Top 10 WORST Album Covers

Okay, so I gave you my top 20 metal album covers, and it should be obvious to most of you that there is some great artwork out there in the world of metal. However, most of you probably are also aware that there is a lot of shitty album art out there as well. After all, metal did give us bands like W.A.S.P., Over Kill, and Manowar (apologies to any of you who dig those bands).

While I could probably do a list of about 100 bad album covers, these are ten that I chose based on an otherwise great band and/or album, but the cover art is just crap. Because really I could probably put every Anvil, Warrant, and Whitesnake album on here, but those are bands that I frankly don't really care for or about, and so it would be like someone poking fun at the movie Gigli without even having seen it. Wait...... never mind, I do that.

Okay folks enough talk, let the awful art exhibit begin!


(1) Sepultura - Morbid Visions

It pains me to have to put a band that made my top 20 best list on the worst as well, but it HAS to be done. This cover is just too god-awful for words!

(2) Slayer - Show No Mercy

Ditto for this one. A lot of people would give the "Slayer's worst cover" distinction to 'Hell Awaits', but I'm sorry, this one is WAY worse.

(3) Anthrax - Fistful of Metal

You know, I'm startin' to feel a little bad about picking three debut records right off the bat. Kinda like bitching about a debut's bad production quality, or choice of wardrobe - at least that's the case with most bands from the 80's. So having said that, lets move on to a band that should have known better.

(4) Morbid Angel - Domination

Gawd this cover is awful! And it sucks because this is by my count the third band to make this list that also made my 'best covers list' as well. But man I can't get over this cover. The album is not embraced all that warmly by fans, but I actually do like Domination as a record. But I get kinda nauseous every time I look at this cover. Purple and green just should not go together kids.

(5) Kreator - Endless Pain

Yes, another debut, but here's a band that didn't make my best list. Probably because most of Kreator's album covers were shit. Awesome band..... REALLY bad cover art.

(6) Bathory - Under the Sign of the Black Mark

Anyone picking up on the "Muscular barbarian lookin' guy with a horned mask on his face' theme here? Again, great album, many people debate the merits of this particular record, but I don't know anyone who likes the cover. Did they use the same set from the movie 'The Ten Commandments' for this photo?

(7) Belphegor - Blood Magick Necromance

Ah finally, a more recent record to taunt. Actually this album was pretty good, and I LOVE me some Belphegor. Its actually sad really, because generally their artwork is very cool, but I'm sorry, this one is just WAY too silly-looking to be taken seriously.

(8) Autopsy - Severed Survival

Another great record with a terrible cover. I mean it looks like they're tearing apart Gumby, just with human colored skin and a little blood thrown in. It looks like Autopsy was going for disturbing and obscene, but it ended up just looking comical. I prefer the vinyl cover art myself (which if you're curious to check out, you can find it here)

(9) Napalm Death - Diatribes

Most ND fans are torn over this period in the bands history, but I actually tend to like their stuff from the 90's. Maybe not as much as their older stuff, but still. Needless to say this cover is just wrong on so many levels. Is that supposed to be a burnt hand? It kinda looks more like a burnt chicken wing. And there's that green and purple I was telling you about before!

(10) Pantera - Metal Magic

Even the remaining members of Pantera will tell you that this was a less proud time in their history, but man this cover is an 11 on the cheeziness scale. It looks like a bad high school mascot painting from the 80's, you know like you'd see in a gymnasium? "Your West Valley High fighting Panteras ladies and gentlemen!"

Honorable Mention

Manowar - (take your pick)

I'll admit it, there IS something sort of endearing about Manowar. Yest they are extremely corny, but I guess that's kind of the point. Never the less, their album covers are just too gay for words. I don't use that term lightly - you know like the people that say "oh that's gay" at everything they find ridiculous, unfair, etc. Seriously, look at these guys! I really wonder if maybe they are still in the closet. Come on, they're wearing leather chaps and speedos. Manowar gets an honorable mention because I don't really know a whole lot about them, just heard some of their music (not a lot) and again, its corny but kinda fun. But once again, I don't wanna pick on a band that I don't really have a whole lot to do with.