They say to never judge a book by its cover, but in the world of Heavy Metal it really can’t be helped. Album covers can do wonders for an artist to translate what they sound like into something visually captivating. They should capture the imagination and really show what the listener has in store the moment the needle hits, and great ones should stand alone as a work of art and guide the viewer through the story that it’s portraying on the canvas. In the end, a good Metal album cover needs to draw in someone wandering around the aisles of a record store or someone stumbling around online, and just make them say “hot damn, I have to listen to this”.
So with that in mind, what makes something “Metal”? Is it instilling an overwhelming sense of power with the listener? Does it make the listener cringe in horror from raw, bone-curdling lyricism? Does it make the listener want to go out into the fields with a bloody battle axe and face a horde of 10,000 demons? There’s so much to it to pinpoint, but a lot of great art comes from a feeling deep down in your gut where you know there’s something great at work here.
All that being said, here are the top 10 most Metal album covers ever put out.
So with that in mind, what makes something “Metal”? Is it instilling an overwhelming sense of power with the listener? Does it make the listener cringe in horror from raw, bone-curdling lyricism? Does it make the listener want to go out into the fields with a bloody battle axe and face a horde of 10,000 demons? There’s so much to it to pinpoint, but a lot of great art comes from a feeling deep down in your gut where you know there’s something great at work here.
All that being said, here are the top 10 most Metal album covers ever put out.
Amon Amarth – Surtur Rising
Starting the motif of the nearly-naked-buff-dude-that-is-all-that-is-man in the list is right here in Amon Amarth’s 8th studio album. You can just feel the heaviness and power of that colossal fiery greatsword coming and crashing down into the hapless armies below. All of the destruction comes toward the viewer and gives the impression of fast approaching, impending doom.
Starting the motif of the nearly-naked-buff-dude-that-is-all-that-is-man in the list is right here in Amon Amarth’s 8th studio album. You can just feel the heaviness and power of that colossal fiery greatsword coming and crashing down into the hapless armies below. All of the destruction comes toward the viewer and gives the impression of fast approaching, impending doom.
Judas Priest – Painkiller
If there was ever any album cover that captured the genre of Metal so perfectly that no other artist could top it, it would be this one. I mean just look at it. You’ve got a motorbike that’s also a dragon. The wheels on the bike are freakin’ RAZORBLADES. The rider is some metallic angel of death, and this entity is riding it through an apocalyptic hellscape where the band logo just destroyed an entire city. You would think no album could live up to a cover like this, but no, this is by far the band’s best album as well.
If there was ever any album cover that captured the genre of Metal so perfectly that no other artist could top it, it would be this one. I mean just look at it. You’ve got a motorbike that’s also a dragon. The wheels on the bike are freakin’ RAZORBLADES. The rider is some metallic angel of death, and this entity is riding it through an apocalyptic hellscape where the band logo just destroyed an entire city. You would think no album could live up to a cover like this, but no, this is by far the band’s best album as well.
Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power
“Ow” – Guy on album cover/first time Pantera listener
Manowar – The Triumph of Steel
If Conan the Barbarian was a band, he would be Manowar. The band always has the most manly album covers out of anyone out there, and this one is no different. The story I get from this is that the barbarian dude somehow took over Hell with his magic sword and hammer, and now all the succubae are fawning over the manliest man to ever man. If Hell is this cool, I kind of don’t want to go to Heaven.
If Conan the Barbarian was a band, he would be Manowar. The band always has the most manly album covers out of anyone out there, and this one is no different. The story I get from this is that the barbarian dude somehow took over Hell with his magic sword and hammer, and now all the succubae are fawning over the manliest man to ever man. If Hell is this cool, I kind of don’t want to go to Heaven.
Mastodon – Once More ‘Round the Sun
I really get a Lovecraftian cosmic horror out of this one that I can’t quite shake. Whatever this… thing on the album cover is, it seems to imply that it has control and influence over our universe. This entity could be the ultimate deity and controller of our reality, and it’s something that we can’t or weren’t meant to comprehend. The more you think about it, the more existential dread you have, and if that isn’t Metal then I don’t know what is.
I really get a Lovecraftian cosmic horror out of this one that I can’t quite shake. Whatever this… thing on the album cover is, it seems to imply that it has control and influence over our universe. This entity could be the ultimate deity and controller of our reality, and it’s something that we can’t or weren’t meant to comprehend. The more you think about it, the more existential dread you have, and if that isn’t Metal then I don’t know what is.
Rhapsody – Legendary Tales
If Dungeons and Dragons were a band, it would be Rhapsody, now Rhapsody of Fire due to copyright issues and whatnot. Seriously, this is the only band I know to not just tell a story in one album, but a full on saga throughout every one of their albums. Every album is a different piece of their epic saga that makes for some of the most grandiose metal you’ll ever listen to. The debut album cover here shows exactly what you’ll be getting yourself into.
If Dungeons and Dragons were a band, it would be Rhapsody, now Rhapsody of Fire due to copyright issues and whatnot. Seriously, this is the only band I know to not just tell a story in one album, but a full on saga throughout every one of their albums. Every album is a different piece of their epic saga that makes for some of the most grandiose metal you’ll ever listen to. The debut album cover here shows exactly what you’ll be getting yourself into.
Death – Scream Bloody Gore
This is it folks, the progenitor to the genre of Death Metal. With truly vile lyrics and riffs that make you sweat with anxiety, the cover does its job well to portray that. With a zombie cult in a decrepit dungeon drinking who-knows-what out of those goblets, this became by far the most influential album cover for any and all Death Metal portrayals to follow.
Dio – Holy Diver
I want you to take a look at the demon’s hands really quick. See how his natural hand formation is the devil horns? I rest my case.
Yngwie Malmsteen – Trilogy
Only Yngwie would have the pompousness to have himself drawn onto the cover, fighting a three- headed dragon with his guitar playing. You know what too? I ain’t even mad. There’s something so ridiculous in the best possible way that captures Yngwie’s ego and skill all in one image, and this is it.
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
“Imposing” would be the word. Iron Maiden has always had the best and most iconic mascot in Metal history with Eddie, and here he’s portrayed as the colossal statue of an ancient Egyptian god. The fact that the design forces you to look up at Eddie, who is absolutely monumental compared to his subjects below, and the otherworldly electricity bolting out in every direction from the top, gives a huge sense of power and scale that other designs have a hard time capturing. It’s fitting as well, as this is also the album with the band’s best colossal single song they’ve ever written as well, Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
“Imposing” would be the word. Iron Maiden has always had the best and most iconic mascot in Metal history with Eddie, and here he’s portrayed as the colossal statue of an ancient Egyptian god. The fact that the design forces you to look up at Eddie, who is absolutely monumental compared to his subjects below, and the otherworldly electricity bolting out in every direction from the top, gives a huge sense of power and scale that other designs have a hard time capturing. It’s fitting as well, as this is also the album with the band’s best colossal single song they’ve ever written as well, Rime of the Ancient Mariner.