More than any other subgenre of rock, and maybe any genre of music as a whole, heavy metal relies on the power of the visual artwork surrounding it. More than anything, this is because metal music is imbued with a sonic weight and emotional scope that’s so massive, so elaborate, that it needs fantastical and evocative images to accurately represent it. Much like how an incredible metal riff can make the right listener feel instantly elated and more complete as a person, so can the right illustration on an album cover make a hesher feel they are finally understood.
It’s no surprise, then, that metal’s greatest illustrators have risen to acclaim within the genre on the same level as some of metal’s biggest musicians. These painters, cartoonists, and photo manipulators are known around the world for creating representations of albums that capture the viewer’s eye and the message of the record as a whole. Their distinctive styles and work pedigrees make having an album sleeve created by one of them a badge of honor.
Here are the 15 illustrators of album covers who have most powerfully colored the world of metal…