siLLy puPPy
Although they didn’t quite match the success of other early classic 80s metal bands, the Los Angeles based OMEN nonetheless was a part of the larger metal world of the era and have maintained a loyal cult following ever since. While the band has been an off and on again entity since they formed in 1983, their most productive period was the mid-80s with their debut BATTLE CRY topping the fans’ list as one of their best offerings. The band was founded by guitarist Kenny Powell who was already signed on the Metal Blade label with his band Savage Grace so after leaving the band he found an instant home with Metal Blade and continued his own musical vision. The album would also be released on Roadrunner Records in Europe. There also exists a 2005 Limited Edition Picture LP with bonus tracks.
OMEN exemplified exactly what you would expect in the world of heavy metal from the year 1984, that being an Iron Maiden meets early Queensryche type of early US power metal that focused on epic themes of war, history and fantasy. The band’s sound is very much in the realms of Manilla Road, Brocas Helm and early Helstar, however i tend to like them less than the other bands for at this stage at least they seem to be in the midst of simmering all their influences into their own sound but haven’t quite achieved so yet. The riffing is very Maiden influenced as are the bass grooves of Jody Henry with some track like “Last Rites” sounding directly lifted out of the Maiden playbook in the guitar, bass and vocal styles. Ditto for “Die By The Blade.” There are also strong references to the debut Queensryche EP with the dramatic chord changes but despite these understandable influences J.D. Kimball’s vocal abilities pale in comparison.
Where OMEN shines the most brightly on BATTLE CRY is on the title track itself with its feedback saturated intro bursting into the ultimate journey into bloodstained lands where war has scarred and besieged many whom were laid to waste. BATTLE CRY seems to be considered by some to be a classic of sorts but i just can’t seem to get into this one as every track just seems too similar to the original influential bands that came before and not only does OMEN not achieve anything substantially originally but also sounds like they need to pay their dues a little longer as the vocals are flat for the style they are playing and although the guitars, bass and drums all get the job done, everything is far too safe. Personally i would much prefer contemporaries Manilla Road or Brocas Helm any day as they developed their own sound from the start. Still though BATTLE CRY is a well performed relic from the era that isn’t without its merits, it’s just that in the end it doesn’t deliver enough for me to put them on the top of the early power metal heap either.