New Megadeth album cover

[GuerillaPete]

Gents,
We don't really have the whole package here to look at; so we don't know if there's a reason Vic Rattlehead has his back to the viewer of the cover. Perhaps there's something on the traycard or the rest of the booklet. We don't know yet. Also, the cover image on the Jackson page may not be final. Little things here and there with respect to flourishes, touch-ups, lighting may still be needed. Until we get the finished CD (or LP) package in our hands we don't know. So let's just give them (band/cover artist/label) the benefit of the doubt.

[Devotee]

If you're going to unveil the cover art of your new record, it probably means it's finished. Even if it isn't, the only little flourishes and touch-ups that would improve this cover is to delete and start again.

[toejam]

I can't wait for this CD to come out. I'll finally get to hear the finished, non-demo version of New World Order from my A Toute Le Monde CD single.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m9DRdd8adA

http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/cover-artwork-track-listing-megadeths-th1rt3en-unveiled

[BayRocker]

I suspect that artists feel that in an iTunes world, cover art is meaningless. If people are willing to listen to crappy compressed mp3s, they certainly shouldn't be concerned with the album artwork.

[Prince Vultan]

Well it's true that the cover probably doesn't sell albums like it did in the days when we used to browse through racks of vinyl, but merchandise ( along with special editions and anything else that can add value in a climate of falling revenue from actual music sales ) is more valuable than it's ever been. I'm sure most artists would recognise that attractive artwork goes a long way to help shift those extras. From that point of view, I'd say good art is as important as ever.

[DalyTek]

Well it's true that the cover probably doesn't sell albums like it did in the days when we used to browse through racks of vinyl, but merchandise ( along with special editions and anything else that can add value in a climate of falling revenue from actual music sales ) is more valuable than it's ever been. I'm sure most artists would recognise that attractive artwork goes a long way to help shift those extras. From that point of view, I'd say good art is as important as ever.

+1 Who's gonna want to buy a shirt with the back of Vic's head on it?

[Endrik]

I suspect that artists feel that in an iTunes world, cover art is meaningless.

Gives the word "artists" a new meaning alright...

[Twitch]

Considering Daves political direction with the last three albums, it may not be the fans hes turned his back to, but maybe society or this countries political state of being. It has to be a statement of some sort, and I dont think its against the fans.

[Learn Guitars]

First off, I love your work Matt. Been a fan for years. Great to see you here.

I got the email from Mega headquarters and saw the cover. I felt the cover lacked the artists true creativity. Too many cooks in the kitchen syndrome. But in the end, Dave gets what he wants and I am sure he wrote off on it after said and done. When I worked with him, I was getting it from the label too. Very tough to read between the lines at times and stay creative, especially with the deadlines.

[Prince Vultan]

First off, I love your work Matt. Been a fan for years. Great to see you here.

Reading that has totally made my day, Mike. I bet I've been drooling over your work for longer than you've been looking at mine..!

[JediHalen]

Thank God I get free reign too put all my creativity into our bands album covers and not have it shot down in flames by some marketing executive.

[Ward]

Just took a look at your link Matt. Amazing stuff.

[Hellbat]

I'm feeling a lot of love in this thread...

[Trem]

Checked out your sites, All your guys' art is awesome.
I've been telling myself to get my intuos out and start practicing with it. I'd love to learn composite, if that's the proper term. Like in sci fi or whatnot how they do composites onto real backdrops. Always was fascinated with how they do that in film, maybe more back in the day with Star Wars -Star Trek and such where you'd see structures in the background layed onto real terrain. Seems a lot of that has gotten mixed with a lot of 3d modeling now, which is cool as well.

The Megadeth cover wouldn't be so bad if vic was face forward and maybe doing a 13 sign with his fingers or something of that nature, but that looks like it should be the back of the album, heh.

I was thinking about album art in general, and remember when you were young how when an album cover worked so well was when it seemed to be an extension of the music on the album, and you could just stare at it when listening to a record and it conjured up the feeling between the art and the music, shit like Kreator and Celtic Frost ect.