Omen was formed by guitarist Kenny Powell after leaving Savage Grace in 1983. They first appeared on the Metal Massacre V compilation with the exclusive track "Torture Me". Over the next four years, they would release four albums (and one EP) on Metal Blade Records. Though they never gained much recognition in the US, Omen remains popular in Europe and Japan for their traditional power metal style. J.D. Kimball's powerful vocals were always a strong point, but in 1988 they replaced him with Coburn Pharr (Prisoner, Annihilator) and adopted a more hard rock sound. The change helped, "Thorn In Your Flesh" becoming their first hit single in the US, but still they broke up shortly thereafter. A reunion album in 1997 with Powell's son Greg on vocals showed another change in style and is generally considered a failure. However, the band continued playing occasional shows and, after changing singers and record labels again, released one more studio album in 2003 (Eternal Black Dawn). Also in 2003, Omen's original singer J.D. Kimball died from cancer. The band now has another album in the works, this time with Matt Story on vocals.

- Keir