Codex Metallum: The Secret Art of Metal Decoded

In the days before MP3s and music streaming, record album cover art was nearly as much a source of fascination as the music itself; listeners could stare at a cover endlessly in search of clues about the music, the lyrics, or the band members. Fans of heavy metal, punk, and hardcore will find this intriguingly curated package a return to times of old. YouTubers Maxwell and Alt236 have compiled more than 200 images of heavy metal album covers dating back to the 1960s, with an emphasis on significant artists and artistic innovations. Entries are organized along common themes and symbols found throughout the artwork (the grim reaper, rings, etc.). The images are at times disturbing—the book is rife with pictures of skulls, blood, grim reapers, and war, as well as scenes of violence and decadence. Black-and-white illustrations from Fortifem and Mathias Leonard depicting skulls, swords, and other symbols complement the album covers. The accompanying text is well written and provides context and history for the album cover art, though a book like this might have benefitted from more art and less text.