Cool cd/album cover art

[Zsinj]

Okay, in the fantasy section of this board, there is a thread where people are posting their favorite book cover art, well, I thought that I would make a thread where we can post our favorite cd cover art. I'll start off with the cover of "Nightfall in Middle Earth" by Blind Guardian

 

[Eldanuumea]

That is an extremely striking cover....I am not familiar with the band, however.

 

[Shehzad]

For the uninitiated, that is Luthien Tinuviel dancing in front of Morgoth's throne, while Beren in wolf form awaits. In Morgoth's crown can be seen the three Simlarils.

This is, obviously, a scene out of Tolkien's Silmarillion...

My contribution: Tool's cover of Aenima... and if you see the picture moving, that is how the real cover moves if you tilt the album...

 

[Zsinj]

Shehzad hit the nail right on the head. Blind Guardian is a power metal band out of Germany and most of their songs are based on fantasy novels. "Nightfall in Middle Earth" is a concept album based on "The Silmarillion". Personally, I'd encourage any metal fan and fantasy fan to check out Blind Guardian, especially this album, because it kicks arse!!
That's a pretty cool cover by the way, Shehzad. Very surreal, kind of a mixture between H.R. Giger and Salvadore Dali. Is the cover holographic?

Here's some more favorite covers of mine, they're from a symphonic power metal band out of Italy named Rhapsody. They, like Blind Guardian, base their lyrics around a fantasy setting, exceptt they've done something that hardly any other power/progressive/melodic black metal band has ever done. They've made up their own fantasy story for each of their albums! And each of their new albums is a new installment in this ongoing storyline, so listening to them is like reading a fantasy novel! They've released five albums so far, and their story is called "The Algalord Saga. The albums released currently in order are: Legendary Tales, Symphony of Enchanted Lands, Dawn of Victory, Rain of a Thousand Flames, and Power of the Dragonflame. I'm really exited about their upcoming sixth album because Christopher Lee, who played Saruman in LOTR and Count Dooku in Star Wars Episode II, is going to do some voice-overs in it, and even sing! Anyone who loves epic/heroic fantasy and metal should check this band out! They're masters of metal opera!

Without further adieu, here's the covers of the five albums Rhapsody has released so far:

And here's the covers to their two singles, The Emerald Sword and Holy Thunderforce:

The cover art is absolutely mind-blowing and the music is even more so!

 

[Shehzad]

Originally posted by Zsinj
That's a pretty cool cover by the way, Shehzad. Very surreal, kind of a mixture between H.R. Giger and Salvadore Dali. Is the cover holographic?

Not exactly holographic, but it is designed in such a way that when you tilt the cover, it changes images.

 

[Zsinj]

Here's the cover to the album by my favorite glam metal band and all-around favorite metal band of all time, Europe! "The Final Countdown"

I've always known that the faces on the top five crystal-like thingys going up into space are members of the band, but I've never found out who the faces of the dude and chick are supposed to belong to on the ones closest to the bottom. Maybe it's sort of a nod to two of the band's close friends? *SHRUG*

 

[Zsinj]

An album cover by yet another power metal band from Italy, Domine. This is the cover for "Dragonlord: Tales of the Noble Steel".

And yes, that is the mighty Prince Elric on the cover! Most of Domine's songs are based on the Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock

 

[Zsinj]

Hey! What the heck happened to my Rhapsody snapshots?!!!

 

[Kelhanion]

The cover of "Get Heavy", an album by the Finnish heavy band, Lordi. The lead singer (also called Lordi) has drawn the cover himself.

They actually dress like that all the time. No one knows what the members really look like (or who they are).

 

[Tomsk]

And now for something completely different...

Lemonjelly- Lost Horizons. Not metal, nothing to do with fantasy, but a damn fine cover.

Also:

An even better album, and rock, although not metal. Its not amazing but I like the shadows, it is a cool effect.

Leftfield- Rhythm and Stealth. Coooool.....

Prodigy- Music for the Jilted Generation:

That should do I think. Sorry if they're a bit big!

 

[Oorag]

Tool's Lateralus art is pretty out there. Something to do with chakras and Swamis and such, I think.

 

[Evil Agent]

HUGE Tool fan here. That was awesome to see you guys post some album covers. That last one, Lateralus, is by Alex Grey... a sweet artist. You can check out his amazing work here!

I highly recommend checking it out!

Meanwhile, here is Tool's other album, Undertow:

 

[Dystran Hart]

Hmm I kinda liked

And

 

[Shanoncia]

Ooh, I like Muse!

Now maybe I'm bias because they are my favourite band, silverchair, but i've always liked this cover...

 

[Shanoncia]

 

[Shanoncia]