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The photo that inspired the artwork. |
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
MALTHUSIAN AND MITCHELL NOLTE: TOWARDS THE UNKNOWN
Saturday, June 21, 2025
REVOCATION AND PAOLO GIRARDI SUMMON THE AI GOD
Technical Death Metal act, Revocation will release new album "New Gods, New Masters" on September 26 through Metal Blade Records. The sleeve artwork was illustrator by Italian maestro, Paolo Girardi.
"The cover art was inspired by the lyrics for our new album," comments vocalist/guitarist, Dave Davidson. "I wanted to depict a dystopian techno nightmare where an AI god is being summoned and birthed from an abyss of wires and teeth. I gave Paolo a very rudimentary sketch and he absolutely ran wild with it. Paolo started with a quick sketch with pencil and then moved onto oil on cardboard. The final product exceeded my expectations in every way."
Previous to this project, Revocation and Girardi had worked together in the creation of the cover of the record, "Netherheaven" (2022). "I knew I wanted to collaborate with him again because the last one came out so great," Davidson says. "He really lives for his art and I love working with people that are truly dedicated to the craft and are excited about the work they do."
Pre-order "New Gods, New Masters" at https://www.metalblade.com/revocation/
See more of Paolo Girardi's work at
https://www.instagram.com/paologirardipainter/
https://www.facebook.com/paologirardipainter
Monday, June 2, 2025
BYZANTINE's PORTRAYAL OF IRENE OF ATHENS
American metallers, Byzantine, are releasing their new album "Harbingers" on June 13 through Metal Blade Records.
The group decided to feature a representation of Irene of Athens because "focusing on the maternal side of power was a very intriguing change we thought we needed to make. Irene of Athens was a beautifully striking woman, but also very powerful. She actually had her son, Emperor Constantine blinded so he could no longer rule, which then gave her the throne over the empire. This was just a perfect story to wrap into a song and album cover. Nothing says 'Metal' like Abacination!"
Monday, May 19, 2025
DOOMSDAY's UNDEAD ARMY
TRIBUNAL's RUINED HALLS OF JUSTICE
Canadian orchestral doom quintet, Tribunal, released its second album, "In Penitence And Ruin" on April 18, 2025.
"In Penitence And Ruin" through 20 Buck Spin and can be pre-ordered at https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/in-penitence-and-ruin
Watch the video for the band's new single “Incarnadine” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0kmtd8kgI4
Friday, May 16, 2025
FALLUJAH's ANGEL
The artwork featured on the cover of "Xenotaph" (the 6th album from American Prog/Death Metal act, Fallujah) is titled "Apollyon, Angel of the Void" and was created by Peter Mohrbacher. This is part of the "Angelarium," a series of mythical beings the American artist has developed throughout the years.
Schaefer also reveals that the "entire album tells a cohesive story in which the 'Apollyon' figure is represented as a major character, although it’s never referred to by that name. The story involves the narrator waking up after death in an otherworldly dimension and meeting a mysterious inhuman guide, so the idea of an 'angel of the void' felt perfect. I already had vague ideas for the story before we went looking for artwork, but this particular piece really brought it all together and influenced my direction massively from that point on. The first song quite literally describes the scene depicted on the album cover. There’s also a reference to Abbadon in one of the later tracks, which is an alternate name for Apollyon in Hebrew Christian mythology. Overall, I would say this album cover has a much more direct connection with the music & lyrics than anything else Fallujah has released in the past."
Fallujah's "Xenotaph" will be released on June 23 through Nuclear Blast. Pre-order at https://fallujah.bfan.link/xenotaph
See more of Peter Mohrbacher's Angelarium at https://www.angelarium.net/
Fallujah will be featured on the book, "...And Justice For Art - Ultimate Edition." To be part of the upcoming crowdfunding campaign, contact andjusticeforart@gmail.com
Monday, May 12, 2025
BLOODRIDE's STAMPEDE
Finnish Thrash Metal act, Bloodride, will release their new album "Deafening" in July 2025. Its sleeve illustration was created by fellow countryman artist, Niko Bauer, who has collaborated with the band in other projects.
“Niko has been providing us with occasional album art and other related graphics,” comments Bloodride’s bassist Esa Pennala. “The cover for 'Deafening' was already a candidate for the previous album but we finally settled on different artwork designed by Niko.”
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
GAME OVER's FINAL GIRL
Italian Thrash Metal act, Game Over, will release its new album “Face The End” on April 25 through Scarlet Records.
"The artwork for 'Face The End' has been painted by Guatemalan artist, Mario Lopez, based on the band's own concept," comments Game Over's guitarist, Luca "Ziro" Zironi. "The cover is a synthesis of the themes explored in this album and the meaning of the record itself, translated into an artistic style inspired by 1980s horror movie posters—an element that has accompanied the band since the beginning. Eerie fog, hellish atmosphere, dangerous places, and demonic presences threaten the protagonist’s safety (represented by the final girl, a classic trope in horror films). However, all of this does not signify the end but rather the will to be ready to face adverse and dangerous events—challenges that may bring you to your knees but ultimately prove that the only thing that truly matters is having the courage to confront them." Mario Lopez has designed all of Game Over's album covers. See more of his portfolio at: https://www.facebook.com/mario.lopez.1291421