Rating Metal Logos in 2024 (the overcomplicated way)

Are you looking for a concrete and precise method for determining the difficulty of an illegible metal logo you found on some worn out shirt at your local thrift shop? Well my friend, Octave Industries has delivered - in the form of an overcomplicated spreadsheet accessible FOR FREE via Google Docs.
After almost 30 episodes of Deciphering Metal Logos, I have put together a rubric for rating metal logos that should make the difficulty scale (1-5) more consistent and meaningful. This video is intended to introduce some of the aspects I considered when designing the rubric and present it as a "work in progress" with the intention of revising it further according to feedback. I have also attempted to clarify some potentially confusing "attributes" in the context of logos we have looked at so far - but if there is still something you don't understand, don't hesitate to ask in the comments. All forms of feedback and suggestions are welcome and appreciated!
Below is a link to the current version of the spreadsheet (0.51) that has seen some changes and additions since this video was recorded. You can make an editable copy for yourself by navigating to File 🡒 Make a Copy.
docs.google.co...
#metalmusic #logo

[@AissurDrol]

Still trying to figure out how to read Party Canon's logo. Shit's gotta be a 6/5 for sure.

[@jackkillian9581]

Logo reccomendations: Vile impregnation, craniotomy, infantectomy, chainsaw castration, visceral disgorge, wolves in the throne room, 10 TO THE CHEST, Labyrinthus Stellarum, and begging for incesr are all very illegible and I reccomend them to you!

[@OctaveIndustries]

The only one I recognize here is Wolves in the Throne Room, and I happen to have reviewed that one already (DML Ep.5). I'll keep all of these in mind, thanks!

[@jackkillian9581]

@@OctaveIndustries oh sorry- is it on yt? I can't find it

[@OctaveIndustries]

@@jackkillian9581 oh no sorry, it's on Instagram! Sorry, I should be more clear about that in the future haha.

[@alicemursteinlesbefaen666]

this is so interesting to see, very insightful

[@OctaveIndustries]

Glad to hear you found it worthwhile!

[@michaelphillips8885]

i feel one that could be added is a "symbols/objects as letters". like when bands use a pentagram or the noise not music symbol as an O, the inverted cross or sword T, the logo for "forbidden tomb" has a axe for the f and n. i notice people get tripped up on those type of things in logos

[@OctaveIndustries]

Good point! This hasn't come into play yet because I haven't really reviewed any logos that employ that technique, but absolutely worth considering. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@Lab13]

Love it! Need to take a more detailed watch of this as I was having it on while I work but I think it could do with an "intent" category and this would either boost or negate certain other aspects in the rating system. I understand this would require either guess work, research or a talk with each designer but I believe it could be beneficial. For example, a logo may aim to look trashy so certain legibility scores should be adjusted for that or some logos may intend to look organic and certain inaccuracies may be beneficial for that. I'll edit my comment if I come up with more feedback or DM ya. Keep killing it!

[@OctaveIndustries]

That's a point I had not considered. As you said, I think it would be difficult to quantify aspects in that category... but it's definitely worth keeping in mind. On the other hand, an objective legibility score may not need to account for a designer or artist's intent. I'll have to give it some more thought. Thanks for the feedback! :)

[@beardandhat]

I really like the grading system. it seems to be pretty straight forward.

[@jane_gorelove]

great idea, really looking forward to whatever happens to it and whichever way it progresses ^^ (also somewhat related - I'm following a lot of goregrind/gorenoise labels and there's recently been a trend of these kinds of bands straight up using heavily processed and monochromed pictures aa logos lmao)

[@OctaveIndustries]

I've seen quite a few different "stylistic" approaches to metal band logos, but I can't say I've come across any like that. Do you have any band names that I could look up as examples off the top of your head?

[@jane_gorelove]

@@OctaveIndustries okay, had to search a bit because a lot of these bands are super underground, but here are some of them: Fungal Takeover, Botched Anastomosis J-Pouch, Gastroparesis. There are arguably better examples but it's kind of difficult to actively search for them (sometimes the band names are not even listed on posts with splits :c ) I seem to remember this being more of a thing in the Asian scene, but don't quote me on that 😅

[@beardandhat]

so where are all the episodes? I only see a few here and on instagram.

[@OctaveIndustries]

You should be able to find all of them under the "Reels" tab of my profile on Instagram!