Thrash Metal Album Covers

After looking into Thrash Metal conventions and In preparation for the creation our very own Thrash Metal Digiapacks I decided to do some research into Thrash Metal album covers, from my findings I discovered that there are a number of reoccurring themes with the genre and there Digpacks found with in it. Violence and aggression seems to be a big part of Thrash Metal, this is portrayed in a vast number of ways throughout the genre.  Here are some examples of existing and famous Thrash Metal album covers.

Megadeth - Rust In Peace

Megadeath and Thrash Metal in general is well know for having graphic album covers, Rust In Peace by Megadeath is no exception. The use of their trademark mascot Vic Rattlehead is classic example of this graphically designed imagery that is such a big theme within Thrash Metal.

Warbringer - War Without End

Destruction is very much a big part of Thrash Metal this can be seen in Warbringers album cover War Without End. The album cover  depicts a Thrash Metal tank surrounded by fire, burning buildings, smoke and dead bodies as well as skeleton soldiers and a representation of the devil. This portrays huge destruction, even the text is of destructive nature with the use of a blood dripping effect on the album title. This is a classic example of a Thrash Metal album cover with a destructive graphic.

Motorhead - Iron Fist

The use of text styles and fonts is a big part of Thrash Metal this can be seen on almost every Thrash Metal album cover, each artist has it's on distinctive text style. This is so audiences can easily recognise the artist and relate to them every time they see the logo or text style. A great example of this is Motörhead's text or font style for their logo.

Metallica - Master of Puppets 

                                                                    Death is another re-occuring theme within Thrash Metal. The majority of album covers will feature some form of concept of death within it. Metallicas Master of Puppets album cover is a great example of this.

Slayer - South of  Heaven

Skull or skeleton imagery is another theme or piece of imagery that is big within Thrash Metal album covers. This is seen graphically in Slayers album cover South of Heaven. Not only this but this album also contains every single element of a Thrash Metal album cover listed above, destruction, a graphic design or imagery, death and also a a distinctive text style or logo.












From this is, it is evident to all that destruction, death and war appear to the main theme across all of the above covers. Not only this but cartoonist designs appear to be a big theme within the Thrash Metal genre, as a result of this observation we can incorporate these ideas and there respective elements within our own album cover and Digipack.