Favorite album cover artworks?

Shadowdoom9 (Andi)
Shadowdoom9 (Andi)
The Gateway The Infinite The Revolution The Sphere
First Post February 22, 2020 01:01 AM
Post #2296

You already know February 1970 as the month of a historical turning point in music history with the birth of heavy metal... You know who was also born on that month? Travis Smith, one of the most talented and famous metal cover artists today (not to confused with former Trivium drummer Travis Smith)! His birthday is on the 26th, so please comment in this thread and on his Seempieces Facebook page saying "Happy birthday, Travis Smith!" on that day. Anyway, one part of his fame is one of his metal artworks being one of "hard rock's greatest album covers" in Revolver. That's the awesome cover art of Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare:

That's a great example of the dark introspective style in his cover artworks. He's such a pro! Here are some of my favorite album cover works from him that are also some of my favorite album cover arts in general:

Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black (my #1 favorite from him)

Anathema - Resonance 2

God Forbid - Gone Forever

Eluveitie - Everything Remains (As It Never Was)

Persefone - Aathma

OK, it's not a lot of favorites, but still... So are there any Travis Smith cover artworks you love? Or what are your favorite album cover artworks in general? You can write a top number list, a best of each year list, or just what comes to your mind randomly. I would love to see what you choose, whether they're epic, abstract, or Cannibal Corpse-level graphic (maybe not that last adjective). Discuss! And please wish this metal album cover pro a happy birthday on the 26th!

Daniel
Daniel
The Fallen The Horde The North The Pit
February 22, 2020 02:28 AM
Post #2298

Obituary's "Cause Of Death" & Sepultura's "Arise" immediately spring to mind as personal favourite album covers.

Shadowdoom9 (Andi)
Shadowdoom9 (Andi)
The Gateway The Infinite The Revolution The Sphere
February 22, 2020 04:21 AM
Post #2303
Fun fact: the cover art of Obituary's Cause of Death was actually supposed to be the cover art of Sepultura's Beneath the Remains, but Obituary called dibs on that cover art and Roadrunner Records let them use it. As a result, Sepultura had to use a different cover art from the guy who made the Cause of Death artwork, Michael Whelan. Then another portion of that painting was used as the cover art for the Demolition Hammer album Epidemic of Violence. Yeah, Michael Whelan is another cool metal cover artist. Before Travis Smith, there was... Michael Whelan. Of course, Mr. Whelan is still around with his recent cover artwork for the upcoming Cirith Ungol album Forever Black.
Sonny
Sonny
The Fallen The Horde The North The Pit
February 22, 2020 09:48 AM
Post #2307

My favourite is a guy who has only recently come to prominence, particularly because of his painting Essence of Freedom being used as the cover of Bell Witch's Mirror Reaper album and that is Mariusz Lewandowski. His portentous, supernatural-themed paintings have a singular melancholy atmosphere to them. His work has also graced the covers of recent albums by Mizmor, False, Abigail Williams and Elder Druid to name but a few.

Shadowdoom9 (Andi)
Shadowdoom9 (Andi)
The Gateway The Infinite The Revolution The Sphere
March 02, 2020 08:23 AM
Post #2415

Well as much as I love Travis Smith's artworks, there are two other metal album cover arts by other artists that are my actual favorites. This is my favorite "epic" cover art:

And this is my favorite in the "brutal" category:

When I was in a science class two years ago, we had to dissect a goat's heart. Most metal science project EVER!!! I decided to recreate that This is Love This is Murderous artwork by stabbing the heart with a penknife and taking a photo of it. It was just a wimpy penknife and there wasn't a lot of blood, but worth a try. Here's my recreation: