Description: Brand new and sealed. The photo used is the stock photo for this version of the record. This is a 2021 repress/import from HIGH ROLLER RECORDS High Roller Records, white vinyl, ltd 300 copies, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, lyric sheet printed on uncoatd paper, poster, A5 photo card, Restored Roadster master! Transfer by Marcus Mossmann at PHONGRAPHIC ARTIFACTS, mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in March 2020. Cutting by SST Germany on Neumann machines for optimal quality on all levels ... The ultimate audiophile edition of this eternal classic! SHIPS SAFE!!!! -- OMEN - Battle Cry LP J.D. Kimball - Lead VocalsKenny Powell - Guitars, Backing VocalsJody Henry - Bass, Backing VocalsSteve Wittig - Drums 01 Death Rider02 The Axeman03 Last Rites04 Dragon's Breath05 Be My Wench06 Battle Cry07 Die by the Blade08 Prince of Darkness09 Bring out the Beast10 In the Arena fully restored original artwork by Andre H. Tueroffmastered for vinyl by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony Omen’s debut album is one of the quintessential US Metal albums. Maybe even more: some have described »Battle Cry«, originally released on Metal Blade Records in 1984, as one of the best heavy metal albums ever written. Omen were originally formed in 1983 in Oklahoma by Kenny Powell (guitars), Jody Henry (bass) and Steve Wittig (drums). Not long after they moved to Los Angeles and found an outstanding vocalist in J.D. Kimball. Their song “Torture Me” appeared on »Metal Massacre V«. Soon after Omen inked a deal with Brian Slagel’s legendary Metal Blade label an started recording their first album »Battle Cry«, which saw the light of day in 1984. Songs like “Death Rider”, “Dragon’s Breath”, “In The Arena” and “The Axeman” were not immediately hailed as classics in the band’s native America (and in the UK for that matter). It was Europe and especially Germany that took Omen to its heart. At the time, Omen were quite often (rather inappropriately) described as “Iron Maiden on speed”. Boris Kaiser, chief editor of German Rock Hard magazine, found more fitting words in the book »Best Of Rock & Metal«: “The world will probably never again see a band that sounded as unique as Omen on their first three albums »Battle Cry«,»Warning Of Danger« and »The Curse«. That was mainly down to J.D. Kimball’s deep, majestic and highly melodic vocals. Add some great guitar work by Kenny Powell and a more than solid rhythm section and you will end up with one of the best power metal bands of all time.” Matthias Mader If Omen could be said to have only one thing going for them on their debut album, Battle Cry, it would be that it is utterly cohesive. Everything has its place, and fits together seamlessly like pieces of a puzzle - a puzzle that magically melds together after it's assembled, leaving no trace that it was ever fragmented in the first place. The riffs, the vocals, the song structures, the lyrics, the bass, the album art - they all work together flawlessly to paint a picture of the medieval battle scene that's so obvious on the album's cover. Hell, even the production only adds to the aesthetic, the icing on our proverbial cake. The thick, meaty guitar tone slices the listener like a headsman's axe or a warrior's broadsword, while easily remaining catchy enough to keep the listener's attention. Luckily, this complete cohesion is not the only thing they have going for them; they go beyond painting a flawless picture and also deliver a heartfelt, enjoyable musical experience, crafted through savagely infectious riffs and solos, and an absolutely barbaric and charismatic vocal performance from the legendary J. D. Kimball. Besides which, the members of Omen are absolutely fantastic at writing songs. The riff progressions are as seamless and organic as everything else about the album, and they end before any of the riffs or melodies have the chance to grow stale; Omen are graced with the ability to know exactly how long they can utilize an idea, and they take full advantage of that knowledge, milking it as much as possible before it runs dry. Such being the case, the songs don't show so much as a hint of progressive elements, with each song usually only consisting of only about three or four riffs, and generally running with the tried and true verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus structure. Most of the songs also have intro riffs, and a couple of them are unorthodox, such as the bass solo at the beginning of "Prince of Darkness" or the acoustic guitar leading into "Into the Arena", but that's about as experimental as they get. Stylistically, the album takes a lot of influence from NWOBHM, and occasionally seems as if it wouldn't be out of place in an early Iron Maiden or Angel Witch album; considering it came out in 1984, that's understandable. Power metal was in its most formative years, with most landmark releases not coming out until 1984 itself, and only a handful of releases, such as Queensryche's self-titled EP and Manowar's Into Glory Ride, having already come out. In fact, Omen don't really show any influence from Queensryche or Manowar here, and their relatively similar style is more a case of convergent evolution than anything else; Omen took the classic heavy metal and NWOBHM in a similar direction to that of Queensryche and Manowar. Aesthetically, there's no question that Battle Cry stands firmly in the power metal camp; they take NWOBHM riffs and play them faster, with different songwriting structures, and with more aggressive vocal lines. One could even argue that there's a hint of speed metal here and there, although it's definitely dominated by power. Along with Manilla Road, Omen could also be said to be pioneers of the epic metal genre; while their song structures aren't as unorthodox as Manilla Road's, they definitely evoke a similarly epic atmosphere; while perhaps not "epic power metal", per se, they definitely play power metal with a decent-sized dash of epic. There's definitely no one quite like J. D. Kimball out there; while he wasn't the only singer in the 80s to use a rasp and sort of howl and roar melodically rather than sing, exactly, his particular brand of 5-packs-a-day charm is pretty unique. He sounds like nothing more than a desperate, battle-scarred warrior ready to decapitate or be decapitated if the situation calls for it, which it frequently does here. His vocals are perfect for lines like "Bow down to the axeman!" or "You'll live by the sword...you'll die by the blade!", and the riffs and solos complement him perfectly, catering to his voice flawlessly. Every song here is a winner, although the last two take a slight dip in quality. There are no crappy power ballads, no guitar masturbation a la Manowar, no acoustic interludes. Some lean a little bit more towards gritty heavy metal, while others lean towards epic power metal, but as I stated earlier, the album is cohesive enough that you really can't distinguish any difference of style between songs. The crushing riffs of "The Axeman" are not only in the same ballpark as the catchy soloing of "Die By the Blade", they're sitting in the same row of seats. Even "Be My Wench", which takes a lyrical hiatus, as Kimball roars about having his way with a woman - albeit in the same savage medieval setting - the songwriting doesn't change. He howls "Be my...be my...be my wench tonight!" with the same ferocity as he shrieks "BATTLE CRYYYY!!!!", and the guitars continue to back him up. "Bring Out the Beast" is in the same style, the only problem is, the riffs aren't quite up to par, and it shows. It's still decent enough to be fairly enjoyable, but it won't have you headbanging and roaring along with Kimball like the rest of the album. "Into the Arena" is a bit better than "Bring Out the Beast", but it's still lacking that same charm and power that the rest of the album retains; that said, it's definitely an enjoyable song, and these two do little to tarnish the album's greatness. If you've yet to check out Omen's debut album, do so immediately - it's a pinnacle of USPM, and you won't be disappointed. Omen is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. Known for their powerful and epic sound, Omen is a key player in the early U.S. power metal scene. The band’s music is characterized by galloping riffs, soaring vocals, and anthemic choruses. Their lyrical themes often revolve around fantasy, mythology, and heroic battles, making their music appealing to fans of epic and traditional heavy metal. "Battle Cry" - Album Description"Battle Cry" is Omen's debut studio album, released in 1984. It is widely regarded as a classic in the power metal genre and has been influential in shaping the sound of American power metal. The album is noted for its powerful riffs, dynamic compositions, and memorable melodies. Key tracks from the album include: "Death Rider" - The opening track that sets the tone with its fast pace and powerful riffing."The Axeman" - A standout song with epic lyrics and a galloping rhythm that showcases the band's signature sound."Battle Cry" - The title track, known for its anthemic chorus and powerful, heroic themes."Last Rites" - A track that combines melodic elements with intense guitar work and dramatic vocals."Dragon's Breath" - A song that epitomizes the band's ability to create epic, fantasy-inspired metal anthems."Battle Cry" established Omen as a formidable force in the metal scene, earning them a dedicated following and a place in the pantheon of power metal pioneers. 50 Similar ArtistsManowarCirith UngolVirgin SteeleJag PanzerBrocas HelmCloven HoofWarlordHelstarRiotSavatageArmored SaintFates WarningSacred OathCrimson GloryRunning WildGrave DiggerHelloweenBlind GuardianGamma RayIron MaidenJudas PriestSaxonDiamond HeadTygers of Pan TangTokyo BladeAngel WitchSatanBlitzkriegDemonWitchfyndeJaguarTankPraying MantisBattleaxeHeavy LoadStormwitchSteel AssassinLiege LordExciterAgent SteelMetal ChurchLeatherwolfVicious RumorsWarlockOmenHammerFallPrimal FearPowerwolfGrave DiggerCirith Ungol
Price: 30.49 USD
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
End Time: 2024-08-28T23:36:51.000Z
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All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Artist: Accept, Anthrax, Celtic Frost, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Manilla Road, Metallica, Morbid Angel, Morbid Saint, Obituary, Running Wild, Slayer, Sodom, Testament, Warlord, exumer, omen, razor
Record Label: High Roller Records
Release Title: battle cry
Case Type: Cardboard Sleeve
Color: Silver
Material: Vinyl
Inlay Condition: Mint (M)
Type: LP
Record Grading: Mint (M)
Format: Record
Release Year: 2022
Sleeve Grading: Mint (M)
Style: Heavy Metal
Record Size: 12"
Features: Colored Vinyl, Sealed
Genre: Metal
Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
