Black Sabbath - *The official thread*

I don't really have a problem with the new cover, it's not exactly awe-inspiring but it's not bad either. I'm actually relieved it wasn't something totally juvenile.

My main complaint is the font they used for the name.

SpectreFate wrote:

Looks like Ozzy's bitten the head off a creature that actually deserved it!

SpectreFate wrote:

Should of had a "ruler size" phallic sticking out of the flames where Sharon is glancing ?

James B. wrote:

SpectreFate wrote:

Should of had a "ruler size" phallic sticking out of the flames where Sharon is glancing ?

That album cover blows as does the font. Clearly the band (or much more likely their management/label) don't understand the importance of the visual aesthetic in setting a mood for an album. This album just screams lazy, corporate crap. Just compare to this to any album cover by Orchid. They get it. Of course, if Sabbath would have just repackaged Orchid's Capricorn with their name on it, the album would be hailed as the greatest comeback of all time.

exact33 wrote:

James B. wrote:

SpectreFate wrote:

Should of had a "ruler size" phallic sticking out of the flames where Sharon is glancing ?

I thought Sharon's head was the phallus.

One thing to say about Sabbath's earlier album art--and this is entirely debatable--is that, with the exception of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, none of it was mind-blowing. Granted, Paranoid was a rushed replacement. Sabotage was pretty goofy, the debut was a little creepy but a bt cheap, Vol 4 and Master of Reality were both plain--I don't see why this new album art has to be transcendent (on a side note, Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules had kickass artwork).

The only Sabbath album cover from the original lineup I don't like is Paranoid.

The first Sabbath album art is my favorite cover art ever. I saw it at a very young age but was already into the Hammer Horror thing and it just set my imagination racing. So creepy!

The Paranoid cover was awful!

Paranoid was pretty lame. And I'm not dissing the others either, just saying when compared to a lot of other album art at the time, theirs was minimalist. IMHO.

Let's also not forget that the riff we're hearing for 13 is rather swell. Rather swell indeed.

Boris2008 wrote:

The first Sabbath album art is my favorite cover art ever. I saw it at a very young age but was already into the Hammer Horror thing and it just set my imagination racing. So creepy!

The Paranoid cover was awful!

I didnt care much for Sabotage. Ozzy's pants

Master Of Reality is a lame cover for a great album. They couldn't come up with anything better than the title in swirly font ?

007 wrote:

Master Of Reality is a lame cover for a great album. They couldn't come up with anything better than the title in swirly font ?

It was much cooler in the original embossed LP cover, it doesn't translate effectively to a flat CD-sized cover.

Master of Reality is such a lame cover that it's been copied to death!

I've already mentioned that I don't like the Paranoid cover but that's about it for the Ozzy era. I think that Heaven and Hell and Born Again have corny cover art.

Sabotage deserves a demerit because of Bill's trousers!!

Agree with everyone here except that Heaven and Hell is in my top 10 greatest album art. I seriously wish my wife would let me blow that up to some enormous size to hang over the fireplace. Alas...

corplhicks wrote:

Agree with everyone here except that Heaven and Hell is in my top 10 greatest album art. I seriously wish my wife would let me blow that up to some enormous size to hang over the fireplace. Alas...

The cover for Heaven and Hell was done by the same artist that did B.O.C.'s "Agents Of Fortune", Lynn Curlee.

S.D. wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Agree with everyone here except that Heaven and Hell is in my top 10 greatest album art. I seriously wish my wife would let me blow that up to some enormous size to hang over the fireplace. Alas...

The cover for Heaven and Hell was done by the same artist that did B.O.C.'s "Agents Of Fortune", Lynn Curlee.

And both are ugly.

Eyesore wrote:

S.D. wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Agree with everyone here except that Heaven and Hell is in my top 10 greatest album art. I seriously wish my wife would let me blow that up to some enormous size to hang over the fireplace. Alas...

The cover for Heaven and Hell was done by the same artist that did B.O.C.'s "Agents Of Fortune", Lynn Curlee.

And both are ugly.

So true.

I always thought the BOC cover was a poor representation of the band and their material within. I dunno, I may be alone in saying that Heaven & Hell is way cooler, even if it's just the concept that grabs me.

The Master of Reality cover is an all time classic. I question the sanity of people who say it is lame. Have you ever seen it in all its embossed glory with the complete lyrics on the back of the jacket? The font is killer and the cover is very evocative of a doomy, spaced out mood. Unfortunately, the album cover is a lost art in the age of downloading.

I'm going to expect an order from every single one of you upset about no good art nowadays when my record comes out, just so you're aware.

That was going to be the double gatefold sleeve, but now you've gone and given away the surprise.

SpectreFate wrote:

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I'm going to expect an order from every single one of you upset about no good art nowadays when my record comes out, just so you're aware.

Meh, there's not enough cape....

Witchfinder wrote:

The Master of Reality cover is an all time classic. I question the sanity of people who say it is lame. Have you ever seen it in all its embossed glory with the complete lyrics on the back of the jacket? The font is killer and the cover is very evocative of a doomy, spaced out mood. Unfortunately, the album cover is a lost art in the age of downloading.

Say what you will, but those kind of covers always come across as lazy. Can't think of anything else to put on it ? I know, we'll just print the title and leave it at that. It may have looked cool on vinyl (which admittedly I have never seen) so at least it has that going for it.