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  1. Artists
  2. Singles And Albums

The worst heavy metal album covers of all time

News
By Joe Bosso published 15 May 2009

Featuring Death, Boned, Cattle Decapitation and, um, Pat Boone…

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Boned - Up At The Crack

Boned - Up At The Crack

What makes an album cover bad? Better yet, what makes one truly terrible?

To paraphrase US Justice Potter Stewart musing on what is 'pornography': "I can't tell you what obscenity is, but I know it when I see it."

And MusicRadar knows a bad album cover when it sees one…

Today, MusicRadar kicks off a series called The Worst Album Covers Ever, with our first installment shining a harsh light on the world of heavy metal. The songs may rock, the singers may scream, the solos may impressively shred.

But what the hell is happening with these album covers? Oh, and warning - a few of these verge on the NSFW.

All of them however verge on the terrible…

Page 1 of 51
Page 1 of 51
Cinderella - Night Songs

Cinderella - Night Songs

Page 2 of 51
Page 2 of 51
Death - Leprosy

Death - Leprosy

Page 3 of 51
Page 3 of 51
Battle Axe - Burn This Town

Battle Axe - Burn This Town

Page 4 of 51
Page 4 of 51
Scorpions - Animal Magnetism

Scorpions - Animal Magnetism

Page 5 of 51
Page 5 of 51
Pantera - Metal Magic

Pantera - Metal Magic

Page 6 of 51
Page 6 of 51
Tankard - The Beauty And The Beer

Tankard - The Beauty And The Beer

Page 7 of 51
Page 7 of 51
Krokus - Heart Attack

Krokus - Heart Attack

Page 8 of 51
Page 8 of 51
Manowar - Anthology

Manowar - Anthology

Page 9 of 51
Page 9 of 51
Vinnie Vincent Invasion - Vinnie Vincent Invasion

Vinnie Vincent Invasion - Vinnie Vincent Invasion

Page 10 of 51
Page 10 of 51
Pat Boone - In A Metal Mood - No More Mr Nice Guy

Pat Boone - In A Metal Mood - No More Mr Nice Guy

Page 11 of 51
Page 11 of 51
Whitesnake - Lovehunter

Whitesnake - Lovehunter

Page 12 of 51
Page 12 of 51
Cattle Decapitation - Humanure

Cattle Decapitation - Humanure

Page 13 of 51
Page 13 of 51
Ron Keel - Ron Keel

Ron Keel - Ron Keel

Page 14 of 51
Page 14 of 51
Riot - Narita

Riot - Narita

Page 15 of 51
Page 15 of 51
Kevin DuBrow - In For The Kill

Kevin DuBrow - In For The Kill

Page 16 of 51
Page 16 of 51
Devourment - Molesting The Decapitated

Devourment - Molesting The Decapitated

Page 17 of 51
Page 17 of 51
Wrathchild - Stakk Attakk

Wrathchild - Stakk Attakk

Page 18 of 51
Page 18 of 51
Manowar - Blow Your Speakers

Manowar - Blow Your Speakers

Page 19 of 51
Page 19 of 51
Manowar - Fighting The World

Manowar - Fighting The World

Page 20 of 51
Page 20 of 51
Testament - Return To The Apocalyptic City

Testament - Return To The Apocalyptic City

Page 21 of 51
Page 21 of 51
The Great Kat - Bloody Vivaldi

The Great Kat - Bloody Vivaldi

Page 22 of 51
Page 22 of 51
Panzer - Tierra De Metales

Panzer - Tierra De Metales

Page 23 of 51
Page 23 of 51
Pantera - Projects In The Jungle

Pantera - Projects In The Jungle

Page 24 of 51
Page 24 of 51
Steelheart - Steelheart

Steelheart - Steelheart

Page 25 of 51
Page 25 of 51
Bonded By Blood - Extinguish The Weak

Bonded By Blood - Extinguish The Weak

Page 26 of 51
Page 26 of 51
Metal Skool - Metal Skool

Metal Skool - Metal Skool

Page 27 of 51
Page 27 of 51
Ratt - Reach For The Sky

Ratt - Reach For The Sky

Page 28 of 51
Page 28 of 51
Fist - Back With A Vengeance

Fist - Back With A Vengeance

Page 29 of 51
Page 29 of 51
Anthrax - Fistful of Metal

Anthrax - Fistful of Metal

Page 30 of 51
Page 30 of 51
Manowar - Into Glory Ride

Manowar - Into Glory Ride

Page 31 of 51
Page 31 of 51
Yngwie J Malmsteen - Trilogy

Yngwie J Malmsteen - Trilogy

Page 32 of 51
Page 32 of 51
King Kobra - Thrill Of A Lifetime

King Kobra - Thrill Of A Lifetime

Page 33 of 51
Page 33 of 51
High Frequency - Masters Of Madness

High Frequency - Masters Of Madness

Page 34 of 51
Page 34 of 51
Krokus - The Best Of Krokus - Stayed Awake All Night

Krokus - The Best Of Krokus - Stayed Awake All Night

Page 35 of 51
Page 35 of 51
Randy Coven - Funk Me Tender

Randy Coven - Funk Me Tender

Page 36 of 51
Page 36 of 51
Raven - The Pack Is Back

Raven - The Pack Is Back

Page 37 of 51
Page 37 of 51
Tommy Lee - Tommyland: The Ride

Tommy Lee - Tommyland: The Ride

Page 38 of 51
Page 38 of 51
Autograph - Loud And Clear

Autograph - Loud And Clear

Page 39 of 51
Page 39 of 51
Triumph - Allied Forces

Triumph - Allied Forces

Page 40 of 51
Page 40 of 51
Pretty Boy Floyd - Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz

Pretty Boy Floyd - Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz

Page 41 of 51
Page 41 of 51
Agressor - Neverending Destiny

Agressor - Neverending Destiny

Page 42 of 51
Page 42 of 51
Merciless Death - Evil In The Night

Merciless Death - Evil In The Night

Page 43 of 51
Page 43 of 51
Moray Eel - Priest Hunter

Moray Eel - Priest Hunter

Page 44 of 51
Page 44 of 51
King Diamond - Conspiracy

King Diamond - Conspiracy

Page 45 of 51
Page 45 of 51
Stryper - Soldiers Under Command

Stryper - Soldiers Under Command

Page 46 of 51
Page 46 of 51
Bolt Thrower - Warmaster

Bolt Thrower - Warmaster

Page 47 of 51
Page 47 of 51
Farscape - Killers On The Loose

Farscape - Killers On The Loose

Page 48 of 51
Page 48 of 51
Eliminator - Breaking The Wheel

Eliminator - Breaking The Wheel

Page 49 of 51
Page 49 of 51
Stryken - First Strike

Stryken - First Strike

Page 50 of 51
Page 50 of 51
Fastway - Trick Or Treat

Fastway - Trick Or Treat

Liked this? Now read...

  • The worst album covers ever: just plain wrong
  • The worst album covers ever: hip hop
  • The worst album covers ever: illustrated
  • The worst album covers ever: nude

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Page 51 of 51
Page 51 of 51
Joe Bosso
Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.

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