The artwork on the front cover of an album can either make or break an album. Using the art in certain ways can really help get the bands idea/beliefs across. Using vivid imagery can either directly show the bands message or in a very abstract way demonstrate their views. A modern day heavy metal band, Five Finger Death Punch, uses very dark imagery to show what they believe to be wrong with modern American society. They will take everyday objects such as cars and people to demonstrate how we have become a country fueled by greed for monetary gain. Their album cover for, American Capitalist, is a very direct correlation to their beliefs to the problems in America.
On this album cover the most obvious detail is location. It is very clear the setting of this picture is near a big corporate setting. In the background there are huge buildings resembling the big corporate buildings in cities such as New York and Los Angeles. Around these buildings is a very dark lighting structure, the color palette really is only on a black and gray scale. Above the buildings there is no sunlight, it appears if a storm is coming and a day of reckoning is upon them. Their chose for using this location can easily be compared to how Americans will put their jobs over the rest of their lives. In a way it shows that money is our most important priority.
On the side of one of the buildings in the background you can see the presidential seal. This is no ordinary seal; it has been altered to where the eagle is holding pairs of golden brass knuckles. It would appear the brass knuckles would represent our countries eagerness to fight. How America will fight for what we belief or how we fight when our backs are against the wall. The knuckles being gold hints at our greed for money in modern society. In America we all want money; a lot of today’s citizens believe money will buy them happiness. Also this band altering the president’s seal for the eagle to hold golden weapons can show how...