20 Ridiculously OTT Metal Album Covers

Some of the most awesomely outrageous sleeves ever

Published 30th Nov 2012

From Iron Maiden’s ‘Killers’ to Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’ and Pantera’s ‘Vulgar Display Of Power’, there’s no shortage of defining metal album covers from over the decades. Occasionally, however, some acts take things a tad too far…

In celebration of these visual monstrosities, Kerrang! Radio presents 20 of the most ridiculously over-the-top sleeves ever!

Exodus: ‘Shovel Headed Kill Machine’ (2005) !

Axxis: ‘Utopia’ (2009) !

Luca Turilli: ‘Prophet of The Last Eclipse’ (2002) !

Yngwie Malmsteen: 'Trilogy' (1986) !

Jackyl: ‘Jackyl’ (1992) !

Manowar: ‘Gods of War’ (2007) !

Dio: ‘Holy Diver’ (1983) !

Destruction: ‘D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.’ (2008) !

Vice: ‘Made For Pleasure’ (1988) !

Dead Orchestra: ‘Sounds Like Time Tastes’ (1993) !

Heir Apparent: ‘One Small Voice’ (1989) !

Riot: ‘Narita’ (1979) !

Boned: ‘Up At The Crack’ (2004) !

Rumpelstiltskin Grinder: ‘Living For Death, Destroying The Rest’ (2009) !

The Last Act: ‘Still Standing’ (2010) !

Piledriver: ‘Metal Inquisition’ (1985) !

Whitesnake: ‘Lovehunter’ (1979) !

The Handsome Beasts: ‘04’ (2004) !

Heavy Load: ‘Death Or Glory’ (1982) !

Cannibal Corpse: 'Butchered At Birth' (1991) !

If you think there’s any we’ve missed, stick your suggestions in the comments section below.