Aesthetics of Black: A Tribute to Black Metal Covers 2
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Author: Commodus
Aesthetics of Black
Black Metal music has given us many great albums that have even shaped the entire Metal genre, both musically and in terms of its lifestyle. Many of them also had amazing or symbolic covers that made a difference, even in the artistic field. In this new article series, we will present the story of great Black Metal album covers, featuring some stunning creations from later ages.
In this second tribute to Black Metal album covers, we are going to give more justice to some marvelous pieces of art. Some are classics, while others are glorious creations of the later ages, deserving more glory from the fans.
Bathory – Blood Fire Death (1988)
Pre – Album History
Bathory is one of the most influential bands in the history of black metal, starting from its first wave. Their fourth album (Blood Fire Death) is another milestone and perhaps the most important of their career. For the first time, acoustic parts appear, epic moments, and lyrics based on Scandinavian mythology, thus creating a new sub-genre, Viking metal.
Creation
This outstanding piece of art is a painting called The Wild Hunt of Odin, by Peter Nicolai Arbo. As the name suggests, it shows the Wild Hunt of the Scandinavian mythology. The cover is separated into two parts; the upper one is the sky, and the first image being observed is the half-naked Valkyries holding weapons while riding horses. Amongst them are warriors that grab peasants from the ground, as they roam the red sky. But as the viewer looks deeper into the album cover, he sees countless Valkeries and warriors lost on the horizon. However, it is easy to spot their leader, who stands above them, leading them proudly, who is none other than Odin himself.
The second part is the earth below the sky, where multiple ravens fly, gathering information for their lord. Multiple clouds hide the sun, desperately trying to shine across the land, giving the viewer the impression that it is dawn time. The land seems devastated, as the Wild Hunt occurred, leaving no trace of life.
Cover Synopsis
The epic aggression of the Wild Hunt is glorified perfectly musically and artistically. Decades later continues to attract fans from the whole metal genre, as its influence is enormous. It is an artistic masterpiece by all means.
Dissection – The Somberlain (1993)
Pre – Album History
After three demos and one EP, Dissection released their first full-length album, The Somberlain. The music is aggressive, and melodic, with a dark feeling and atmospheric sound, accompanied by one of the best guitar works (lead, rhythm, and acoustic) of the decade. Also, the album is dedicated to the memory of Euronymous (Mayhem), who had been murdered in August of the same year by Varg Vikernes (Burzum).
Creation
The album cover is a creation of “Necrolord” (also known as Kristian Wåhlin) and immediately grabs the viewer’s attention. A skeleton-like chariot rider wearing dark robes adorns the center of the album, which intimidates the viewer. With the help of his whip, he commands his enraged horses to cross the dark, narrow road covered with a hint of snow. On its sideway, the viewer observes long-forgotten graves and tall naked trees that desperately try to reach the sky. Looking into the depth of the album cover, there are cypresses and a villa on a hill, with a weak light coming from it. Along with the rider’s lamps, they are the only light sources because the moon is obscured by clouds, creating a grim atmosphere.
Cover Synopsis
The pale, impetuous rider with the thick darkness that follows him ties completely with the cold multidimensional music of the album. A suffocated feeling of doom and despair is created in the viewer that holds him from the beginning until the end of the album. The influence of the cover and the album is huge, as it inspired many generations of fans to follow in their musical footsteps.
Drudkh – Blood in Our Wells (2006)
Pre – Album History
Blood in Our Wells was the first of the two albums Drudkh released in 2006, marking it the most productive year of their career. Its music is more influenced by folk and pagan Black Metal than its predecessors, and its lyrics are taken/adapted from Ukrainian literature (such as works from Taras Shevchenko and Oleksandr Oles). Lastly, the album’s name comes from a line in a 1935 poem by Oleh Olzhych.
Creation
The painting that adorns the album cover is called “The Last Journey“, and its creator was Vasily Perov. From the very first look, the viewer feels grief and sadness as he is facing a family that mourns the loss of a member(the father of the family) in the frozen winter of rural Russia. They are taking him to his final resting place, with the children holding his coffin, who are tired from the unbearable cold and endless mourning. The driver is the mother, who grieves as well, with a depressed body posture, who seems sunk into her thoughts. But even the animals have understood the dire situation, as we can see the dog howling and the horse walking somberly.
Cover Synopsis
The impending doom that comes for the family, in combination with the cold and grim music of the album, brings a plethora of negative feelings to the viewer. Life is and will always be harsh for everyone, and death is there to remind us.
Akhlys – The Dreaming I (2015)
Pre – Album History
Akhlys‘s second album was a major change from their first one, as they moved away from Dark Ambient to Black Metal. For this reason, the band is no longer a one-man project, as a drummer was added (Ain). There are still some ambient sounds, but the music is pure chaotic and complex Black Metal.
Creation
The creator of this outworldly album cover is David Herrerias, who was inspired by the concept/lyrics of the album(the band’s leader dreams, Alcameth). We observe in the middle the head of an undead elderly woman with rotten eyes, spitting hatefully hot tar onto a surface. This starts melting it, especially at the point that falls, thus opening a hole. That vomit eventually creates an eye, which spies the new world that opens wide in front of it. From the left side, red symbols are created, and to the right, some vapors give the illusion that the surface is the album cover. If this hypothesis is true, then the eye is spying on the real(?) world, thus the viewer.
Cover Synopsis
This insane cover gives the correct impression of what the music of the album is: chaotic, raw, and dark. It ties together with its music, giving the listener a whole new experience, making it one of the best Black Metal albums of the year.
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