The Art of Metal

Over 400 of the finest examples of metal poster and cover art, spanning the entire 50-year history of metal, and how that art has helped define the genreWithout the larger-than-life character andimagination of the art that complements it, metal wouldn’t have had the same impact in capturing the intense spirit and visual identity that define its rebellious essence. From the colorful,outlandish, and sophisticated use of visuals for album artwork and posters, to the immediately recognizablelogos of such bands as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Metallica, Slayer, and a host of others across many subgenres, there’s a close-knitrelationship between the riffs that thunder from theguitar and the images that have come to represent thesongs, anthems, and sheer nature of the beast. Does anyother form of music immediately conjure up suchevocative and distinctive images as the mere mention ofthe term "heavy metal"? From its inception in the 1960s through today’sgiants, the art has been closely connected to the music. Every quintessential album brings to mind a readilyidentifiable album cover. Each great band has animmediately identifiable logo. All of the landmark gigshave a poster that quintessentially depicts the time,place, and passion of the event. Today, the art that has been used toillustrate the music now stands on its own. What might have begun as a way of packagingmetal has taken on a life of its own. It’s now possible to trace the way the genre itself has evolved,and changed, by looking at its art. The Art of Metal explores theways in which the art has helped define each of thecrucial subgenres that make up the multifaceted and colorful centipede that is metal.