Jump to content

Albums You Love With Artwork You Hate


Parker

Recommended Posts

  • 3 weeks later...
4 hours ago, Depraved said:

Image result for mgla groza

Mgla - Groza

Great music but that cover looks like dog shit, especially compared to the Renaissance art inspired and/or creepy silent film-esque covers for all their other albums.

Gotta disagree, for my own taste this is the best cover they've had. It's recognizable, grotesque, creepy, and emotive. I love the textures.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, Depraved said:

Image result for mgla groza

Mgla - Groza

Great music but that cover looks like dog shit, especially compared to the Renaissance art inspired and/or creepy silent film-esque covers for all their other albums.

I always loved this art also, though I have not spent much time on the album.  Reminds me of a cross between the styles of Goya and Francis Bacon.

Do you like the cover of their new album?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't mind the Mgla - 'Groza' cover either. It's not my favourite, but it's still pretty cool and captures some existential angst which lies at the heart of a lot of their music. 

And yes, @Balor, I do like the artwork of their latest album. A horsed judgemental figure sweeping across the populace of unthinking suburbanites = on topic. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Requiem said:

I don't mind the Mgla - 'Groza' cover either. It's not my favourite, but it's still pretty cool and captures some existential angst which lies at the heart of a lot of their music. 

And yes, @Balor, I do like the artwork of their latest album. A horsed judgemental figure sweeping across the populace of unthinking suburbanites = on topic. 

I feel the existential aspect of the artwork also.  That's why I like it as much as I do.  It just seems to fit with the music extremely well.

As for Age of Excuse, I really am starting to come around on the album, and am increasingly enjoying it as I listen to it more.  But I just cannot like the cover art, I just can't.  It doesn't match their old imagery, and seems too contrived.  The art that they have used in the past seemed to be a piece that was selected in order to match the music, but that one strikes me as a piece created to do so.  It appears (visually) superficial where the other art is deep.  Though, the message that you infer from it sounds correct, which means that at least thematically, it matches the album.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Athame said:

R-574208-1202485521.jpeg.jpg 

Laughably bad artwork!  What I think is problematic about this album cover is that I really cannot tell what it is an image of.  I mean, I get that it is a robot soldier or something, but the angle and pose make the image confused an nonsensical.

I like what I have heard from the album, though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Balor said:

Laughably bad artwork!  What I think is problematic about this album cover is that I really cannot tell what it is an image of.  I mean, I get that it is a robot soldier or something, but the angle and pose make the image confused an nonsensical.

I like what I have heard from the album, though.

Is that an arm coming out of the robot's face? Pointing a finger at something? "There it is, over there!"

If so, why and how does that help this metallic combatant? It actually hurts to look at because it's not right, anatomically, logically and morally. Yes, it's immoral. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Requiem said:

Is that an arm coming out of the robot's face? Pointing a finger at something? "There it is, over there!"

If so, why and how does that help this metallic combatant? It actually hurts to look at because it's not right, anatomically, logically and morally. Yes, it's immoral. 

If you could actually see the robot's head, then it would not be so bad!  As it is, the art looks like a screenshot out of a bad video game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Grievous said:

My apologies...

I didn't realize it was an issue for two people to have the same opinion.

Don't take it personally. Sharing opinions is fine. Duplicate posts are annoying. They make it look like you didn't read the thread. If you want to make a point and someone's already made it, you can always quote them and express your agreement. And yes, that album cover sucks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, FatherAlabaster said:

Don't take it personally. Sharing opinions is fine. Duplicate posts are annoying. They make it look like you didn't read the thread. If you want to make a point and someone's already made it, you can always quote them and express your agreement. And yes, that album cover sucks.

Well...I didn't read the thread. I saw the title & the first album that sprang to mind was what I posted.

I will keep a closer eye on what I post in future.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
  • 4 weeks later...
  • 5 weeks later...
On 11/20/2019 at 8:04 PM, Balor said:

Who thought that was a good idea? Was this ever even considered good animation?

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk
 

i agree balor. just looks bad. whats the point of it all. i just dont get it. also from what i can see  whats the baby in a mask doing standing on a wolf in a bikini. its just weirding me out. 😫

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The last post made my morning. Killers was my favourite.

Apologies if it has been posted before ....

 

This is a shit album cover. The crosses are too close together and why are the hands puppeteering fixed objects? It doesn't make any sense. The grass is ok I suppose. 

Come to think of it, all Metallica album covers are shit. The best is probably Kill 'Em All and that is still pretty shit. 

And....what did Patrick Swayze have to do with Music for Nations...was he a shareholder?

master2.jpg.09af1607db648cb4bfe86304a7adab3d.jpg

It is fairly obvious what I was listening to at lunchtime while having these epiphanies.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Always interesting to hear what works and what doesn't for different people. I think the Puppets cover is a really good illustration, even putting its iconic status aside. It pulls ideas from a couple different songs on the album into an instantly recognizable design that's boldly graphic while still having enough detail to be worth an extended look. It's well executed. The imagery and the color scheme are evocative - ominous sky, crowded military graveyard that goes on as far as the eye can see, creepy hands in the sky conveying the idea that someone with a lot of power is hiding behind the scenes using people and sending them to their deaths in ignorance of how they were being controlled... Yeah, it works. I wouldn't put it in a museum, but that's not what it's for.

That does look like Patrick Swayze, or maybe if Butt-Head went to boot camp.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alright, here's a few of mine...

Battles in the North - Wikipedia

Immortal - Battles In the North

Great album, one of Immortal's best, imo, but that cover is just plain stupid. If this was a simple black and white cover like the classic Darkthrone covers it wouldn't be nearly as bad, but that plain white background is terrible.

Millennium (Monstrosity album) - Wikipedia

Monstrosity - Millennium 

Musically, one of the better examples of technical death metal done well. That cover though..... not so much. Every time I look at it I'm baffled as to what I'm actually looking at. The artist who rendered it probably didn't know either lol.

 

Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy) - Wikipedia

Dawn - Slaughtersun

One of the best black metal albums ever, but I can't stand the cover. Just simply not a cool image, doesn't suit the music either. Visually there's too much orange and yellow and it honestly hurts my eyes haha. They could've done a lot better here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...