Omen

The Profile

Omen are an American heavy/epic metal band formed in 1983, famed for their classic run of Battle Cry (1984), Warning of Danger (1985), and The Curse (1986). The band’s original singer J.D. Kimball (d. 2003) and guitarist Kenny Powell defined their sharp, pathos-laden sound; later albums include Escape to Nowhere (1988), Reopening the Gates (1997), Eternal Black Dawn (2003), and Hammer Damage (2016).

Formed in 1983 in the United States; classic albums on Metal Blade include Battle Cry (1984), Warning of Danger (1985), The Curse (1986). J.D. Kimball was the original vocalist (died 2003). Subsequent releases include Escape to Nowhere (1988), Reopening the Gates (1997), Eternal Black Dawn (2003), and Hammer Damage (2016). Frequently cited alongside Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol for US epic metal.

Four fervent reviews celebrate Omen’s classic era—Battle Cry, Warning of Danger, The Curse—while casting a harsher eye on Escape to Nowhere and a measured one on Eternal Black Dawn. The writing highlights J.D. Kimball’s distinctive voice, Kenny Powell’s razor riffs, and the band’s place alongside Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol. Overall verdict: early Omen = essential cult heavy/epic metal; later years uneven but noteworthy.