Artwork for new album finished. Critique/Feedback welcome....sneaky plug as well :D

dj150888 · #1 12-15-2010, 01:30 PM

Hey guys, we've just officially announced the release of our next album, which will be our debut through Metal Blade records.

We're releasing it February 14th in Europe, February 15th across the rest of the world.

What do you guys think of the artwork?

The album will be a total of 8 tracks -

1. The Morrigan
2. An Ancient Fire Burns
3. Beneath The Frozen Sky
4. Heathen Burial
5. Visions of the Dawn
6. To Face The Black Tide
7. Poem To The Gael
8. The Last Caress Of Light Before The Dark

The title is taken from the closing song on the album. There are a number of different themes running through the record; "The Last Caress of Light" represents the turning of the tide, the fragile line between hope and despair, and the battle of strength against weakness.

We'll have audio samples up in the next few days for anyone whos interested.

All feedback, good or bad is welcome!

dj150888 · #2 12-16-2010, 02:42 AM

Too press-releasey?

Hutzbordello · #3 12-16-2010, 04:07 AM

wow.........thats pretty trippy man +1

Step · #4 12-16-2010, 04:09 AM

looks great, when I opened the thread I expected some amateur photoshop thing, this looks professional!

will listen to the music ASAP

dj150888 · #5 12-16-2010, 04:41 AM

Thanks guys! The sketching was done by hand, with colour and text added mostly with photoshop. We wanted to keep a rustic, old school sort of vibe, but tidied round the edges. We were fortunate enough to have some degree of our budget left over to have it professionally done, which I found to be a real luxury. It meant we were able to take more time and really hone in on the concept we were aiming for. I really enjoyed the process of watching the piece move from a somewhat more abstract idea I had in my head to the more focussed, almost blatant piece we went for in the end.

This album was also my first time in a really professional recording studio. Until now, we just hadn't got the budget to do anything more than a semi-professional approach. Its definitely something I'm looking forward to doing again for the next release!

Hutzbordello · #6 12-16-2010, 04:47 AM

it reminds me of a baroness cover

dj150888 · #7 12-16-2010, 02:10 PM

Just looked those guys up Hutzbordello. I can see the comparison. I quite like their piece for the, "Blue Record", so I'll take that as a compliment!

paganjack · #8 12-16-2010, 02:14 PM

That looks really sweet!

Zoa · #9 12-16-2010, 02:18 PM

NIIIICE! I love the lo-fi, non-computer-generated look. I'm not sure I like the green tinge on her skin, but then again, I'm not sure that I don't either. Great work!

dj150888 · #10 12-16-2010, 02:27 PM

Thanks you two!

Zoa, the green tinge to her skin is fairly important for the concept of the piece. Its taken from the first song on the album, so the piece itself is a representation of The Morrigan (or morrígu in gaeilge), in the midst of her transition into a serpent, one of the forms she attacked Cú Chulainn in. Its an interesting piece of The Ulster Cycle mythos if you've any interest in it.

Waterpilot · #11 12-16-2010, 02:39 PM

Looks great man. I like it!

Valerus · #12 12-16-2010, 02:50 PM

I've been checking out the band on myspace and youtube. seems like a fun project.

dj150888 · #13 12-16-2010, 02:57 PM

Thanks Valerus. It most definitely is a fun project. I'm not particularly interested in a career in music, so if its not fun for me, I won't play it, since I won't be depending on it to pay the bills. Music, for me, is my way of relaxing. The day it stops being fun is the day I'll change what I'm doing with it.

john_martin_sai · #14 12-16-2010, 03:09 PM

Great - the coloring is fantastic....the only thing that bothers me a bit is the linework. Too much of a 'cartoon-like' look when it otherwise reads as something more sophisticated than that.

It would be better if they were softened and rendered more subtly. On the face, (mouth, nose, chin-jawline) and the snake, etc. For instance, the contouring under the lower lip is well defined and finely executed (without the heavy line you see separating the lips).

I'd bring that up with the artist and ask him/her for a second look (opinion) on this.

It's very common for artists to spot something they'd want to alter after being away from a completed work of art for even a short span of time.

This can easily go from very good to excellent.....

Deluge Of Sound · #15 12-16-2010, 07:34 PM

I gotta be honest, when I saw the thread preview and it said Metal Blade, I wasn't expecting that cover at all.

I really dig it.

mpdd · #16 12-16-2010, 07:56 PM

i would suggest putting a little bit of violet over the lips to activate the yellow, otherwise it's very nice

bobsacamano · #17 12-16-2010, 08:13 PM

I like the cover, reminds me of Brain Salad Surgery.

Breslin dp · #18 12-16-2010, 09:37 PM

Looks good! Good luck with the new label!

dj150888 · #19 12-17-2010, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

I gotta be honest, when I saw the thread preview and it said Metal Blade, I wasn't expecting that cover at all.

I really dig it.

Just out of curiosity, what sort of thing were you expecting? The more modern highly digital style of work? Thats not really my sort of thing personally, I've always preferred more traditional looking pieces.

Thanks to all for your feedback! I appreciate it!