Despite many metalheads claiming that looks don’t matter round these parts, the truth is that a good aesthetic is a key aspect of a heavy band making it big. Putting Iron Maiden mascot Eddie The Head on anything will guarantee it sells, while so much of the buzz around Slipknot and Ghost has centred around their masked faces. Looking good won’t guarantee you success, but it’ll put you in the fast lane.
This is why it’s such a shame when masterful music gets sullied with imagery that just looks shit. Even the biggest bands have fallen victim to it, from Metallica to Limp Bizkit. So, below, Metal Hammer’s listed 10 times that amazing metal albums were burdened with some of the shoddiest album art to have ever been given a thumbs-up.
