Introduction

Being a blog dedicated to the use of gargoyles, grotesques, statues and carvings in album art, especially that of Doom Metal (and related genres). It may also include similar archaic images such as standing stones, monoliths, or mediaeval illustrations.

To my mind Doom Metal (when done correctly) evokes a feeling a great age, spirituality and contemplation, and this is enhanced by the imagery. I have a love of churches and other old buildings, and the two things go hand in hand for me; the images of gargoyles, statues and crosses used by Doom and Doom/Death bands, especially in the early 90s, seemed to perfectly fit the music. Also, the band names like Cathedral, Church Of Misery, Chapel Of Rest, and Castle; all these added to my imagined link between the music and churches and other old buildings.

Sunday, 15 January 2012

Revelation







Another great release on Rise Above, the first album from US Doom-lords Revelation. The three formats of the original release feature different images beside the cover, which are listed below.

Cover image, all formats: detail from the East Frieze of the Pergamon Altar, depicting Athena battling the giant Alkyoneus.

CD back inlay: skull carving, source unknown

LP back cover: Gothic tracery, possibly the inside of a spire, source unknown

LP insert: flying buttresses, Reims Cathedral, France

Cassette inlay - tracklist panel: Maze from Reims Cathedral, France

Cassette inlay - inside: Stone angel, tomb of Henry Honoré, Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, USA. This image was also used by dark ambient group Funerary Call on their 1994 demo "A Comselh De Ors", and also features inside the inlay for Godflesh's "Pure" CD.



And here's another album cover from the same band; a carving of Adam and Eve from the cathedral at Orvieto in Italy.
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