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flexodus
Metalhead

Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 4:16 am
Posts: 2369
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 5:00 am 
 

Title says it all. Which album covers make you cringe and gag at how visually displeasing they are?

Image

Heartwork really does this for me. What the hell am I looking at? A peace sign with a nightlight on top? A spine with two hands? Deep. I think I read somewhere that it's a Giger piece, and if that's true it's a ringing endorsement that no one bats 100. When I see this, it makes me think that Carcass were trying to appear more mature/intelligent/artsy than they actually are, which was probably true at the time. Shitty, unbrutal art for a shitty, unbrutal album.
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elf48687789
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:03 pm
Posts: 1662
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 6:19 am 
 

Sorry, but that is pretty brutal, supposedly some phallic symbol or something, and that skeleton thing with the hands. I've read about it and it is does have some kind of meaning.

O.k., I can't say I'm really that crazy about that artwork, but I do think it is a really good album, and I think it was a pretty heavy album musically too. And I don't know why people think it is simple and poppy, it was pretty technical with lots of changes.

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lennonlikesmetal
Metal freak

Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:25 am
Posts: 4641
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 6:24 am 
 

That is H.R Giger!

Don't mess!

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TwilightOfTheGods13
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 6:59 pm
Posts: 5
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 6:46 am 
 

When did it become a point that because someone has done some great stuff nothing they do can be criticized. It's not amazing (nor absolutely crap) artwork by any means but certainly is the wrong artwork for that album. I would look at that and expect it to be a prog-metal band or something like that.

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Poisonfume
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:26 pm
Posts: 1227
Location: Greece
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:40 am 
 

I agree with Hearwork's artwork sucking.
Now how about this one:

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Say what you want about the album, I really liked it. However, this is some seriously shitty artwork. I don't get what the theme is...supposedly they had gothic influences or something? I guess it has a 'scientific' look because of the font and some lyrical themes that are all about a genetic revolution, but couldn't they find a less idiotic face to represent that on the cover?
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Hayisforhorses
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:47 am
Posts: 797
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:06 am 
 

In the case of Heartwork i wouldnt blame Giger, I think the sculpture was related to a series of pieces based around Swatch watches: http://www.hrgiger.com/watch/exbition.htm

The spine thing is arms covered in interlinked watches (with spikes because hey its Giger)

I believe the piece was simply apporpriated by the band.

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Westvargr
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:51 pm
Posts: 312
Location: Germany
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:31 am 
 

Image

I think it's really a great avant-garde black metal album, but the cover really makes me cringe. Not only the idea is ridiculous, but the execution looks plain retarded.

I also dislike pretty much all covers that are just plain white with black font on them.
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Kveldulfr
Veteran

Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:01 pm
Posts: 3698
Location: Nowhere
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:55 am 
 

One of lamest covers ever for one of the lamest albums ever.

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I don't hate the band or something, but this cover is repulsive.

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WTF is this crap? The rest of their discography has pretty terrible artwork too.

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And of course...

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Westvargr
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:51 pm
Posts: 312
Location: Germany
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:02 am 
 

Kveldulfr wrote:
The rest of their discography has pretty terrible artwork too.


No way, the cover for Leviathan is gorgeous!
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Kveldulfr
Veteran

Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:01 pm
Posts: 3698
Location: Nowhere
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:10 am 
 

Westvargr wrote:
Kveldulfr wrote:
The rest of their discography has pretty terrible artwork too.


No way, the cover for Leviathan is gorgeous!


I was talking about Cemetery Rapist.
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henkkjelle
Metal freak

Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:54 pm
Posts: 4537
Location: Netherlands
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:18 am 
 

I agree with Poisonfume... what the hell were they thinking when they decided to use that skin disease afflicted cunnilingus addict. (not to diss the art of cunnilingus but please don't use it as your album cover)

I hereby nominate this album cover:

Image

He's just sitting there staring at you. Nothing more, nothing less.
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KingAlastor
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 2:29 pm
Posts: 28
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:21 am 
 

Image

Image

Two great thrash albums with godawful artwork. At least the remastered cover art for Killing Is My Business... is decent.

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Evoken
Metalhead

Joined: Thu May 13, 2004 11:02 am
Posts: 970
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:31 am 
 

I totally agree with that Carcass cover. It's hideous. I can't believe Giger made that piece of shit, as he's usually great at what he does.

I'll bet Carcass (or Earache) paid a boatload to get Giger to make them a custom cover. Can you imagine what they thought when they first saw it? They had to be severely disappointed, but couldn't say anything because it's H.R. Giger.

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SoldierOfHell
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:27 pm
Posts: 85
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:04 am 
 

Image

Just what the fuck ?

Image

No words can describe how un-metal and gay this artwork is

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Ancient_Sorrow
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:10 pm
Posts: 2336
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:12 am 
 

Quote:
Image

No words can describe how un-metal and gay this artwork is


That is the most awesome thing I have ever seen.

I'd like to collectively nominate almost every hastily made "The very best of..." artwork. Particularly those made by Roadrunner records.

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hakarl
Metel fraek

Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:46 am 
 

Keydragon is easily some of the worst, but of course, it's not quite the same as Septic Flesh or Carcass putting out album covers like that.

The classic answer:
http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/3/6/5/1365.jpg

What can possibly begin to excuse this?

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Folkemon_
Veteran

Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:43 pm
Posts: 2932
Location: Triggered
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:57 am 
 

90's/early 00's CGI covers...

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Image

Image

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hakarl
Metel fraek

Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:59 am 
 

There are about three Helloween albums that don't fit in this thread.

What were they thinking here?
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Ceald Hraew
Metal newbie

Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:36 am
Posts: 62
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:03 pm 
 

Spoiler: show
Image


It’s not horrible, but looks like something from one of those pseudo-inspiration images people post in social networks.

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Umodian
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:28 am
Posts: 20
Location: Denmark
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:29 pm 
 

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Oh and then of course the original cover for Virgin Killer.

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Tron_79
Metal newbie

Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2012 1:30 pm
Posts: 339
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:41 pm 
 

surprised no one has mentioned Razor

Image
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Von Jugel
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:49 am
Posts: 275
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:59 pm 
 

Image

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iLamer
Metal newbie

Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 4:17 am
Posts: 106
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:20 pm 
 

Image
It's not THAT bad, yet in the context of the actual music on the album it makes no sense. Normally listening to an album generates a mental image of the cover for me despite how bad it may be, but this just album just doesn't.
I think a cover in the vein of "Far away from the sun" or "In the Nightside Eclipse" from Necrolord would do the album more justice.

Also, the covers of the Septic Flesh reissues are bad.

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Metal_Jaw
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:57 pm
Posts: 753
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:28 pm 
 

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/9/2/9/929.jpg


Grandma?

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Desperta_Ferro
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:45 am
Posts: 715
Location: Argentina
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:34 pm 
 

What? Into Glory Ride is amazing. And some of the albums posted aren't bad, what ruins them is the awful CGI.

Image

See? This isn't bad. An iron-clad warrior dude standing in a portal with thunder and fire and metal shit. Yeah, unoriginal, but this could be a kickass cover, the CGI just sinks this into mediocrity.

Early Sonata what also a big on bad CGI, maybe it was a thing in power metal back then.

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Tarot covers are strange.

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Tsjuder Demonic Possession, now, I know Tsjuder thing is being orthodox, but I like the other covers, this one is just lazy, Desert Northern Hell was imposing with the torches and all, this is dull.

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Also, most Judas Priest and Virgin Steele albums. Virgin Steele covers are always bad, but with Judas Priest is weird, because the first albums covers are actually very good (like Sad Wings and Sin After Sin), but then started sucking.

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~Guest 298739
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:59 pm
Posts: 324
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:39 pm 
 

Since all of the bands I'm going to post about have a vast amount of album art tragedies I'll just post one for each:

Spoiler: show
Image
Image
Image
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Then of course the not-even-close-to-metal bands that have a Ph. D in this sort of thing:

Spoiler: show
Image
Image
Image

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Von Jugel
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:49 am
Posts: 275
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:46 pm 
 

Image

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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
Posts: 7729
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:49 pm 
 

Ceald Hraew wrote:
Spoiler: show
Image


It’s not horrible, but looks like something from one of those pseudo-inspiration images people post in social networks.

Actually, the art for Angels Fall First is probably the best part of the album. Which is to say that it's the only good part of the album.

Now here's something that'll make your eyes roll:
Spoiler: show
Image
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Obfuscation
Metal newbie

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:52 am
Posts: 83
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:56 pm 
 

How about Katatonia - Dance of December Souls

Spoiler: show
Image


I love the album but come on... They like took some band photos and just photoshopped some clouds over, changed color and opacity and maybe added a lens flare? Which my eye just zooms in on most of the time, really distracting. Even the demos looked better.

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Von Jugel
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:49 am
Posts: 275
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:59 pm 
 

Spoiler: show
http://www.nme.com/images/gallery/HandsomeBeastsBestiality600Gb070812.jpg

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enigmatech
Metal newbie

Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:57 pm
Posts: 321
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:15 pm 
 

Image

I like the dream-like atmosphere the artwork gives off, but when you really sit down and look at it, it starts to look kind of cheesy. This was a rather mediocre album anyway, so I guess it's not out of place.

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I love this album, but I'm not sure about the album cover. I get what it's supposed to be, a "reflection", but all-in-all it's not one of Morbid Angel's best covers (even if it's not terrible or really offensive).

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This is another awesome (and extremely underrated) album bogged down by a shitty cover. What the fuck is that supposed to be? Most of Napalm's covers are pretty nonsensical, but rarely do they turn out looking so stupid and meaningless.

Image
This is a terrible album, and the album cover is extremely fitting. That's all that has to be said...

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pale_horse
Metalhead

Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:36 am
Posts: 681
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:45 pm 
 

SoldierOfHell wrote:
Image

Just what the fuck ?

Image

No words can describe how un-metal and gay this artwork is


These are actually two album covers that I love, for different reasons. The concept behind the cover of Technical Ecstasy is kind of stupid, but I have always loved the art deco style. Very different. & the Stratovarius album is obviously over the top & ridiculous and I think that's what they're going for. You just have to enjoy the limitless and silly futurism and fantasy of it.
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Von Jugel
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:49 am
Posts: 275
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:50 pm 
 

Image

Always hated this one.

Image

And that reminded me of this.

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Desperta_Ferro
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:45 am
Posts: 715
Location: Argentina
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:58 pm 
 

haha the Gamma Ray logo is the worst thing going on there.

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PureFrackingArmageddon
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:42 pm
Posts: 18
Location: Tuvalu
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:08 pm 
 

Obfuscation wrote:
How about Katatonia - Dance of December Souls

Spoiler: show
Image


I love the album but come on... They like took some band photos and just photoshopped some clouds over, changed color and opacity and maybe added a lens flare? Which my eye just zooms in on most of the time, really distracting. Even the demos looked better.


I actually really like that cover, fits the album really well imo.

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Zodijackyl
63 Axe Handles High

Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:39 pm
Posts: 7601
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:16 pm 
 

It's pretty lame when bands just use the same logo over and over again as the centerpiece.

Spoiler: show
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Recurring themes can be great, like Eddie. They can also be terrible, especially when they're not sure what to do with them, like Children of Bodom's "Blooddrunk" - they have the reaper thing going, but this one's a mess on every level. So it's a reaper in the background holding out a scythe and smashing some sort of bottle, with blood spray dominating the cover? That's just awful, and it's not like they could get something better, they just had a terrible concept and poor execution.

Spoiler: show
Image


Absurd's demos had hilariously terrible artwork. I'm curious as to how they managed to have three or four people in the band without one of them being better at drawing than this, or why they even bothered with artwork rather than text on demos.

Spoiler: show
Image
Image
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Subrick
Metal Strongman

Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 pm
Posts: 10167
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:40 pm 
 

Image

One of the most infamously bad album arts of all time.
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SoldierOfHell
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:27 pm
Posts: 85
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:52 pm 
 

Dance of death artwork seems like a mod from The sims 1

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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
Posts: 7729
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 4:00 pm 
 

When it's blown up that large, that artwork becomes more and more terrifying the longer you stare at it. Necks and shoulders don't work that way!
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Subrick
Metal Strongman

Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 pm
Posts: 10167
Location: United States
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 4:08 pm 
 

My favorite thing about it is the baby levitating with its feet inside of the dog.
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