A CD front cover analysis of Slipknots CD 'All Hope Is Gone'

This is a CD cover for the metal-rock band Slipknot.
The main focus point is obviously the image, the image shows a group of people, stood up in a field full of dead crops. There is a tree in the background and the sky is dark and grey which could possibly mean their is a storm on the way/ heavy rain.

The camera shot this frame in a long shot distance, which i feel could have been used to introduce all of the band; also to show the surroundings which help establish the band and their genre. The angle of the shot is low angle which makes the band appear in a dominating light to the audience, it makes them seem power full. This is one contrast between the expectations for artists who perform through the pop genre, their album covers seem to be eye level to connect with their audience, where as R'n'B and slipknot are using this technique i believe to seem like an inspiration to their audience. This may seem like a boast full thing to do however if teenagers see these artists in a power full, god like light their is still a large chance of these teenagers idolising the band. The low angle, also makes them seem the best of the best of what they do within this genre, so if you do purchase this CD it'll be the best rock-metal music CD available.

On the cover, at the bottom there is a sticker advising on 'parental guidance' this reflects the image i believe which they was to represent, the idea of rebelling through music also reinstates the idea of the ideology in which Kerrang is representing: the idea of rebelling and self expressionism.

One convention which isn't displayed on the CD cover, is the name of the band and the title of the album, i feel they challenged the conventions to make themselves look different then other artists, however i also feel they don't need to display their name in big red writing, as their image is so iconic: the idea they wear horrifying masks with needles spiking out and masks which are facial expressionless: it's their image which they've always had, and since they are the only band who feel the need to rebel and individualise themselves however, this seems to have worked as they've made their image an iconic one and also makes their image a unique selling point of their music. The album cover title, however isn't displayed either, i feel this is used to challenge the idea of conforming to natural conventions, again it reinstates the idea of this band wanting to rebel, as conforming is a safe option, rebelling is a lot more exciting and dangerous.

There is a layered opaque image over the main image, which is over the band: this is a pentagram which is connoted a lot with witch craft. This reinstates their idea of gothism within their ideology, which connects with the idea of rebel as witch craft can still be seen as evil. This is why pentagrams connect with this genre so well, as they're both a taboo subject, witchcraft and Gothism. Witch Craft was written about in Gothic stories, and i believe they've reinstated that as their logo, as it's iconic of witch craft which branches off to being iconic with the genre of Gothism. I think it has been layed over in an opaque fashion, to reinstate the idea of their genre of music in which they specialise. The audience will first, look at the band and their image will establish their genre of metal-rock, however by then looking at the subtleties, such as the pentagram: and the genre is reinstated as metal-rock.

In terms of representation, i feel the artists are placed within a light where they do take personal image with much importance, however their importance is to shock the audience. Kerrang magazine would feature this band within their magazine, as Kerrang seem to promote self expressionism with the idea to shock. I feel their target audience could honestly be anyone, however apart from young children and old people, as their music is not helivy dependant on one potential audience, such as a band like 'Sugababes,' they heavily depend on the younger, girl audience as their genre is Teen-Pop. Whereas Slipknot, are world class musicians who write their own music, and i feel this is what people may appreciate more, the fact they are passionate about the music they produce, where as bands like 'Sugababes' and 'Girls Aloud' depend on songwriters to write music for themselves. I also feel the idea of the way they've been photographed, with long distance from the audience and a low angle: stating their dominance, and the idea of them being too good musicians for you to be close to: it may seem an arrogant thing to do. However, i feel this connects with the potential audience, and basically says 'your paying for this brilliant music, because we are brilliant musicians.'