50 of the worst album covers ever - my reaction

[@josephstone2112]

Who in their right mind thinks Hemispheres is one of the worst 50 covers of all time?

[@WhatsWrongWithTheStreet]

It is their least interesting cover. Hugh was looking to do some Salvadore Dali inspired work, I think.

[@josephstone2112]

@@WhatsWrongWithTheStreet That's fair, but I still find it more interesting than Hold Your Fire, Counterparts, and even Caress of Steel personally.

[@ignatiusb.samson977]

I have to say, I like the idea. But the execution is not so great.

[@WhatsWrongWithTheStreet]

@@josephstone2112 Good calls on those. My favorite Rush cover is Presto.🐇🐇🐇🐇 It is fantastic.

[@johnpatterson4272]

@@josephstone2112 Agreed, Hemispheres was limited in scope for the time it wasn't like other iconic covers like Unmasked, Empty Glass, Emotional Rescue or Against the Wind.

[@TheMrMoosy]

Overkill - Under The Influence & Slayer - Show No Mercy don't belong in that list IMO, and not even close.

[@Protometal66]

Agreed , 2 great covers in my opinion.

[@kirbyd]

these lists are just comment generators . they need arguments and gafaws.. click bait.

[@brandonio_granger]

I love the Paranoid. I never understood the hate. It's psychedelic, what's no to love about it.

[@HunterHare]

I think the only reason it gets hate is because it doesn’t fit with the title. The cover is based on the song “War Pigs”, hence the sword and shield.

[@photoslum]

@@HunterHare I always thought the pose of the guy, his outfit, and the multiple exposures of him suggested a paranoia

[@rumblehat4357]

Wasn't the original title to be War Pigs? I don’t hate the cover, it’s weird, but it does seem a commentary on “idiots out playing war,” just like we have today, with other people’s lives.

[@killrmillr]

Did the person who picked Animal Magnetism as the worst ever see the original Virgin Killer cover?

[@WhatsWrongWithTheStreet]

I'm telling you, man. I love that cover. The kneeling girl, the guy with the beer, that makes sense. But that doggo and it's suggestive placement in the pic is profound.

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

No kidding! You shouldn't have to worry about getting busted for kiddie pron just because you own a Scorpions album!

[@RJW1967]

One of the most shocking EVER!

[@Helo_rides_for_commies]

@@WhatsWrongWithTheStreetHipgnosis made weird covers. That’s what’s cool about them.

[@WhatsWrongWithTheStreet]

@@Helo_rides_for_commies They were the best. There is a documentary on one of the streamers about Storm and a friend that started it all, and the extraordinary work they have done. I can't recall the title or which streamer but it is out there. I watched it maybe two or three months ago.

[@thedinkster5772]

The Paranoid album cover is kinda odd but honestly it still fits the music even with the album title changed from the original “War Pigs”. Even then, the pictures become iconic and I’ve seen that cover so many times at this point it’s engrained into my head and I can’t help but love it

[@Propain13]

Apparently, no one involved with this list has seen a Goregrind/Pornogrind album before.

[@neolbioldey]

Oh, I have. I just don't think it would be suitable to put up there

[@j.j.guerrieri5257]

I always liked the Paranoid album cover

[@bouyaharumuchi]

yeah it's not top 50 worst material.

[@progpunk76]

The Black metal scene has always been very insular You gotta be in the know. Don't think they want the mainstream anywhere near them.

[@tompatchak8706]

I went to a grocery store, grocery store with my kids and I saw a guy with a black metal T-shirt. I thought it was a black metal T-shirt turns out it was the name of a Phil Collins album just in the METAL!!! fund and the dude laughed and said I’m not the only one in the store that day that said the same thing.

[@progpunk76]

@@tompatchak8706 I like some black metal and also some Phil Collins!!!!!

[@tompatchak8706]

@@progpunk76 when dude pointed it out I couldn’t unsee it.

[@Pesthauch666]

@@tompatchak8706 There are some ironic shirt designs available with Celine Dion as well as Abba motives styled like stereotypical a black metal shirts. Especially the Abba one is nice, since it just looks like some Darkthrone shirt. There's even some photos with Fenriz of Darkthrone wearing that Abba shirt.

[@tompatchak8706]

@@Pesthauch666 yeah man I’ve seen them on different metal sites and stuff. They look so awesome I wanna get my kids names on a shirt in like a metal font. When my kids and I go to the grocery store, we see we see that kind of stuff and I always ask the people in the shirts about their stuff and it’s really fun because my kids make fun of me for making friends. But as you know if you are a metal fan, you’re part of the community and everyone’s a family even though we kick and push each other when we go to shows that’s what it’s all about.

[@mq42]

I love the "Born Again" cover art. Seeing it as a 13-year-old, it was just a cool horror movie image. And the "Lovedrive" cover... why so much gum?

[@entropybentwhistle]

Change the g in gum to a c.

[@IFHorus]

Yeah, I think BA is cool. It's a simple doctored- up photo of a newborn but it's both comical and grotesque. If only they'd put that much attention to the album's mix...

[@iseesatanfalllikelightning]

Black/death metal logos are more art pieces really, you nailed it with the underground thing. It kind of doesn't matter anymore though as most people listen to music on streaming and the name of the band is easily found. Love the channel, keep physical media alive!

[@OceanSoul1969]

Stryper, “By His stripes (wounds) we are healed.” The album is Soldiers Under Command, hence the army war attempt. The early Stryper was way too glam for me, but they are still around and preaching the gospel of Christ. The real way to be Born Again!

[@trashyraccoon2615]

I looked it up. Something tells me that’s where Justice got the idea of using a cross as their logo. Justice is MY way to be born again! Be well

[@toddscheler7194]

The actual Stryper album title for the cover shown is 'Soldiers Under Command'. Side note: saw Mortiis as an opening act for Mushroomhead at their famous Cleveland Halloween show years ago. Post-concert, when fans were hitting merch booths before leaving, Mortiis' merch guy was hollering "Free (Mortiis) posters!", holding them aloft. No one was taking them 😄

[@allandalegibson1194]

Foreigner Head Games seriously....What were they thinking

[@grahambiggs9822]

Thanks for sharing Frank... and there were some pretty bad album covers in amongst that lot. The only reason I could give as to why they went ahead is that a member of the band (or a band girlfriend) drew the picture and no one had the heart to say it was rubbish.

[@cgramlick542]

Stryper album is “Soldiers Under Command”. Probably on the budget they had this was the most military they could make it. The yellow and black they’ve said they were using it as like warning signs use yellow and black. It also set them apart . I thought it was cool back then. Of course the issue is even if the band gets tired of it, it’s still part of your brand.

[@jimmderby5772]

My wife and I saw them about 8 years ago they did the 30th anniversary of To Hell with the devil. 50 yr olds in leather pants and weird light up jackets. AWESOME!

[@joshsmith6817]

Hemispheres album cover goes hard what are they talking about

[@vinylisbetter5950]

Let us not ever forget "Smell the glove" spinal taps masterpiece.

[@rumblehat4357]

“It’s so black, it’s like how much more black could it be? The answer is none. None more black.”

[@johnhenryclark911]

@ 10:44 Frenzal Rhomb-"D*** Sandwich" 🥪😳🙄😁😅😂🤣 Now This Definitely Sounds Like Something From "Spinal Tap". And , As Far As I Am Concerned. This Album Title Makes Me Want To Go To My Local Record Store And Buy This Album , Hoping For Some More Great Song Titles! Bravo!😳🥪🙄😁✍🏻 I Am Posting 📬 This At 4:42 p.m. , Tuesday Afternoon 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , April 16, 2024.

[@cookiesontoast9981]

As someone who holds Black Metal as the most important music of my life, I never looked at music as a whole the same way again after I discovered Black Metal. Also made me appreciate all genres of music more than I ever did beforehand, It changed my life for the better, really really resonates with me on so many levels. Doom and Death Metal too but especially Black. But yeah I can tell you that they almost never look at the music, art and subsequently the logos from a marketing, branding perspective. Black Metal artists and fans value the mystique of the bands being more unknown and the genre an acquired taste, having to learn and know about the genre and artists to learn more about it and dig deeper into it if someone wants to, but not all out there for everyone to see if they're not interested. I don't really mean it in a snobby "being full of yourself" way, I mean more in a humble way, like they don't strive for mainstream success at all, for the most part they're doing it for the love of the art and to contribute to a scene and genre they love. If that makes sense. And the fans who know the bands will recognise the logos no matter how hard to read they are, and that's all that really matters. The people who want to know will learn and discover more, the people who aren't really interested won't. Which yes if you're looking at it from the perspective of so many other genres of music where almost all artist want to break out in mainstream success, it definitely comes off looking a bit weird, I understand that. But Black Metal people aren't about that, it's all about the love and pure passion for this dark, often misunderstood culture and style of music. Also I know there are some really simplistic, sometimes awkward Black Metal album covers, but believe me there are a LOT of absolutely gorgeous album covers in the genre too. Also just to clarify I mean this as a friendly answer to your question about the unreadable logos, not to jump on your back or anything like that. 😅

[@Channel33RPM]

Thanks for the info!

[@CounterRhythms]

Yeah, I see it as a kind of filter. If you want to know you'll make the effort to find out. BM by its very nature is meant to be obscure.

[@CizerKedi]

16:38 “665… Is the neighbour of the beast”

[@thetownspeople6486]

Don’t care how bad RIOT’s album cover is. Fire Down Under is easily a top 10 hard rock/ early heavy metal record. A kick ass album. Highly recommended.

[@BluDeadwaxOutpost]

I absolutely agree, great album!

[@aaronslibrary7745]

@@BluDeadwaxOutpost Narita is a great album as well.

[@BluDeadwaxOutpost]

Well, thank God a bad album cover doesn't necessarily mean bad music😃 Btw, nice shirt change at 5.49!

[@lindawolffkashmir2768]

Stranger Than Fiction might be a little bland, but I don’t see how it’s one of the worst covers of all time. There’s thousands worse.

[@Fibonacci64]

The original cover for ”Virgin Killer” by Scorpions and ”Dawn Of The Black Hearts” by Mayhem tops everything, regardless of genre.

[@raggeragnar]

Hello Frank ! Sidenote : That Wolf - S/T cover is a cut out from a drawing by our Swedish artist Hans Arnold. He was pretty well known here and did a TON of book covers , comicbook covers , book illustrations , magazine illustration and even the cover of ABBA’s Greatest hits album. Ps Black Sabbath’s Born again cover is cool !

[@GarySkadra]

I kinda like "Raise Your Fist and Yell" also. With Scorpions "Lovedrive" I've wondered how much bubblegum what it take to get that result ? Alot for sure

[@charleslipscomb2567]

I've always thought the Lovedrive cover looks like it could have been a cover for a 1970's issue of the National Lampoon!

[@MikeWalter-w2g]

Kerrarrang promotes the worst artists now and then craps all over the music they once promoted

[@PedroBenolielBonito]

100% agree with the Alice and Anthrax covers. Those are on my worst list, too. Love that Black Flag one, though - at least it's distinctive. As for Black Metal bands, they are actively seeking to do the opposite of what you described - be as niche as possible. Having an undecipherable logo is part of the whole 'ha ha, you normies don't know what band this is, and I do - in your FACE!' vibe.

[@PyramidOfBubbles777]

How on earth did Stryper end up on this list? That cover is EPIC! And also an incredible hard rock/metal album too. Oh and BTW....the album is entitled "Soldiers Under Command", not "Isaiah 53:5".

[@Erik-bd6ll]

Saying fistful of metal album cover sucks is actually crazy

[@ralphreinhardt6020]

😂😂😂Dick Sandwich !!! Holy shit, I can't stop laughing about this one ! 😂😂😂 Man o man only on Frank's channel do I see stuff like this one. Hella funny Frank ! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johnhenryclark911]

@ 6:48 Dethkorpz-"Metal Ti**s" Hilarious!🙄😁😅😂🤣 Something A 14 Year Old Male Would Come Up With!😅😂🤣 Like Someone Once Said "It's Only Rock And Roll , But I Like It!" ( Sounds Like Something Left Over From "Spinal Tap" I Am Posting 📬 This At 4:32 p.m. , Tuesday Afternoon 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , April 16, 2024.

[@provincialfish]

The whole song hemispheres is about the battle between heart and mind. Having fun or preparing for bad times. That's what the image is. The free spirit open hearted naked man enjoying life while the suited man is looking ahead, getting things done, preparing. That battle between enjoying life and making sure you're safe happens in your brain. The image fits the song. Great cover. Pretty much all Hugh Syme stuff is great. It's not even the worst rush cover.

[@SnordCranston23]

Our 4 year old son walked around the house with a fist in the air yelling "arrrg" when he saw my t-shirt for raise your fist and yell.

[@WhatsWrongWithTheStreet]

I saw Alice on that tour and I love that album. Not That Kind of Love is my favorite Alice song. Gail and Roses on White Lace is another of his best. This album has always been under appreciated.

[@Protometal66]

​@@WhatsWrongWithTheStreetAgreed, I actually like the the whole 3 song concept with Roses on White Lace , thought the tour was fantastic. The only time i got to see Motorhead.

[@Protometal66]

That alone takes this album cover off of the list :)

[@H-mu4bo]

Love "Constrictor" and "Raise your fist and yell". I think they are much better than "Trash", "Hey Stoopid" etc. They were really unique in being catchy, full blooded comeback albums of hard rock. "Gail" was an update of "Steven" from "Welcome to my nightmare". Superb stuff.

[@artdeco64]

What came first, the album or the skateboard logo/cartoon of the same design?

[@guxrra1943]

Im impressed there were no Limp Bizkit covers, almost all of their album covers are terrible in my opinion

[@sireffortlessgarbage7922]

As someone who has a band with an illegible logo, we really just did it because we felt like it was a rite of passage when it came to having an extreme band, and also, it’s just kinda fun.

[@springbloom5940]

Black metal logos frequently reflect the qualities of their music. Fistful of Metal was awesome. And I cannot imagine what anyone involved with the Glamtera cover was thinking. Too much nutmeg and D&D.

[@Channel33RPM]

Glamtera! I never heard that before. Perfect, for that era of the band.

[@tomy8339]

I read the funniest comment once on Sabbath's "Born Again' album cover. "You'll want to bottle feed this one". 😂 If you do another video of more bad album covers, please include Uriah Heep, 'Abominog'. It makes the 'Born Again' baby look like Taylor Swift.

[@brian-ld4vd]

Taylor Swift isn't as pretty, she actually looks like Napoleon Dynamite. LoL

[@DarthPizza777]

As a huge Stryper fan, I really hate the Soldiers Under Command Album art, but the album is killer, I love it!! The reason for the Yellow and Black is warring to people not to go to Hell.

[@mgconlan]

It looks to me like Dethkorps was ripping off the cover of Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Tarkus."

[@drummmmerfish]

the nofx album cover has a alternate cover and title for the vinyl version were the guy is doin' thee ol' 6 and 9 with the sheep. i find really funny actually.

[@tompatchak8706]

Btw. I listen to a lot of metal at work and I’ve been adding all these bands to my Spotify list as we go.

[@abstractheory1]

Overkill. “Hello from the gutter”, image

[@brian-ld4vd]

Overkill always sounded for years like Axl Rose does now. Mickey Mouse Vocals. LoL

[@rattlehead_dude]

Strypers yellow and blacks a bible reference

[@stargeeezer]

Another great video Frank. I think if there has to be a worst Black Sabbath cover I would pick sabotage not paranoid.

[@Channel33RPM]

The Sabotage cover is a definite head scratcher... gotta love Bill's red tights (weren't they his wife's???).

[@dustinanderson2738]

"Heavy petting zoo" is hilarious. I mean it is NOFX after all. The album title is up there with "Take off your pants and jacket" by Blink 182.

[@trashyraccoon2615]

It’s interesting how subjective this stuff can be. I have a dark sense of humor, but that cover isn’t hilarious to me, it’s actually just disturbing and that cover has made me want to NEVER hear their music.

[@DarkJeffau]

Frank.. I think the maiden on the Vanlade album is a take on the lady of the lake.

[@PaulBierce]

I can't believe you didn't pick up on the fact that "Dick Sandwich" is an homage to the Spinal Tap album "Shark Sandwich"

[@Channel33RPM]

Ha! I didn't pick up on that. Thanks for the info.

[@puddleglumsmusiccollection9151]

I liked the stryper cover

[@Ivegotsomewater81]

Bro actually called Show No Mercy and Hemispheres bad covers 💀

[@Channel33RPM]

Kerrang called them bad covers

[@Ivegotsomewater81]

@@Channel33RPM That’s what I meant

[@laurisaarinen1126]

This list is absolute ass. What is this, Kerrang? Why do these kind of "professional" music publications always do worse job than a random youtuber who isn't directly getting paid for it?! Sigh. 😑

[@guyb7005]

As someone who enjoys some metal, many metal bands go straight to the highschool art medieval stuff, it's a symbol how the medieval brain longs to get out of highschool and pass art class. Talking Heads & Pink Floyd chose a different path.

[@Professorkenneth]

Black widow.. great underrated band had really awful record covers. Great music, similar to Black Sabbath. They were around same time. Google it, really bad art with no thought process. Same with Zeppelin, Zeppelin 2&3 had no real concept no effort. I said this in your last video about covers..an album cover or book cover is probably the most important thing than anything. I found great music and books just by looking at the cover and saying "oh shite thats a cool cover" with films too. Im an artist/illustrator/art director, so i believe its very important and most times I'll work on a cover to a book or greetings cards before i think about what is inside. Specially in comic books/graphic novels.👍🏻 Another good video mate.

[@bouyaharumuchi]

Foreigner - Head Games is definitely a top 50 worst album cover.

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

The Born Again album cover does need a little help. But looking at it from the perspective of the album title it does make half sense, evil once again being born into the world. The whole cycle of Good and Evil repeats. Most of the other covers are just like first attempts, and need more or better inspiration.

[@GiggsVids]

Loved this list coverage! Very chill watch, glad youtube recommended you to me! I subbed to you 🎉

[@Channel33RPM]

Thanks for the sub!

[@rEdf196]

Emerson Lake & Palmer's Yacht Rock Album, In disco leisure suits with Palm trees in background, (Oh No say it isn't so)

[@tompatchak8706]

I know you were mentioning why dime gave that album cover a thumbs up first of all, he was called diamond Darrell at the time he wasn’t quite diving anything at the time. And it was a glam metal. It’s everyone wanted all that stuff dug it.

[@jeffhottman8572]

Neighbor of the beast!!! That was a classic one, Frank!!

[@gr8fulhiker785]

"Neighbor of the beast" Brilliant!

[@springbloom5940]

668

[@KenCrooker]

Wig Wam's first album was named "667 - The Neighbour of the Beast." It was re-released a year later with the name "Hard to be a Rock and Roller."

[@dabhidhm4093]

Guitarist and bandleader Mark Reale chose "Johnny" (the seal-headed mascot) simply because of the contrast with other metal mascots. Baby harp seals were often killed for their pelts, so he imagined a baby harp seal monster who was taking revenge on the human race. A superficially cute image with a bloody and disturbing undertone. I think the Fire Down Under cover is the best use of Johnny as it is iconic, striking and beautiful.

[@AntonXul]

I’m a fan of Black Metal, but I also find it kind of dumb when they try really hard to make the logo really unreadable with all those thorns, tree branch or lightning effects that all these logos end up looking the same and barely indistinguishable. Not a good way to stand out of the bunch.

[@PedroBenolielBonito]

12:10 THERE it is! It had to be here. 13:35 and there THAT is, that had to show up at some point, too. Those are probably #1 and #2 worst ever for a professionally released album (although I saw one just as bad for some guitarist whose name escapes me.) Aaaaand there's Narita! However, with Battleaxe, Wolf, Fates Warning and even Pantera (and others, like Sepultura), people have to remember these were basically kids (teenagers or little more than that) trying to DIY an album cover, often with little to no funds, in the early to mid-1980s. Asking a school friend to draw you something in crayon was not that far off being a valid option. The trick was to be more Wolf than Battleaxe about it.

[@nunyabidness4220]

Yeah, covers are really important. Meatloaf's "Bat Out of Hell" and Uriah Heep's "Abominog" aren't good albums, but I'd buy a poster of either of 'em. I like a lot of the old, early thrash covers where the bands were still really obscure, like that Slayer "Show No Mercy" cover. Hallow's Eve "Tales of Terror," Executioner "In The Name of Metal," the first Nasty Savage... all those albums you could tell they just knew some guy who could kinda draw. There's a charm to it. Post Mortem was a REALLY strange band. They put out one good album (Coroner's Office) and a good EP, and after that they all seemed like they were just trying to get out of a record contract by putting out oddball, goofy, self-sabotaging things. I mean, what can you say about a metal band putting out songs like "Everybody Loves The Fish," "Phony Baldness Cures," "Dazzle Me With Your Knowledge of the Fine Arts," or "I Like Pinball & Pool And I Work in an Arcade During the Summer."? Rigor Mortis's "Rigor Mortis Vs. The Earth" should be on this list somewhere...

[@robpierce4712]

Very true. Back in college, bought a used copy of Abominog for $1.99 based solely on the cover. I had heard Uriah Heep before, but only heard "That's the Way That it Is" from this album and that was pretty much the only decent song on the album. Works both ways. Have also bought some albums that turned out to be great based solely on the artwork. Praying Mantis, Time Tells No Lies comes to mind.

[@capnzilog]

The Abominog was the boss demon in the movie "Knights of Badassdom". (y)

[@TotalMeltdown2]

Bat Out of Hell not a good album? Huh?

[@nunyabidness4220]

@@TotalMeltdown2 Well, tastes are different. I personally hate the thing, but if you like Meat Loaf, then, different story, I reckon.

[@gnayr1305]

Great video Frank! Thanks for sharing. We agree that 95% of these are bad. Bad Religion, however, shouldn’t be on this list. When you get a chance, look up Vanilla Ice’s first album, titled HOOKED.

[@KennethBlum-sl6rx]

Court Of The Crimson King is a very recognizable but it is just stupid.

[@GregWard-nf9gz]

The album with Stryper with the van and machine guns was in fact 'Soldiers Under Command'. The Isaiah verse was part of their logo.

[@calvinwboaz7085]

I liked that Keydragon album cover, so I went to check out the album. The music is way worse than the cover.

[@brucegrossman3531]

Always the case

[@Channel33RPM]

Damn....

[@rusbell2981]

Id love to know what your top 10 worst album covers are.

[@wretchedforever]

I like the Show No Mercy cover, and the album is amazing.

[@AbigailJrney-1]

Australian 70's hard rock band Buffalo has a real good album with a hideous cover. The lp is "Only Want You For Your Body". Must check it out!😊

[@radionotespodcast]

Yes, that’s how you say Frenzal Rhomb… fav cover art of theirs was where they put a Maccas (McDonalds) Golden Arches front and centre of the Not So Tough Now (1996) album.

[@soymartin07]

What about the cover of Paul Simon's There Goes Rhymin' Simon album? It's a horror festival.

[@IFHorus]

A man in dayglo appears ready to attack with a glowing sword. Wait, there's three of them, and a tree with no leaves or branches. He/they couldn't have hidden behind that skinny tree, so he/they must have just appeared from the ether! The figure literally ''jumps'' out at the viewer. Motion is conveyed. Ready to slice your head off later, when you're jamming to Hand of Doom or something. This actually happened to me. Bum deal, I was wearing headphones at the time. THWAP! Right through my neck, and the cord. PLOP! Brand new JVC's, damn it. Since then, my head grew back and I'm OK now, rocking a pair of new Sony's. But now I'm sure to always put the cover away now when I listen so it never happens again. Good headphones are expensive and it takes a few weeks to grow a new head. I tell you no lie! Great cover.

[@IFHorus]

I went wireless, just to be on the safe side.

[@derradune6722]

If you want a really bad cover, check out the Faith Tones “Jesus Use Me”

[@HEXoslav]

I totally called that sigh no more is going to be on there

[@stevenimeson902]

For paranoid , it’s the viewer who’s paranoid and tripping that their seeing an image blurred and stretched I’ve always thought

[@tompatchak8706]

Yeah that Black Sabbath paranoid album cover is so iconic but it is bad it’s just some dude running through the woods but then think it was 1970 and those dudes probably didn’t care so mucj

[@tomlangley6236]

After seeing the Paranoid cover for 50 plus years I see it as iconic, almost perfect. On the other hand, Sabbaths Technical Ecstasy totally sucks.

[@Steambull1]

The Black Flag one is one of those that will be defended with bs like "it's supposed to be aesthetically distasteful because it represents a specific visual style born from early digital graphics programs becoming available for anyone" and that just makes me hate it more. You're not being clever with that. Makes me think of Neil Young's Fork In The Road, but at least that has a connection to Young's dislike of low-quality digital media. The funny thing about Paranoid is that for like 10 years I never saw the "war pig" guy in the picture. I thought it was just a bunch of colors and shapes that weren't supposed to make any particular image. Of course, I can't unsee the guy and the terrible costume now. Scorpions' Lovedrive is an example where it's the idea / content that people hate, while the photography and composition look very professional. I don't mind it at all. A lot of the album art on this list are born from young people wanting a fantastical cover with swords/monsters/fire/blood or such, but not having the budget to hire a Ken Kelly or a Derek Riggs like the bands whose covers they probably admired.

[@theflipside-vinylcommunity]

Incredible video bro

[@tompatchak8706]

I looked up key dragon on Spotify and it seems like most of their albums are a hand drawn? So maybe the artist the musicians want to do their own art?

[@MK-tj5bf]

Over Kill is underrated band. Love this band!

[@MidoLeppard]

On my own I think the Black Album's Metallica we were shocked when it release after the amazing previous cover albums

[@beelzebub206]

1:25 in my opinion, I am WAY more intrigued by a logo with loads of detail than a logo that is just a font and the more unreadable it is the more I am intrigued

[@ebalmes]

That stryper album is titled Soldiers Under Command. Hence the weaponry.

[@gunkyzip]

Wait, how can you claim to know metal at your age and don't know Over Kill? And a note about Exciter - Unveiling the Wicked: at your age you should remember the two "V" miniseries and the weekly show 1985-86

[@MickSupper]

Yep, I immeidaitely thought of V. Got that miniseries on dvd and VHS.

[@lamenzies]

That ugly wolf is Fistful of Metal guy's dog. So many horrible album covers: some of the Scorpions' would get you put on a register now. Ditto Thin Lizzy's. I remember when Girlschool reviewed terrible album covers for Kerrang in the late 80s: Whitesnake took a bit of a hit!

[@marcparsons1726]

My Aunt bought me Balls To The Wall (Accept) from Two Guys department store. Got Ace of Spades too. (bad album cover)!

[@johnster1976]

Show no mercy one of my favorite album covers of all time what a shame

[@PedroBenolielBonito]

Also, there is a Riot cover on this list, and it's NOT Narita? Also also, I HOPE Battleaxe and Pantera are here somewhere...they're a million times worse than almost all of these so far (except for Wolf and that dragon one drawn in crayon. And oh, Dethkorpz just made the list too.)

[@jimmderby5772]

The worst thing about Paranoid is the crappy lettering it looks like something 17:29 17:29 a 7th grader would have scribbled on his desk in pencil. My vote for worst album covers would include Gentle Giant Acquiring the Taste and Orleans Awake and Dreaming.

[@samuraix73]

I think in some cases, the band probably couldn't afford any major expense when it came to album covers, especially for a new band, which is probably why some of these are cheap looking. Maiden was really lucky to have Derek Riggs from the beginning, and I'll admit, my first fascination with Iron Maiden came from the covers. And I totally agree with you about Black Metal band logos, they always just look a bunch of branches lumped together.

[@mountart2]

I kind of like the Keydragon school aged artwork. I'd wear that on a t-shirt!

[@shredman87.57]

I'm a riot fan, the mascot's name is tior and I'm pretty sure the band liked seals or something

[@jessekellerthecollectingne5058]

Metal isn't supposed to be commercial and marketable, the hard to understand logos are just part of the aesthetic.

[@retirementainteasy]

Riot fan - I have no idea why they have the seal head. Can't believe Hemispheres is on the list. I love the Scorpions Lovedrive cover, I have that album complete with the breast shown on the back.

[@samuraix73]

I remember that they changed the Scorpions cover to a black cover with just a scorpion on it, but thankfully it was restored on the re-issue. I'm surprised they didn't mention Virgin Killer.

[@retirementainteasy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaKQc3Sca6h9j6Msi=NvlIMqZfQ7UrfVUk jump to 23:35 for explanation of seal on the covers

[@neolbioldey]

I think it's cool to look at logos that are hard to read and try to figure them out. Of course, when it's literally impossible to read, I don't get it.

[@sireffortlessgarbage7922]

Because it’s cool and it’s also hilarious. Eventually you start recognizing the general shape of these logos rather than the words. And in the case of CDs, there will almost always be a legible version of the band logo on the side of it.

[@herbtube7824]

Great video! But the Scorpions covers, Hemispheres and Born Again certainly don’t belong on this list.

[@startaiger49]

Very few on this list I would consider among the "worst ever", specialy the Scorpions' ones, I love these photos. And "Raise Your Fist and Yell" is probably my favorite Alice Cooper cover (& album too), "Hey Stoopid" was far worse... And what about every single Metallica cover since the Black Album?? I can't be the only one who thinks they're all absolutely hideous, right?