CD Cover Research

"Parkway Drive" - June 2010 -
'Resist Records', 'Epitaph', 'Burning Heart'

This CD cover is suitable for our genre of music as its conventions are stereotypical and can be seen in a variety of other CD covers. The use of the darkness and the deep blue colour portrays the fact that this album is dark and it's content on the CD will not be connected with happiness. The brightness in the distance could tell us that some of the songs on the album may be about looking out into the bright horizon but knowing that they are stuck in the darkness above the water beneath them. The writing is also important and the fact that the album title is in bold and white stands out and is a comparison to the dark background. This could be because they want the audience to remember the album title and the complicated writing style of the band name is instantly noticeable and could show us that the band is an advanced band and there is nothing simplistic about them.

"Alter Bridge" - October 2007
"Universal Republic Records"

This CD cover is of a different genre from the 'Parkway Drive' cover as this is more hard rock than metalcore. Although there is this difference between genres both of the albums have similarities. For example; both CD covers are dark and their band name and album title stand out. On this particular CD cover the album ('Blackbird') has been represented by a rough and abstract figure of a blackbird. This helps the audience visualise the album making it easier for people to recognise and remember. Also the positioning of the band name and the picture of the blackbird makes it look like the blackbird is attacking or about to grab the band name on the cover. On the other hand; it looks like that the sides of the CD cover are caving in on the bird therefore it is trying to escape the darkness which is a similarity that can relate to the previous CD cover.

"Black Stone Cherry" - August 2008
"Roadrunner Records"

This CD cover is another prime example of a cover that uses the
stereotypical conventions of a rock/metal music genre. In this case the cover has an image of the whole band on it, each in possession of their instruments so that the audience knows who is playing what instrument on the album. Like the other CD covers the there is the element of darkness within this image as the band are in the middle of a forest which can be related to the darkness and eeriness of this genre. Also the connection of sadness can has been portrayed on the faces of the band, their vacant expression tell the audience of what is to be on the album. The band name is yet again extremely clear and massive letters. This time instead of being on the bottom of the CD cover it is above the band members, this is what is telling the audience about the band and who the band members are.