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Alongside Manowar’s first four albums, Manila Road’s Open the Gates and Crystal Logic and Bathory’s (un)holy trilogy, Omen’s Battle Cry is one of the most important chapters in the Holy Bible of epic metal (the same goes with their sophomore effort, Warning Of Danger). However, while the rest of the bunch recognized Sabbath, Rainbow, Wishbone Ash and early Rush as their primal influences, Omen were fervent Iron Maiden disciples, something that reflected clearly on their music. Unlike the others, Omen in Battle Cry played at a significantly higher pace, with thunderous riffs, modestly melodic passages and a craving for dual guitar leads. Their sword and sorcery themed songs followed standard structures that never extended to long epics, and their bloodthirsty heavy metal honestly owed very much to their amazingly powerful singer, JD Kimball, whose brave vocals were truly one of a kind; he wouldn’t reach for the higher notes, he would deliver simple, direct and memorable vocal lines instead.
This all resulted in 10 songs that could be appealing to any US power metal fan as well, exactly because of their relentlessness, which was quite atypical at the time-let’s not lose sight of the fact that the rapidly evolving epic metal scene was then following, consciously or not, Manowar’s “heavy as a slow moving ship in the sea” dogma. What made Omen a standout act and a name worthy of being pronounced in the same breath as the aforementioned epic metal giants though, was their indisputable talent. With songs such as Death Rider, The Axe man, Dragon’s Breath and epic metal’s national anthem, the title track, it wasn’t painful for even the most skeptical to overlook Battle Cry’s lack of balance which made this album slightly inconsistent. Rightfully, Omen quickly gained a relatively small but very devoted fan base, before becoming key figures and, as of today, one of the most important bands in epic metal, as they managed , to match-or maybe even surpass-with their following two records, Warning Of Danger and The Curse, their debut in terms of quality and influence.
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Album Rating: 4.0
This could easily go unnoticed, I don't know too many people who still like Omen, but I felt that this record definately deserved a review.
| | | Good review, pos.
Perhaps it would be better if the text was separated into two smaller paragraphs.
Warning Of Danger deserves to be reviewed too.
Sputnik needz moar old school metal.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
"Perhaps it would be better if the text was separated into two smaller paragraphs."
I did it,thanks.
"review seems alright but it lacks a little flow"
Definately not my best review, but I wanted to make it as short and informative as possible, given that no one seems to care about Omen anymore, let alone read a long text about them
| | | I am moved to see a review on this album, congrats
| | | good review, pos
Oaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!
That's my battle cry. Feedback please.
| | | 9/10
| | | Thank you. I appreciate your honesty, but the fact that the last point is missing will unfortunately lead to you being beheaded. Very sad indeed...I was starting to like you. I might just spare your life this time.
| | | I'm actually a nice guy. Don't be dishearted by my cruelness against Ethics. I promise you...He deserves it.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Omen is a band that really needs more love on here. The review is short and great, pos.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Epic and powerful, what more can you ask?
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Only a few select get it.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
YOU LIVE BY THE SWORD
YOU'LL DIE BY THE BLADE
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
in the days of darkness men feared not the sword and the lance
nor did he fear the beast of fire
he feared...
THE AXEMAAAAAAAN!!
| | | Last Rites is such a jam. Whole album really but last rites too.
| | | god fucking damn this album is too good. I'm bout to go on a USPM kick I can feel it in my veins m/
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Can't really go wrong with Warlord, Omen, Jag Panzer, Manilla Road, Iced Earth, etc.
| | | how hard are you jammin this manos
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
You can put Smurfs on the cover of an album holding swords, axes and fighting dragons and I'd still jam it hard haha.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
so good
| | | This is awesome
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