Heavy Metal Cover Girls: Bright Eyes.

  As I was idly flipping through my album cover folder, seeking inspiration, I realised that in among the uusal collection of warriors, witches, sirens and bad girls I kept seeing artwork that focused on one specific body part.

No. Not the ones you're thinking of.

Not that one either. 

The answer, my friends, is all in the eyes. 

  There's a lot of mythology associated with the eyes. (The windows to the soul, Hypnotic, Bewitching. etc. ) and in any picture of another person your gaze will inevitably be drawn to them. 

With certain people it might take a bit longer, obviously.  

The point being, with these covers, a simple shot can have a powerful effect. The observer is in turn observed. I hope she likes what she sees.

As is traditional, we shall start with the album cover that inspired this post. 

Madness Of The Night - The Asgarda (Sweden 2014)
 

 It's a bit like that old bumper sticker "If you can see this, you're too close." 

The band are a female fronted crew and very, very Gothic. 

 

Liv Moon - Golden Moon (Japan 2011)

 Symphonic Metal Diva Liv Moon gets all enigmatic 

There's a version of this cover where you get to see more of her, in both senses of the word. 

See thumbnail for details.

Icon - Right Between The Eyes (USA 1989)

Now I look at this in close up I notice that the artist just couldn't resist throwing in some boobs as a bonus.

Otep - The Ascension (USA 2007)

There's something haunting about this - or this just me?

The music is angrier than the stuff I normally post in HMCG

Darkyra - Dragon Tears (Australia 2015)

Now by this point I'm hoping you see what I meant about the woman on the cover watching you back.
See if the eyes follow you round the room. Go on try it.
It's an unnerving effect isn't it?

The band is built around singer/songwriter Darkyra Black.
Isn't that a marvellous name for a Gothic Metal singer?

I quite like the way the drummer is powering this one along.

Fallen Silver - Blood In Blue Eyes (Austrlia 2009)

Personally I would kill to have eyes that shade of blue.

The music is, rather surprisingly, rough edged Aussie Pub Rock

Max Pie - Initial Process (Belgium 2011)

Between the vivid blue iris, pale skin and bright red lips you get something that catches the eye,although you can't help feeling that you're looking at the aftermath of a nasty clockmaking accident.
Now go back and take a closer look at her iris. Subtle, but I like it.

In another musical surprise these Belgians are pounding Prog/Power Metal

Shannon - Angel In Disguise. (France 2008)

Interesting how many albums opt for only 50% of the face.
I suppose it means you can show all the cool stuff in the background.

For some reason I thought this lot had a woman singer but I was proven wrong almost immediately.
Euro-Melodic Rock

The next two continue the half-a-face theme. but do different things with it.

Killinger - S/T (Canda 2011)

 Isn't it amazing how adding one little prop makes you look at this young lady in a totally different light?
I may be imagining the look of quiet satisfaction

Musically Killinger are one of those bands that pretend the 1990s never happened
Since I spent the entire decade wondering why music wasn't fun anymore, I think we'll get on just fine.

Wizardmask - Песнь воина (Russia 2014)

Песнь воина translates as "Warrior Song" so I'm assuming  under that gold there's some nice solid steel.

Wizardmask describe themselves as "Dramatic Metal."
See what you think.


That's all folks.