Blog, Sweet Blog

I think this will be the last one of these. I prolly have enough for two more, but I grow weary of this and you get the point. Whilst poring over all of these album covers, you may have noticed some trends in the art direction. So, because I care about you and the new metal band you’re going to start any day now, I’ve compiled a list of do’s and dont’s to consider when designing your band’s metal brand. To wit:

-DO use a darker color palette…bonus points for black and gray.

-DON’T feature any cute animals (teddy bears, unicorns, kittens), unless they are being sacrificed or are engaged in epic battle with barbarians of some sort…or sorcerers…or maybe each other.

-DO include scenes from nature (like trees, forests, fjords, snow-capped glaciers, or mountains…bonus points for mist or fog), occult symbols, medieval woodcuts, or grainy photos from Word War II.

-DON’T use photos from your last vacation, dorm room, or MySpace profile…unless they’re totally metal.

-DO wear the appropriate costume for the photo shoot. Fur or leather loincloths, Renaissance Fair outfits, any spiked wrist guards, corpse paint, mud, blood, chain or plate mail, helmets, and weapons (swords, knives, maces, bludgeons, battle axes, etc.) are acceptable options.

-DON’T wear evening gowns, footy pajamas, clown makeup (seriously), or animal mascot costumes.

-DO design a band logo that is completely illegible and includes an upside down cross or other totally brutal graphic element.

-DON’T ask your Mom for help with your band’s logo. Chances are, her finger is far from the pulse of what is going on in metal today.

and finally…

-DO have fun with it!

To the pictures!