Ultimatum - Heart of Metal cover art...

I'll admit it, when I was going to church I wore certain shirts just to get a reaction like T-Roy's. However, my church was not very judgemental (at least not out in the open) so I never got any remarks. However, I did get a questioning of my Christianity at Mardel Christian Bookstore with an Iron Maiden shirt.

I think the entire problem stems from the fact that whoever drew it has zero understanding of human anatomy and frankly speaking did a horrible job taking it beyond cartoony firmly into farcical territory.

The concept is great and if you re-commission Andrey Bouzikov (Bio Cancer, Municipal Waste) to redraw it, or any other capable artist in that matter, the result will be completely different and no one will complain about it, or at least they will not have a valid reason to. Just my two cents...

K Wood floats. He must be a witch!! BURN HIM!!!

ultmetal wrote:

You know, I should have and actually thought about putting it in The Flophouse....

What the hell is The Flophouse? Why am I so confused right now???





I think the cover is pretty cool. Maybe a little bit of work on the hair and the Heart of Metal lettering as someone suggested might help, otherwise, I dig it.

And all this talk about edifying artwork, etc. Pffffff

stormspell wrote:

I think the entire problem stems from the fact that whoever drew it has zero understanding of human anatomy and frankly speaking did a horrible job taking it beyond cartoony firmly into farcical territory.

The concept is great and if you re-commission Andrey Bouzikov (Bio Cancer, Municipal Waste) to redraw it, or any other capable artist in that matter, the result will be completely different and no one will complain about it, or at least they will not have a valid reason to. Just my two cents...

Agreed 100%. Nothing wrong with the consept, metal artwork is supposed to be cheesy.....
I see no point in making it a discussion about the meaning, or lack of meaning, of the art. It`s just poor work IMO, but i guess you have a limited budget and at least the cover get`s some reaction....

Ult, you should've put my sexy ass on the cover. You could call the album.... "Big sexy."

ultmetal wrote:

darktower wrote:

Overall I like the concept - but I think a more realistic human would appeal to more! But hey I know that cost alot of money as well -so for a limited print run - I predict a sellout!

That would be my fault. I was looking for a comic book look. I gave the artist photos of myself in my stage cloths (denim vest, leather wristbands, etc.) and gave him the concept I was after.

It should've been done the old school way (Oil or watercolor on canvass) to expose and highlight those subtle tones. Computer-generated paintings like that are too flat and cartoonish, altho the purpose obviously is, to make cheesy and cartoonish, BUT not overly flat ... Notice Repka's (?) use of harmonious color tones , It should be done that way...The Old school method is simply miles better dude.

I must admit I don't like the new artwork. I like the concept I just don't think the artist is very good.

Also think, as others have pointed out, that after ripping the heart out he should hold it aloft looking kinda proud that he has a metal heart rather than looking horrified.

Whatever! I'm tired of trying to please everyone. It doesn't matter what we do, people complain. They complained about the Into the Pit cover, they complained about the Lex Metalis cover, the accused us of plagiarism on the Puppet of Destruction cover. I'm going to make the cover black with an Ultimatum logo and be done with it. Here the new cover!

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the accused us of plagiarism on the Puppet of Destruction cover.

That's a new one on me. Who'd they accuse you of plagiarizing?

Fat Freddy wrote:

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the accused us of plagiarism on the Puppet of Destruction cover.

That's a new one on me. Who'd they accuse you of plagiarizing?

HM Magazine.
Never judge a book by its cover." What a cliche! Well, this album's packaging is graphically pleasing to the eye, but. . . The meaning behind that cliche insinuates that the music inside must not be as good. But let's concentrate on the outside first. While it is pleasing to the eye, the packaging emits a ripoff warning signal. First of all, the front cover depicting a jester skeleton/puppet is reminiscent of BRUCE DICKENSON's latest cd...Next, we have the band members' x-rays inside the leaflet, not much unlike the cover of "Smash" by OFFSPRING. Are all of these unoriginal trappings merely coincidence? I doubt it.

^^ Is that guy for real? (rolls eyes) Uhhh.. yeah, sure. I could almost see what he's saying about the Bruce Dickinson thing, but Offspring? We all know what huge Offspring fans Ultimatum are. Sheesh.

I feel your pain, Ult. Stuff like this is why I could never be in a band. I'd be handing out b*tch slaps left and right.

Fat Freddy wrote:

^^ Is that guy for real? (rolls eyes) Uhhh.. yeah, sure. I could almost see what he's saying about the Bruce Dickinson thing, but Offspring? We all know what huge Offspring fans Ultimatum are. Sheesh.

I feel your pain, Ult. Stuff like this is why I could never be in a band. I'd be handing out b*tch slaps left and right.

The problem with his Bruce comment was that 1) the artwork was done a year before Accident of Birth came out 2) the magazine knew that info but didn't correct the reviewer 3) the album covers look nothing alike. It didn't stop people from complaining and accusing though.

So, hopefully everyone likes the new & improved "none-more-black" cover.

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hopefully everyone likes the new & improved none-more-black cover.

"It looks a bit like black leather, dunnit?"

EmoElmo wrote:

It should've been done the old school way (Oil or watercolor on canvass) to expose and highlight those subtle tones. Computer-generated paintings like that are too flat and cartoonish, altho the purpose obviously is, to make cheesy and cartoonish, BUT not overly flat ... Notice Repka's (?) use of harmonious color tones , It should be done that way...The Old school method is simply miles better dude.

What you say may have been valid in 2003 due to technology/medium restrictions, but not anymore. If you have the skills you can do everything digital now, and beyond. And for the record, that Repka drawing is digital too.

ultmetal wrote:

They complained about the Into the Pit cover

wait...what? why? I think its a great cover!

ultmetal wrote:

Whatever! I'm tired of trying to please everyone. It doesn't matter what we do, people complain. They complained about the Into the Pit cover, they complained about the Lex Metalis cover, the accused us of plagiarism on the Puppet of Destruction cover. I'm going to make the cover black with an Ultimatum logo and be done with it. Here the new cover!

It's your record, dude...do whatever you want!

Exactly. People are dicks. I don't like the cartoony look but that's just me and since I wasn't consulted I won't complain. The music rocks and that's what matters.

ultmetal wrote:

Whatever! I'm tired of trying to please everyone. It doesn't matter what we do, people complain. They complained about the Into the Pit cover, they complained about the Lex Metalis cover, the accused us of plagiarism on the Puppet of Destruction cover. I'm going to make the cover black with an Ultimatum logo and be done with it. Here the new cover!

Hope that spitting of the dummy wasn't aimed at my comment. You asked for feedback and I was being honest. What did you want, a thousand replies all sucking your d1.ck telling you how fabulous the new cover is. Sorry but that's not the real world. Your asking the wrong people on this forum though as I suspect most here would buy the album regardless of the artwork. Me, I'll buy the album as I really like ultimatum's music but honestly, if I knew nothing of your band and just happened upon the cd in a record shop I'd likely pass.

He's not talking about us, he's talking about other people's feedback that has been personal.

Ult,

You've been in the game this long, I'm surprised you are letting it get to you. Don't take it too personal, now with the age of the internet everyone has a license to critique everything to the nth degree.

I liked the cover.

Wayne wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Whatever! I'm tired of trying to please everyone. It doesn't matter what we do, people complain. They complained about the Into the Pit cover, they complained about the Lex Metalis cover, the accused us of plagiarism on the Puppet of Destruction cover. I'm going to make the cover black with an Ultimatum logo and be done with it. Here the new cover!

Hope that spitting of the dummy wasn't aimed at my comment. You asked for feedback and I was being honest. What did you want, a thousand replies all sucking your d1.ck telling you how fabulous the new cover is. Sorry but that's not the real world. Your asking the wrong people on this forum though as I suspect most here would buy the album regardless of the artwork. Me, I'll buy the album as I really like ultimatum's music but honestly, if I knew nothing of your band and just happened upon the cd in a record shop I'd likely pass.

Uhhhh, think you got that wrong or I didn't explain it well enough. It will have BOTH covers so that either can be displayed in the jewel case. That way those who don't like it can have the "none-more-black" cover.

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It will have BOTH covers so that either can be displayed in the jewel case. That way those who don't like it can have the "none-more-black" cover.

Good idea. That's very "Intense Millennium" of you.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Quote :

It will have BOTH covers so that either can be displayed in the jewel case. That way those who don't like it can have the "none-more-black" cover.

Good idea. That's very "Intense Millennium" of you.

Yes it is.

I actually like the idea of having two covers. I suggested it to Bill several days ago.