Revolver’s Graphic Violence

Revolver Magazine’s October issue had a segment called “Graphic Violence“. It featured album covers that were controversial due to graphic images of evil, death, sex, etc. They had some really good picks of some great albums. A few included are Pantera’s original concept for Far Beyond Driven, Nashville Pussy’s Let Them Eat Pussy album, Cannibal Corpse‘ Butchered At Birth as well as Deicide’s Once Upon The Cross. Some of them were not really graphic as to having a sexual or image of death or gore, but some being images of evil such as Mercyful Fate’s classic Don’t Break The Oath, Iron Maiden’s The Number Of The Beast and Venom’s Welcome To Hell. You can check out some of the ones they say they couldn’t show in the magazine. Some of them are gory, some just downright foul and one (The Scorpions’ Virgin Killer) could be considered child pornography these days. Here are a few of my favorites. Click on the thumbnail for a better view.

Cannibal Corpse Tomb Of The Mutilated: I thought this albm cover was cool back then and I still dig it to this day. Yeah, it’s kind of sick and twisted…but that’s Cannibal Corpse for you. They didn’t show this one in the magazine, but it’s in the online list.

Deicide Once Upon The Cross: Although these days I’m not the Jesus hater that I was back when this was released, I understand that it’s just a picture. No big deal. I respect the art and still think this is a cool metal album cover. The original art presented is inside the cover and depicts Jesus on an autopsy table, with his chest open.

Metallica Kill ‘Em All: It doesn’t really show much more than a bloody hammer and that’s all you really need to see. One of the most simplistic yet kick ass album covers of all time. If I had a choice to go back in time and choose between the original knife and toilet picture of “Metal Up Your Ass” and this one for their debut, I would pick this one. It’s timeless!

Megadeth Youthanasia: Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying was in the magazine, and they mention that in this day of post 9/11 that it almost foretold the future and makes it a timeless classic. I can agree, but the most graphically violent Megadeth album cover is Youthanasia, depicting how we are hung out to dry. Babies hanging from a clothes line…what more can you say?

Danzig Thrall Demon sweat Live EP: Although I don’t consider Danzig a great live band, this CD cover, drawn by then DC Comics artists Simon Bisley is awesome. Just look at it….that’s a cool cover, especially if your a Danzig fiend! Simon has also done art work on Danzig 6:66 Satan’s Child and I think he did the work for The Lost Tracks Of Danzig

Rage Against The Machine’s debut album showed a Buddhist monk in Viet Nam during a protest in Saigon in 1963 that set himself afire. What is so great about some dude setting himself on fire? He did this out of protest of the killing of other Buddhists by the government at the time. It was an actual photo that won the Pulitzer Prize and the monk that set himself on fire did it and didn’t move. He didn’t get up running and screaming in pain. He set himself on fire and sat there and let himself burn to death without a word!

Open Defiance, a band out of Northern Virginia. I bought this at a small record store back in1996. I don’t know what has happened with this band since, but back then it was a cool cd. I’m not to huge on it these days, but they had that classic photo of a baby holding up the middle finger on the debut album cover. Sure it’s not really an original idea these days and you’ve probably seen it a million times since then, but back in ‘96 it was the shit.

This last one is so vile and disgusting that I could not post the picture here. You’ll have to click on the link to see who it is and what album cover. It almost makes me sick when I look at this one. Be warned, the following album cover is not for weak stomachs. Click the link below.

The Worst Most Disgusting album cover EVER

Image Source: All Images from Amazon.com with the exception of the Open Defiance picture which was taken with a digital camera by the author.