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Kingdom of Sorrow Sucks

JAMEY JASTA’S PICKS FOR FIVE GREAT ALBUM COVERS

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 at 10:00am by

These are just record covers I thought were great. I like when a CD cover provokes thought and makes me want to interpret what message or messages the artist or band are trying to purvey.

#5 – Behemoth, Evangelion

Done by Polish artist Tomasz Danilowicz, who has worked on Behemoth’s previous albums. This is just bad ass.

#4 – The Allman Brothers, Hittin’ the Note

This one really makes you think. One theory is that the eighth elephant, the big one in the front, is the spirit of the fallen.

#3 – Prince, Lotus Flow3r

The lotus flower is the symbol of infinite possibility. I always wondered why he had one pyramid on the left and the city on the right.

#2 – Baroness, Red Album
John Baizley’s art is amazing. It’s the best I’ve seen in recent years. Check out his MySpace page here.

#1 – Septic Death, Crossed Out Twice (Insert Card)

Pushead’s art rules! He’s somehow made a butterfly seem dark and scary. It’s just great. I always liked how the body of the butterflies look like the eyes of the girl.

-JJ

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Morley/618112437 William Morley

    Some quality picks there (though I must confess, I’m not familiar with Prince).

    • http://www.lapdanceacademy.com Brian Grosz

      Uh… I know this is a metal blog and all, but… “NOT FAMILIAR WITH PRINCE?!?!”

      • vagoo

        yeah seriously….. didn’t dave chappelle at least keep price semi-known back in 2004 or whenever he did that thing on his show?

        “this bores me….”

        “game: blouses”

        oh those are classics!!

        • Patton

          He’s not that well known outside of USA.

    • Clement

      Not familiar with his music, or you haven’t heard of him? If you haven’t heard his music that isn’t that weird. But look him up, he seriously pissed off Tipper Gore.

      • byrd36

        Who doesn’t like Purple Rain just a little bit?

  • Fabi

    baroness :) i prefer the blue record’s cover

    • Genial Gentile

      I do as well.

    • Gaia

      Yep have the Blue Record’s cover up on the ol’ wall, it’s excellent.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Aaron-Camp/885315541 Aaron Camp

        I have it on a hoody to show the world. :D

  • jackattack

    Good call on Septic Death, Jamey. You’re the man.

  • Sean

    The Behemoth cover is one of my favs, I even got the tour shirt with that art on it. I always get complements on it when I wear it.

  • J-Ho

    The city on the right is Minneapolis. I think he was trying to represent all three albums in there. So, from left to right: Elixir (why that’s represented by a pyramid, I don’t know), Lotusflower and MPLSound.

  • GREGDOUT

    JDB is a badass. had blue record on my desktop for the longest time.

  • WowWee!

    I like how in the Behemoth cover the sword is coving the suns face and it looks like its being pushed aside and its offended in some way.

  • http://heavystreet.com Sat

    Jamey forgot about Pretty Boy Floyd’s album cover for Leather Boys With Electric Toys.

  • Goolash

    Big fan of Baizley’s music and artwork, hell yeah. I still love the Alfons Mucha artwork used by Soilent Green. Just a juxtapostion of visuals of beautiful women and lyrical desecration!

  • Kuranes

    I was just turned on to “The Flight of Sleipnir” by The Number Of The Blog. They have some great artwork too, done by one of the members of the band:

    http://www.flightofsleipnir.com/

    Lots of hot Valkyries.

  • Alex Galkowski

    Wow. Pushead never fails to impress me. I love all his artwork… Wonderful shit.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brit-Granite/582086079 Brit Granite

    Allman Bros is an interesting choice. I wonder if it’s by that same artist that does covers for Rush and Dream Theater?

    • All Out War

      It looks like the cover of a Clutch album in my opinion.

      • dread

        Music’s a lot heavier though.

  • skeets mkskeeter

    #3 the city is Minneapolis, MN

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jay-See/726690352 Jay See

    ugh I forgot these tools were posting today;
    definitely don’t care about your opinion on album covers, I’ve seen Hatebreed artwork.

    • SonOF

      go away already.

  • WizardAura

    WTF? Wow dude, your taste in album art might actually be worse than your taste in flyers and your band combined…

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jay-See/726690352 Jay See

      1

      • SonOF

        If you two aren’t actually the same person, maybe you should hook up. I just don’t want you actually fucking each other, as your offspring might be the most annoying trolls ever to surf the web.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Sterner/1335958279 Andrew Sterner

    Still love the cover to Twilight of The Thundergod by Amon Amarth.

  • satanicbrutality

    No Dan Seagrave covers?!?!

    BLASPHEMY!!!!

    • http://www.myspace.com/_spontaneouscombustion piranhabite

      this is what i came here to say, haha

  • Marcel

    Remember the days when you would buy a record, solely because of the awesome artwork? John Baizley re-introduced me to those days. Thanks John!

  • jo

    On Evangelion, Nergal said:
    “‘Evangelion’ combines a pure art form with a direct message. It was also important for us to ensure that the graphical presentation did justice to the record. Again, we have worked with Tomasz Danilowicz, who has created his best illustration yet for BEHEMOTH. The picture is of The Great Harlot of Babylon riding the seven-headed beast. Saints bow before her in worship whilst the tablets of the Ten Commandments lie broken at her feet. It represents our vision and the interpretation of the New Testament parable where the ‘Whore of Babylon’ is a symbol of rebellion and resistance against God. I am fascinated by stories whose source lies in the Bible and we have used biblical symbolism, coupled with my own experience and outlook, in our lyrics or on the covers of previous BEHEMOTH records. I love to juggle with meanings and play around with symbolism which is exactly what I have done in this case. The main character of our new cover is an archetype of disobedience, individualism, self-determination and a free, unfettered will — these are universal keywords which are typical and crucial in understanding the character of our works, life as a whole and the true nature of man.”

    I think the symbolism is really, really interesting. The feminine aspect is in the ascendant, and is shown striking down the sun. I’d love to find out more about other symbols which appear in the piece (the cup and sword, the serpents and so on).