The Art of Metal: Five Decades of Heavy Metal Album Covers, Posters, T-Shirts, and More

Since the late 1960s, the imagery of the heavy metal genre has been closely connected with the music itself. Classic albums evoke memories of famous cover artwork; metal bands have become forever synonymous with their iconic logos; and landmark live shows have led to instantly recognizable gig posters that embody the time, place, and passion of the events. It s even possible to trace the genre s evolution by examining a continuum of its art. In The Art of Metal, renowned music journalist Malcolm Dome offers a beautifully presented chronological collection of the colorful, outlandish, and sophisticated album covers, posters, T-shirts, and more that span decades of heavy metal music. More than 400 gorgeously reproduced works of art are complemented by in-depth features, including quotes from the graphic artists and musicians responsible for them. Dome also spotlights the metal genre s most influential artists and photographers and delves into other topics that include metal merch, magazines, fashion, and tattoos. In the process, The Art of Metal illustrates and explores the close-knit relationship between those timeless riffs that thunder from Marshall stacks and the images that have come to represent the songs, anthems, and sheer nature of headbanger culture a must for any true thrasher s bookshelf.