TOTAL DEVASTATION

Brazil had a load of great bands in the 80s who made an significant impact on the scene. One bone crushing effort we all should know off is "Bestial Devastation" '85 by Sepultura. Probably my favorite release by them, because I love when music is a little bit shitty while genius.

Why I begin by mentioning this release is because it's likely the most famous of the three covers shown below. But beware, Sad Iron's "Total Damnation" '84 is a beast and should be bought on sight. Death Squad is a bit newer band from Italy, playing Thrash. They have now split up, but they did leave behind "Bestial Domination" in 2010.



So, Sad Iron to Sepultura. I think the Devils face is similar enough to be mentioned here. I wouldn't be surprised if who ever did "Bestial Devastation" had a little sneak peak at "Total Damnation". That Death Squad's cover is inspired by "Bestial Devastation" goes without saying. The name is a tip off as well. Funny with the names on these three releases as well, they do have the same feel right?

The coolest thing here, between all these three cover artworks is the little reaper on "Bestial Devastation". The whole cover is magnificent. Sad Iron's cover is very well done as well, but not as ominous, but they do have a tiger and a bird, and a v-guitar... and a building.

But we are not quite done. I finally give you Morbid Rites, a thrash-four piece from the states. This self titled demo was released this year, 2017, and surely we can all suspect where they got the inspiration for the cover, yes?



...a very nice cover I might add.

WRETCHED CARNIVORE

On Carnivore's second album they went completely bananas and had album artwork, contrary to their previous album which only featured their logo.

On this little gem we get something that looks crafted for this release, but of course is not. It's a manipulated photo from an actual war picture. First band to feature this (to my knowledge) was Italian HC band Wretched, who did so in 1983 on an EP i do not dare to spell out, while "Retaliation" was issued in '87.



Carnivore approached the market without their logo we all treasured from their first album. Instead the cover had a digital type of font we all know from Iron Maiden's "Somewhere In Time" which was out in 1986. I suspect a lot of record label involvement within this release, non the less, it's a hell of an album. No trademark violations here, unless the machines rise and tells the public they are offended by the slobbish ways we have used some of their sources to communicate.

As you can see the album later on got a "Parental advisory" stamp on it, when relaunched in 2001. "About time" some parents thought to themselves. "We can't have people speaking their mind freely to our children, they might be enlightened."

"The power of the atom at our disposal 
Yet it's called unsafe 
Nuclear energy so clean and pure 
Your ignorance is a disgrace"

ROTTING IN BLOOD

I think it was said in an interview that the artwork for Swedish Coldworker's second release "Rotting Paradise" was inspired by the, much deserved, cult album "Reign in Blood" by Slayer.



Both albums are great and highly recommended.. in your physical collection. Just writing this triggered me to revisit "Rotting Paradise", which I haven't done for ages. One of those albums I know are good, but somehow has fallen into oblivion.

I think it's much more fun to discover for oneself what's been loaned and inspired in this one. Some stuff are facts, some we can only just speculate upon. Me pointing it out feels kind of redundant.

The lower right corner with the title in grey above a black and red background reminds me of the sublime artwork for Obliteration's (also sublime) album "Black Death Horizon". I hardly think this was a inspiration, but it's still nice to have a reason to post this cover art as it is majestic and beyond.

THE UNKOWN METAL STRIKE

A quick post today. So I give you something that is fairly obvious, but still fun to put up.
Gotham City vs. Helvetets Port.

Both bands Swedish, both bands heavy metal. Gotham City was formed in 1980 and was hard rockin' with swords and chains till '87. First effort to be released was "Black Writs" in '83, followed by their full length we have here (below), "The Unknown" in '84. Gotham City stayed a pretty obscure band for years, until today, when people hail them as one of Sweden's finest.

Helvetets Port is a band from Gothenburg (at least nowadays) who have followed Gotham City's footsteps since day one, and have done so well. Formed in 2001, a demo was first made in 2004 called "Metal Strike", and then later a single called the same in 2006 which we see below.

As for the artwork. Inspired. You got the sketched warrior (though HP got a one plus, obscure dude hugging his v), red and yellow background, tiny bit similar logo, and title in lower right corner.
So besides using an iron pumped drawn warrior, we get another tribute in the picture as well. Both muscle packs got their warlords initials on their bucket belts. GC to the left, HP to the right.
I mentioned that the logo's are similar. Yes, I think so, but not stolen at all. No letter is the same, but the feel is! The only thing borrowed, if, is the cross we see in Gotham's G and Port's T. But even those crosses aren't really the same. And then the background. Same color, not the same drape. Gotham City have a cross fade of colors coming downwards, whilst Helvetets Port have a two pallet thingy crossing the cover... and their logo is green.........



As you can see, this is a cover well done. Nothing to bitch about at all. I salute the idea! To wrap things up; listen to both bands. The music is as good as these two album covers!

WARLOCK PENTAGRAM

Not really the same. But I can't help think Warlock Moon thought a little of the classic Pentagram cover when finalizing this release. Definitely inspired.

ADAM AND THE HEAVY METAL GAMBLER

Yes, we all know Michelangelo would have been into heavy metal if he lived today. All great minds would. So this adaptation of his great art piece from 1512 is by no means blasphemy. Buzzard was a Belgian Speed Metal outfit who released "Gambler" in 1984. When it came to artistic greatness they were spot-on on several levels. In my dreams I wish there was a full size adaptation of this cover art! Adam finger cuddling with a studded stud.



I guess it would have looked something like this:

THE ROMANTICS X2

Sometimes when it's time to release yet another mind-blowing single, the art department choose to just flip the previous cover. Why? Because it's not confusing for the customers! It's settling.