Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Yes, that basically means you won't agree with everything on this list. However, what we're trying to do here, is shine a much needed light of appreciation on the visual artists that give each and every one of these albums a face. Have we seen every album cover out there? Of course not, but from those that we've seen, we thought these were remarkably well-crafted. Here's our top ten album covers of the year 2021.
Progresque's Best Album Cover Picks of 2021
#01
1. Michał Łapaj – Are You There?
Michał Łapaj's musical journey couldn't be better represented than by this painting by Anthony Rondinone. The striking image just sucks you into this excellent album and has all qualities to become an iconic album cover. The overall composition, colors, tactile textures, ... Everything works together to result in the most intriguing album cover to come out of 2021.
#02
2. Trivium – In the Court of the Dragon
Epic albums should have epic covers. A truth most metal bands hold high, but not all of them accomplish this feat in the way Trivium has. This cover art is truly a sight to behold. Mathieu Nozieres gave this album a face you won't forget easily with this striking renaissance-like painting. Much like the album, the image is dynamic and full of detail. Now this is how you do a metal album cover.
#03
3. Sunnata – Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth
This emotive album cover for Sunnata features a photograph by Wiktoria Księżycolica Odziomek. The straight forward composition and stylized overall atmosphere make this cover as eerie as it makes it beautiful. Conceptually it also sits perfectly with what the album sounds like. Sunnata intrigue with this amazing artwork. Some might say this cover is the biggest cliché ever. And truth be told, it probably is. But something about the impeccable execution and clean visual language just makes this a cover we can't look away from.
#04
4. Monosphere – The Puppeteer
Kevin Ernst is not only responsible for the powerful vocal performance on The Puppeteer, this man also created the stunning album cover. Monosphere doesn't shy away from bold choices. The cover art features atypical colors making this an instantly recognisable cover, while the abstract imagery reveals just enough of the concept of this album to be fully intrigued.
#05
5. Noltem – Illusions in the Wake
Anthony Hurd created this beautiful album cover for Noltem's Illusions in the Wake. When we first saw this artwork we weren't expecting this to be for a black metal album. But after a listen, we totally get it. This is a black metal album that's very progressive in nature, with many nuances and colors. The landscape represented on the cover, can be felt through the music. Surely one of the best covers of the year!
#06
6. Meer – Playing House
The cover art to Meer's Playing House speaks to the imagination by using abstract imagery. Looking at the cover everyone will see something different. Just like the music, darker passages are contrasted with brighter and vibrant colors. And just like on the album, everything is perfectly in balance. Nothing could be added to this artwork and nothing could be left out. Perfect. This album cover was created by Helena Haglund and Simen Sandbæk Skari.
#07
7. Acolyte – Entropy
Acolyte couldn't have picked a better artist with Liz Gridley for their album cover. There's something about this traditional painting that is just so fitting with the album. It evokes that same catharsis you'll find on Entropy, both the visual and the musical aspect of this album live in the same realm. Stunning!
#08
8. Trees Speak – PostHuman
Trees Speak is not necessarily an outfit that dabbles in a genre we're very accustomed with. This retro sci-fi inspired cover art is proof that sometimes a good image can pull in new ears. Something Eric Adrian Lee, artist behind the cover, is surely aware of. The cover art has that classic prog vibe, so when we started listening and found an experimental electronic album we were pretty surprised. We liked it either way. We came for the cover art and stayed for the music.
#09
9. Archspire – Bleed The Future
How do you visualize something so violent, fast and powerful as Archspire's latest monster? Figuring that out was the task Eliran Kantor was given. The outcome is this epic piece of art. Violent, fast and powerful? Check.
#10
10. Caligonaut – Magnified as Giants
The memorable cover art for this excellent album is immensely captivating. The centerpiece: a painting by visual artist Marte Bjørndal, sister of the man behind this musical masterpiece Ole Michael Bjørndal. Both the visual and musical aspect of this record convey an abstract and expressive feeling. This cover is truly a perfect pick for this album.