Omen - Battle Cry

Based out of Los Angels and guitarist Kenny Powell abandoning Sacred Blade, they formed in 1984 and quickly debuted with a track on the "Metal Massacre V" compilation, which attracted the interest of Metal Blade, and lo and behold, Omen had solidified a record deal even before playing their first gig. Their sterling debut, "Battle Cry" came out one year after Manowar's "Battle Hymns", thus many have come to the conclusion that the outfit is nothing more than another Manowar ripoff, but even from the first few songs the major differences between these two bands becomes quite clear. Omen's lyrics (and music), while fantasy based like the self styled "Kings of Metal", are much more serious, tough, brutal and savagely realistic, giving a more accurate portrayal of life in medieval times, much like one of the Conan stories (novel, movie, whatever) put to music. In Omen's world, there are whore house/taverns on every corner, battle is not always glorious, darkness is a force to be conquered within one's soul - not to be embraced, and bloodshed is inevitable when you live your life by the laws of steel. This was a stark contrast to Manowar's lyrical fare, which was steeped in a rose coloured view of these times, where war was always magnificently triumphant, no matter how many lives were paid for their killing sprees. And thankfully Omen stayed away from the often silly 'hail to true metal' that peppers their former rivals albums heavily. It's this band's raw, unglorified take on what would become a rather cliched and overused theme for metal music, that keeps their music as fresh as it was when it was first released.

J.D. Kimball's voice is one made of fire and iron, honed to a sharp polished finish and backed by enormous power. Had he continued in the metal business instead of disappearing off the face of the Earth after being fired from the band due to alcohol problems, his name would continously be mentioned in the same breath as other top class (and well known even outside of the metal circles) vocalists such as Bruce Dickinson, Eric Adams and Rob Halford. Kimball gives the harsh music much of its personality, delivering with the strength of a warrior and exercising his unforgiving charisma. The music itself mirrors the at-times almost poetic lyrics, ruthless and without remorse, the rhythm riffs hitting with a heavy thunk, like an axe smacking into warm flesh and crushing the bone underneath, and the guitar solos searing out notes in a sprinkling rain of splattering fresh blood flowing crimson from a newfallen victim's veins. Their fierce sonic assaults coupled with a smattering of NWOBHM sound crowned them one of the first originators of power metal music.

01.] "Death Rider" - Kicking off this brazen collection of barbarous music is one of the most memorable riffs of the disc, then the strong as an ox vocals join in with some very nicely done verses flaunted around the chorus that hit with the accuracy of a finely honed blade, the rest of the song is tackled with a grittier approach, like the knicked and chipped surface of a well-used axe's edge. The solo is malicious and venomous, striking quick and spiteful, like a distrubed snake seeking vengeance for its annoyance. "Upon a flaming steed you ride sickle tight in hand, in darkness you were born in darkness you make your stand."

02.] "The Axeman" - A commanding spoken voice introduces us to this thundering little tune, by illuminating what men once truly feared. T'was not the sword and the lance or the beast of fire he feared... then a terrified voice yells "THE AXEMAN!" Yes it was the executioner, a figure that turned the blood of every law and god fearing man cold, gripping their hearts with an icy touch. A searing explosion of musical fire drives this track onto a path that describes the stealing of a king's crown and a revolution that stirred up afterwards, desperate men rushing into war to claim freedom from a tyrannical ruler. Yet in the end there can be nothing but death. "Once we lose that precious dream there's nothing left to fight, now you are bound and gagged one last meal is your final right."

03.] "Last Rites" - Continuing the story from above, here we are allowed a glimpse of the execution, brought to life by the startlingly stark lyrics that describe the cold of the stone below, the terror laced inevitiability of what dawn will bring, then being lead up the steps as a mob has worked itself into a blood lusting frenzy, where only a severed head will bring their temporary insanity to calm. A chuggingly energetic track with alot of melody in the vocals that keep the song from flowing into mediocrity. Sweeping guitar solos and tempest spawned hollow drums beat out the sound of a heart's final pulses as its owner's head seperates from its body without fanfare. Swift and ruthless, but makes a great headbanger. "Bound hand and foot the hood is in place, pray for God's holy grace, off in the distance hear the churchbell ring, now the angels will sing."

04.] "Dragon's Breath" - Unleashed out of the gate at full throttle speeds, this one proudly brandishes an array of intricate electric notes that twirl around the chugging riffs and skull crushing drums. The chorus relies on the vocal lines which are very rhythmic and provide a nice contrast to the galloping verses. While current power metal bands focus on a noble knight sticking his sword into the beast and watching it fall to a pile of ashes, like a shiny children's tale with always a happy ending, Omen shows us the other side of the coin, the fear and the horror of such a monster ravaging the land where the stink of smoke and death linger from it's destruction spree. And noone is too proud to pray when everything they live for is currently at stake. "From the black abyss he rumbles all the earth, with a demon kiss he claims another birth."

05.] "Be My Wench" - And while our gallant modern day metal heroes wrap up the princess in their arms after such a massive battle, our "Battle Cry" warrior has to pay for his sexual encounters, as one of the primary jobs for women not blessed with nobility of medieval times was prostitution. However you could see this in another light, the young thankful maiden throwing herself at the man who just saved her life - as well as those of countless other village peons, by slaughtering the scaled fire breathing demon. This conjures images of the Conan the Barbarian books (especially those of Robert Jordan), where he had a new tavern girl every other night. The lyrics are far from being respectable and the song isn't quite up to the standards of some of the other golden nuggets to be found on this release, yet somehow it still strikes a chord with its quick pacing and Powell's machine gun guitar. The hollow thunking drums are perhaps the song's only drawback, but what else can you expect from early Metal Blade production? "She comes to me in the middle of the night wearing only silk and lace, bearing gifts of sex and wine with a burning embrace."

06.] "Battle Cry" - Back on the battlefield where war is definitely not worth the God forsaken land it is being fought upon, Omen paints a brutal picture with words and music of the sorrow of the fallen bodies littering the ground and soaking the grass with the red fluid of life. The guitars and vocals as unrelentless and ferocious as these warriors would be themselves. "The carnage races on well into the night, as the sun creeps up we see the morning light on the battlefield the tragedy of dawn."

07.] "Die By the Blade" - The best three minutes of music to ever be committed to tape is opened by what has become simply a classic opening riff that is the recurring theme throughout the song. Memorable does not cut it, this is absolutely killer, Iron Maiden who were known for their dazzling addictive rhythm guitar hooks never wrote anything this ruthlessly burning. A cruel, yet honest gaze at the unspoken laws of a world now lost and discovered only in stories. A time when it was steel versus steel and little else came inbetween. It's pacing is quick, lashing out and galloping along mind numblingly addictive riffs that carve their way into the soul. "You stand in my way... a fatal mistake, the path of destruction lies, lies in your way."

08.] "Prince of Darkness" - Yet another fast paced assault on the senses with the unwavering pipes of Kimball, even a few flourishes that will recall David DeFeis doing his abruptly, deep throated, evil vocal twists. This has almost a Christian feel lyrically, as they attempt to fight the demon and state at the quite memorable ending, "He may win the battle but not win the war, we will not give him places to dwell, soon armageddon will come like the thunder, the prince will be blasted to HELL!"

09.] "Bring Out the Beast" - This outfit's version of a love song is pure sex and lust, but does the pace slow down even the slightest bit for their tender ode to passion? Of course not! Bass and drum pounding and thick riffing abound. The solo is one of the finest of the disc, performing great electric acrobatics. "If you know what I am thinking deep inside my mind, maybe you will take a chance not fearing what you'll find."

10.] "In the Arena" - In a perfect world, this would have been the theme song for the movie "Gladiator". Everytime I watch the scenes where Russel Crowe is playing the part of the gladiator, I can't help but to envision this song rumbling in the background. It is an ominious testament to the bloody dance between life and death, where your destiny is taken into your own hands in a man to man fight for gold, glory and the wicked amusement of the crowd who have filed out in droves just to wait for one to die. The music rumbles along at a pace that seems quite leisurely when compared to the havoc wrecking speedier tracks to grace the disc. The deliberate pacing is there for a reason, it embodies the feel of waiting between bouts, the seconds that drag on forever as the warrior's defense slips and steel slices the flesh, and stakes that are too high... where death is the price the loser must pay. Rippling with growing excitement, the chorus whips out with a double bladed edge, sounding fantastically triumphant, yet no hint is given as to who emerges victorious from combat. "Your head is spinning you feel another blow, you hear the steel rip you to the bone."