For this blog, I wanted to show you how I turned some ordinary photographs of Lamb Of God into the apocalyptic images that grace the cover and feature pages of Revolver magazine's April 2009 issue, on newsstands now!
The concept for these images goes in line with the overarching theme behind the band's new album Wrath, which is, in short, all things end-times: plagues, pestilence, locusts, hail, blood red skies and rivers, etc.
For the cover specifically, the direction was to place the band in a swarm of locusts, with a sky of deep red looming in the background. For this image, I was able to keep most of the photo intact, and just add the locusts. I also wanted to add a horizon line comprised of steeples and old-world architecture. All in all, this image was pretty cut and dry. The most tedious part of the process was accurately cutting out the locusts, and placing them into the image.
(Click "more" to read how Ryan Clark turned the members of Lamb of God into harbingers of the apocalypse for the cover and inside magazine art.) Read more...
The triple-disc Demon Hunter set, "45 Days," came out today. To celebrate the occasion, we've got an exclusive live video from the DVD, "Lead Us Home." The track is from the "Live in Nashville" section of the package. The other DVD is a tour documentary by Gale Glendening, and the set also includes a CD of live music. Click more to watch "Lead Us Home." Read more...
There are only three days left until Demon Hunter's new DVD, "45 Days," comes out. The three-disc package features a documentary, live footage and a CD of music from the film. To further whet your appetite, here's an exclusive preview. Click "more" to watch. Read more...
It seems an unlikely pairing -- Demon Hunter working with Machine Head to create art for the special edition of The Blackening. Here, Demon Hunter guitarist and designer Don Clark explains why it had to work.
First off, let me start off by talking about Machine Head -- in general.
I remember when my buddy Brandon Ebel first told me about the band's first album Burn My Eyes in 1994, shortly after its release. At the time, I was playing in hardcore bands and deep into that scene, but metal was also a huge part of my life. Fear Factory, Sepultura, Prong, Metallica (obviously), Pantera, Slayer ... the list goes on. So, when I heard Burn My Eyes ... I was obviously floored. I even remember the day I drove down to Tower Records (RIP) on Broadway Street in Sacramento to pick it up -- and the moment I popped it in the CD deck. It had that new American thrash sound that I loved, but it had something else -- "Davidian." To this day, I don't know if it gets better than that opening riff, following by the classic line "LET FREEDOM RING WITH A SHOTGUN BLAST!" I still get chills when I hear it. From that moment on, Machine Head were my metal band of choice, trumping all others. (click "more" to read the rest of Don Clark's homage to Machine Head and to see the art he and his brother Ryan created for the expanded edition of The Blackening. Read more...
Here's Demon Hunter singer and Invisible Creature designer Ryan Clark talking about the new art work he and created for The Showdown's new album Back Breaker.
Continuing with the theme of our every-so-often design blogs, I've got something hot off the press (actually, it hasn't even been printed yet) to show you.
I started working on the artwork for The Showdown's new record, Back Breaker just before leaving on tour this Summer. The Greek-mythology-themed song titles instantly drew me to a concept that I pitched to the band, which went something like this: Read more...
