Magazine Analysis
The cover I used is the 200th issue of “Metal Hammer”. The mast head is slightly covered by the main image, but the mast head is still noticeable and readable due to how well known the logo is, and also only two letters are covered.
The name “Metal Hammer” sounds very aggressive as I believe the word “Hammer” resembles the Norse gods as Norway have very heavy bands that come from there, such as: Blood Red Throne, Behemoth, Emperor etc. And a Norse god many will know is the Legend of Thor, he has a hammer, and when I hear “Metal Hammer” I imagine Thor with a guitar.
The colour scheme is: black, white grey and a fiery orange. The sub-text is in grey the mast head is in black and white, certain lines are in the “fiery orange”, and the background is in black.
The colours don’t conflict with the main image which is vital - but they do seem to match; but not in a way that the picture cannot be seen, but so that it stands out but not too prominent, so that takes attention away from the rest of the magazine. Even though that (in this case) Phil Anselmo is the main subject written about.
The font is basic (maybe in “Ariel” or “Times New Roman”) and it is the same throughout the magazine (and it’s cover), the only thing that is different is the size and some of the sub-text are in caps lock, and some are in lower case.
The main image is centralized and the cover model is striking an arousing pose, as he has arms folded like he’s shutting out contact, and that will intrigue the customers as to why…
His face has a “I don’t give a rat’s” expression which make him seem like a rebel which will attract female customers and also make male customers strive to be more like the model - to attract women; and in doing so, they’ll have to buy the magazine to find out what he is, what he dose and so on (if they don’t already know who he is, of cores).
The lighting on the main image is low - which could be interoperated as bad, but in the case of this cover it matches as background is dark and the whole article is monotone. Also with him having a rebellious expression and pose; it makes him seem and look enigmatic - which may well be the reason why one side of his face is shadowed.
The only other part of his body that is showing is his tattooed arms which could advertise to audiences which like his style, his style of tattoos and heavy metal music and the dark “gothic” dress sense.
The top of his t-shirt is showing and it is “The Black” album (another heavy metal band) that could be subliminal messages making people what to buy the magazine, because they’ve seen that design else where, and maybe in buying this magazine they could jog their memory.
The overall design of this cover has been thought out and laid out very professionally, as they have made the background dark but they have put the main image in colour because that makes the model more attractive to customers, as even a little colour can attract someone’s attention even if it’s just as simple as a person’s skin tone.
The font is simple, easy to read and it dose not distract attention from the main image.
The darkness of the background reflects his past life as he was addicted to heroin and cocaine and he died for 9 minuets due to an overdose. And since the picture is in colour it shows that it is a turning point, and know he has overcame the addiction, and clean from all drugs - his life a lot brighter and the picture is too.
But another reason could be that one of the titles is “metal’s darkest day” - which refers to when Dimebag Darrel was murdered on stage; and since Phil Anselmo was a close friend of Dimebag he is the main article (but he wasn’t the only friend - just the most famous, which could be why he is the main image and not someone else).
I have an advantage in this conclusion as I know the history of this man, I know a possible reason for why his face scrunched up and his arms are folded as if to say “And your point is?”. One reason could be that in the chorus of a song he sings, the lyrics are: “I don’t regret the rules I broke, when I die bury me in smoke”. - My point is that his expression shows he just couldn’t care a less, and it reflects in his persona.
But in saying that, the song was written in 1995, Dimebag died in 2004. Maybe his philosophy was that of, “I don’t care” but in the last 14 years (the magazine was published in 2010), he has died, and his best friend got shot on stage. But after all of that maybe he’s just had enough and still sees the world as a deceitful, evil, violent place. But still has taken some knowledge with him along his journey of life. And that is what I believe is shown in this one pose and expression, I see he is changed but resents the world for taking his friend away but thanks it for giving him on more chance.
