Music [2]