2019 — If we see clouds, mountains, birds, trees, fungi, the night sky, and the Moon, every day, or at least every week, and in some cases climb or consume them as well, how accurate is it to say that they're a part of us? (Artist: Saloni Sinha)

2019 — In Minnesota, where this band is from, approximately 1/3 of the state is forested. Deep enough in the forest, I imagine there can only be more forest, with leaves and branches and roots in every direction. And maybe there, it's thick enough that very little escapes, even emotion, which simmers in a haze of purples, blues, and reds. (Artist: Luciana Nedelea)

2019 — I imagine this purple soup to be the amniotic fluid that protected the singer formerly known as Prince. Or maybe the band listened to Purple Rain in their traveling van and tried to depict what said rain would look like on their windshield. (Artist: Riki Nitabaru)

2019 — History, you say? Many ancient humans did indeed have elongated skulls, molded mainly in the first six months of life when the head is most pliable. Inca elites are perhaps the most famous example. However, the bug eyes, elf ears, Halloween claws, and spider web garments have no historical basis... Or maybe that's what they want us to believe? (Artist: Bruce Pennington)

2019 — She said, 'Please excuse my house,' and all that. And I said, 'Yeah, 'cause I was buzzed from the contact.' ...That's Ice Cube, but it could just as easily be Blut Aus Nord. Are those little penises? Do those heads have eyes? Wait, heads are supposed to have eyes! But why so many of them? And they're all looking at me! ...I think I'm high. (Artist: Dehn Sora)

2019 — One impressively large golden medallion and one studly looking bull! To some communities around the world, the bull is both the flesh and the gold. In Sulawesi, Indonesia, for instance, the Toraja people believe bulls (or water buffalo) transport people to the afterlife, and the number of bulls (and pigs) sacrificed at one's funeral is usually equivalent to their social rank. Some of the bulls can reach prices like that of a new Tesla, especially if they're albino. (And yes, this means many Toraja spend most of their life earning and saving money to pay for their funeral or those of loved ones). The meat from the bulls is then divvied up to the families that attend the funeral. (Artist: Alex CF)

2019 — Oh god! Oh god! What was that? What was that? I'm... so... startled... [camera moves wildly] ... I think I prefer guinea pigs in this situation, but hey, chickens are almost as funny. What's also funny is that the artist, John Brosio, happens to specialize in these suburban Godzilla scenes, so if this is your cup of tea, I suggest you check out his gallery for more funny stuff. (Artist: John Brosio)

2019 — What's this, a glitch in the Matrix? The tail of the Machine coiling in the back? Car Bomb may be trying to tell us something—they even dropped the "pri-" from "primordial" to signal that this hasn’t always existed and therefore can be escaped. It’s like the moment in the "The Truman Show" when Truman's car radio goes haywire and he hears chatter from behind the scenes. (Artist: Greg Kubacki)

2019 — A meteorite hurtles towards Earth that is the exact same size as the dinosaur killer 66 million years ago. The ghostly spirit of the dinosaurs even hitches a ride, eager to greet new friends. However, this time, humans manage to divert the impact of the meteorite to the middle of the ocean. Without a disruption to the seabed, no tsunami ensues, and though much water is vaporized into the air, the resulting global warming is mild compared to that caused by land debris. Human life continues, unending, and the ghostly spirit of the dinosaurs fades away, thwarted now as before. (Artist: Suruchi)

2019 — "Esogenesi" is Italian for exogenesis, which is the theory that life originated elsewhere and then came to Earth. So, apparently this bashful, one-eyed, swirly-tailed beast suspended in mid-air has something to do with the origin of life? Rarely am I at such a loss for words, but in this case it's a good thing. (Artist: Korvo)

2019 — In Seinfeld, Kramer asks George, "Do you ever yearn?" And George says no. But I think this crow does. It's yearning for nature's vast skies, colored dimly by the falling Sun, miles above the storks on the ground who lack the courage to soar. Maybe one day it'll get there and join the others. One day. (Artist: Adam Burke)

2019 — Positively alive, these brush strokes are! Everything is in motion, swirling around. Superb color palette as well. Then, the central figure is unmasked and, oh boy, could it be... yes, I do think it is the infamous "piece of ass" from the song "In My Room" by Insane Clown Posse. (Artist: Aldo Katayanagi)

2019 — The real body cosmic (i.e. the shape of the universe) is "flat," infinitely huge, and expanding outward like a balloon at an accelerating pace. Matter is clumped together in loosely connected patches, like honeycomb, or the inner structure of bone. In fact, due to the outward expansion of the universe, the clumps of matter are becoming patchier and patchier, like a bone with osteoporosis. I do enjoy the visuals of this Body Cosmic a lot better, though. (Artist: Tom Roberts)

2019 — Of all the covers with giant spherical objects (see: Architects, Saturndust, Toundra), this one is arguably the most affecting. The artist claims "some other elemental power" guided the process and the thousands of little points and swirls were "pure feeling" that "poured out on paper without any retakes [or] tracing." He also speaks on the message: "If in your darkest moments you find your life a stormy sea, that if you believe in rising above and reach out for the absolute, the universe WILL absolutely 100% answer you." Massive. (Artist: Reuben Bhattacharya)

2019 — It almost physically hurts to look at the heart for too long, since the design around it is so distracting. It’s as if the heart has stopped pulsing but everything around it has not. Uncomfortable viewing but good art. (Artist: Metastazis)

2019 — It’s as if Lewandowski’s large hooded figure wandered through the wardrobe and then stumbled upon a minion of the White Witch searching the water’s edge for new creatures to send to her frozen garden, with Mr. Tumnus, thankfully, nowhere in sight. Don’t think Turkish Delight will work this time. Though, who knows, maybe the Hood has a secret sweet tooth we don’t know about. (Artist: Hellish Razor)

2019 — Many cities in the world have districts of brightly colored houses, with the paint sometimes given freely by local governments to make poorer areas more visually appealing. This is like the medieval version, with crumbling castle towers painted like they’re in a funhouse. Residents might be eating rat stew and sleeping on rocks, but damnit, their lives aren’t so black and white! (Artist: Brian Chippendale)

2019 — Guilty pleasure alert. It's cheesy and there's no deeper meaning but it's executed so well that I find it enjoyable. Playing with perspectives is always a good time. (Artist: Jowita Kamińska-Peruzzi)

2019 — A working class fighter from Philadelphia might complete his rigorous training workout at the top of concrete steps and raise his arms in ecstasy (the meaning of "algleymi" in Icelandic). But maybe an Icelander goes to the shore under a swirling sky, lit only by moonlight, and raises their arms in ecstasy, offering a goblet to the elements. Different strokes for different folks. (Artist: Manuel Tinnemans)

2019 — I'd forgive you if you think Lewandowski covers are a bit repetitive and played out, but this very large hooded figure feels different than the rest, more human perhaps. It’s somehow acquired the Louvre Pyramid and seems quite sad about it. (Artist: Mariusz Lewandowski)

2019 — The Sasquatch is a popular folk figure in the PNW, including the in-game mascot for the Seattle Sonics when they were an NBA team. They are mysterious and menacing figures, in that order. There's menace to this piece, of course, with the Squatch looming in the distance and the snapped tree trunks, but there's also a sense of loneliness. Maybe the Squatch is perfectly happy living a solitary life in the forest, or maybe they're like the Grinch and simply need a friend? (Artist: Paolo Girardi)

2019 — At this moment that I write, I’m laying down on a bench in a nature preserve, surrounded by fertile greenery and wildlife much like what’s on this cover. It’s Mother Earth that makes it all possible, as if She were a female doggy lactating the milk of life. She’s going feral, though, judging by that snarl on Her face. And I don’t blame Her! Not with how we’ve treated Her recently. That blood red sky is a warning for us to get it together. Co-selected with their 2016 release, "Hollow Bones." (Artist: Martin Wittfooth)

2019 — “Sundowning” refers to the agitation and confusion that people with dementia sometimes feel when the sun starts to go down. The shift from light to dark is perfectly represented here and even makes my mind a little hazy if I look at it for too long. (Artist: Kevin Saint Grey)

2019 — When I watched the original Star Wars trilogy as a kid, the many chutes to nowhere and random abysses in the Death Star made me wonder, where the hell would you go if you fell? We get an idea when Luke slides down to the bottom of Cloud City; then again, when Palpatine is chucked down a chasm we never see where his body ends up. Maybe this cover is an answer, or maybe it's just sperm swimming toward an egg cell. (Artist: Familiar Ink)

2019 — This one looks like someone has traveled to the inner ring of a fossil where centuries of secrets are waiting to be discovered. Could be a good idea for an Indiana Jones spinoff where he drops the archaeology for paleontology. Maybe even an Indiana Jones-Jurassic Park crossover! My pick for AAOTY in 2019. (Artist: Kenzie Adams)

2019 — One million spears pointed at the back of what appears to be a prisoner or blue collar worker... sound anything like history? The Pyramids, plantations, even Boxer in "Animal Farm," who never literally faced down a weapon yet met the butcher’s knife all the same. Even if the artist intended something totally different, you can't deny this looks sharp.

2019 — No, that’s not motel art, look close! The vase-shaped foundation is a strange mix of rock, coral, and melted candle wax and you get the feeling there are bones or even intestines in there, too. Then the flowers are bountiful but are not exactly flourishing. Something is off. (Artist: Adrian Cox)

2018 — Half-naked, blue-haired Rapunzel in a nest of flowers nurturing the flame of stoner music in the early morning... Lit, as the kids from this era say. Also included in this selection is their 2013 effort "Blood Drive," which features a similar young woman, though with golden hair that fills up the frame like the fortune of Smaug. (Artist: Malleus Rock Art Lab)

2018 — With some hair (or leaves?) blowing in the wind and just a little bit of red, this one leaves an imprint of violence without showing any actual violence. It also disrupts the simple beauty that is the whiteness of everything, and the woman... oh… is that… the same color red on her lips?... (Artist: 丁子紅子)

2018 — The 3rd episode of "The Last of Us" features two characters spending a long life together in zombie apocalypse induced isolation before finally committing joint suicide in their bed. It's incredibly heartwarming and one of the greatest hours of television of all time (imho). Well, this... this is the damn opposite. Even worse if the people in the bed are still alive. Interestingly, it is not a 19th-century painting, contrary to what I would have guessed. Kantor is a modern master. (Artist: Eliran Kantor)

2018 — Overcome with emotion, an old time hockey player dies teary-eyed and with a smile on their face when their hometown team finally wins the championship. A Canucks fan in 2075, probably... Or, not. But damn this looks sharp, and bonus points for band member art. (Artist: Anthony Lucero)

2018 — "Nyárutó" means "end of summer" in Hungarian, so this plays as a mournful dirge for sunlight and warmth. The watercolor is soft on the eyes, the actual colors are somber yet alive, and the whole piece has an emotion to it, like a memory weighing heavy in the back of your mind... Fun little border, too. (Artist: Júlia Lakihegyi-Binder)

2018 — For more than a century, would-be Ukrainian artists and cultural producers were born into the darkness of imperial censorship that was the Russian Empire. They could only dream upon the stars. Then, the Empire fell, and suddenly they were born into the great light that was the Soviet Union. They thrived. Their dreams became reality... that is, until the coming of the Purge. Back to darkness they went, with dreams of what they lost casting large shadows in their minds. This album is a tribute. And damn, black and white really has a sublime beauty to it sometimes, doesn't it? (Artists: Eduard Novikov, Sir Gorgoroth)

2018 — A perfectly cropped, Ancient Greek terracotta funerary plaque that shows a "prothesis" (i.e. preparation of the dead in a family bed for visitation before burial), circa 515 BC. Ideally chosen for an album about the death of loved ones that features Ancient Greek, tasteful title font included.

2018 — Can't say I'm a big fan of evangelists or crusaders, but this cover is extremely slick. The black and white palette is perfect for the tone of righteous murder that God wills ("Deus vult"). The font is on point, too. (Artist: Diego Spezzoni)

2018 — This one reminds me of the "green place" in "Mad Max: Fury Road," where crones trudge around a polluted marshy area on stilts. The movie ends with one of my favorite quotes: "Where must we go, we who wander this wasteland, in search of our better selves?" Clearly, this creature is still wandering. (Artist: Adam Burke)

2018 — Somehow this zany art style manages to depict nakedness, depression, alcoholism, suicide, incarceration, isolation, and the human emotional palette all in one single blow. Very, very impressive. My co-pick for AAOTY in 2018. (Artist: Boone Naka)

2018 — Yeesh, looks like one excruciating headache. I guess my mother had something in common with dark lords before she retired from school teaching. Luckily, her brother was a dentist, so the commonalities stop there. (Artist: Brian Smith)

2018 — Khemmis's art style is pretty cool, so this is a stand-in for all their albums. It's got skeletons, swords, wolves, magic, gore, a wizard, and a hot chick, so it checks almost all of the standard boxes. (Artist: Sam Turner)

2018 — Could a cover really be mocking us? At first, all I saw were abstract swirls, but then the buffoonish face locked into place and I realized the joke was on me the entire time. I wish I could do this in real life, like make faces at someone in the window of a restaurant, appear as something else at first, and then bail right at the moment they figure out what they were actually looking at. (Artist: Cedric Wentworth)

2018 — As the daughter of immigrants who fled the Iranian Revolution, vocalist Nina Saeidi knows something about being between worlds. Lyrics from the title track such as "Wandering, lost in the void... Abandoned by an ancient race... Will you find something to cling to?" speak to this kind of alienation. They also relate to the artwork, which depicts the arrival of spaceships to a deathly scene, possibly to escort survivors into the sky. Leaving one's homeland is a "death" of sorts, regardless of how or why it's done. (Artist: Hervé Scott Flament)

2018 — A skeletal gravedigger in a snowy forest leaving a gravestone that reads “silenced for eternity” (in Czech) is pretty cool, but also rather standard for the genre. What elevates this piece is the perfect execution of the candlelight: I legit thought light was coming from the cover when I first saw it. Kudos to the artist. (Artist: Boris Bauer)

2018 — Apparently, band mascot John Goblikon gets his morning coffee at a diner with a cast of characters fit for the Mos Eisley Cantina. How on brand. Other highlights include the light filtering through the blinds, the checkerboard floor, and the semi-hidden sign that just says “FART.” Bonkers, indeed. (Artist: Nicholas Knudson)

2018 — What an incredible ode to 1950s movie posters. The font of the lettering is just right, as is the reaching hand, the hoodless face, and the damsel in distress. To top it all off, the wrinkle marks and signs of wear are intentional and give the feeling that it's been sitting around for 70 years. Bravo. (Artist: Stephen Andrade)

2018 — Of all the "scary" selections on this list, this one might just be the scariest. It's vague, gray, Euclidean, industrial, claustrophobic, sinister, and mechanical. Nothing about it is human. The machines, which may have been created by human hands, no longer seem dependent on their human masters as they drone onward on some massive project. Yeesh. My co-pick for AAOTY in 2018. (Artist: Zbigniew Bielak)

2018 — My favorite cover from one of my favorite bands. Outwardly normal yet it gets spookier the more you look. Why is she watering a dead plant? Who is she smiling at in the window? Who is the shadow around the corner? Why does there appear to be an investigator's murder map in the back? (Artist: Eliran Kantor)

2018 — So, an astronaut hot boxes their helmet by attaching a giant bowl of weed to their oxygen tubes... I think there's a non-zero chance that some human actually does this before our species goes extinct. Heck, maybe Elon Musk has already done it. (Artist: Jason Roeder)

2018 — The medieval version of dropping off a college student at their freshman year dorm for the first time. Landing the kennel boy apprenticeship at the castle must have made the family so proud!

2018 — For all Pirates of the Caribbean fans: "Asleep in the Reef," the untold story of Bootstrap Bill Turner's beautiful daughter. You have a sister, Will! Turn the Flying Dutchman around! Just a superbly dreamy piece that might change what you see the next time you snorkel. (Artist: Daria Hlazatova)

2018 — The first time I saw this, I thought it was a photograph. What amazing brushwork! The dots and globs really give a sense of light, movement, and liquid chaos. I might also be more smitten than most because I am such a poor swimmer. Originally from a painting called "Joyful Participation," and yeah, the joy just jumps out of the paint. (Artist: Jessica Lee Ives)

2017 — In one of my favorite sci-fi books, “He, She, and It” by Marge Piercy, the robot character Yod develops “human” emotions. I don’t think this is that farfetched, particularly in the era of AI. Evidence from the animal kingdom strongly suggests that humans do not have a monopoly over ["human”] emotions anyway, such as orca whale mothers who show grief for their dead calves. I will hope against robot warfare, though. (Artist: Adam Burke)

2017 — It takes a few seconds to notice, but this piece is not a black-and-white, since the grass, sky, and buildings in town all show a little bit of color. This makes the shimmering white of the cathedral and gravestones a more intentional artistic choice, and might be a comment on the religious institution's (smug?) confidence in its own sanctity. Also, what are those nuns up to? Digging a grave or digging one up? (Artist: Markus Vesper)

2017 — This artwork is so good, it single-handedly convinced me to listen to an entire 84-minute drone metal/funeral doom album before I was truly a metal fan. Seems to be the consensus choice for best album art in the last decade or so, and kicked off a Lewandowski explosion. My pick for AAOTY in 2017. (Artist: Mariusz Lewandowski)

2017 — One night, while crashing on the couch of a friend in Florida, I watched "The Banshees of Inisherin" alone as everyone else went to sleep. I do not remember my dreams, but maybe that night I dreamed about Ireland's rolling green expanse, smoke billowing from cottage chimneys, old lighthouses on the shore, people pouring into neon cathedrals, and whale-like beings encircling the Moon. And maybe it looked like this, too. (Artist: Connor Maguire)

2017 — This one looks like a character from Mr. Game & Watch has wandered into the latest video game adventure from Nintendo. Interesting style. I want to take a pencil and try to escape from the maze of squiggles that make up the trees. Also, the border outline is the same as "Sci-Fi or Die" by Droids Attack, so maybe the artist has a signature. (Artist: Eli Quinn)

2017 — Based on the Japanese idea of "ukiyo" (i.e. Western materialism and the pleasure-seeking aspect of urban life), green is a fascinating color here, as it could represent money, greed, and jealousy, but could also represent nature, fertility, and growth. Vicious yellow waves are crashing onto the peaks jutting out, but there's also quite a stillness beneath the water's edge. As usual, I think the key is balance. Everything has its place in moderation. (Artist: Adrian Dexter)

2017 — Historians love to celebrate Hannibal's crossing of the Alps with 37 war elephants, but a lesser-known fact is that only a small handful of them survived the journey, and even less, if any, survived the battlefield. The sight of a fallen elephant must've been especially poignant to the eyes of the ancients, like the sinking of the Titanic. I can definitely empathize with the legionnaire tossing a spare robe over the massive, lifeless face; it just seems like the respectful thing to do. And damn if that elephant skin doesn't look real. (Artist: Eliran Kantor)

2017 — Everything about this piece is totally bonkers. I don't even know how to describe that color palette, futuristic psychedelic? And while it's a 2-D space, somehow I get the feeling that there are multiple levels of depth, with things behind things that are also behind things. If this kind of chaos exists underneath the keyboard I am typing on, I have vastly underappreciated the power of microchips. (Artist: Luca Carey)

2017 — If I could go on a date with any girl on a metal album cover, this would be the one. She's both a beauty and a badass, and we'd be able to save money on floral arrangements for the wedding if it ever got that far. (Artist: David Csicsely)

2017 — Gumbo is a tasty soup. It's got stock, meat (or fish), Creole veggies, and is the official cuisine of Louisiana. But this ain't gumbo, it's gumboot, which is a rain boot in the band's native Australia. I guess their psychedelics will get you so in the groove you'll be ready to slurp up whatever's on offer like it's gumbo, even bloody, smelly sewage. (Artist: Jason Galea)

2017 — We'll know we've really made it as a species when we get our first corpse laid out somewhere that isn't Earth. I mean, only three humans have ever even died in space—it'd be a triumph, not a tragedy! Plus, this artwork makes eternal rest on the Moon look downright cozy. Makes me feel better about Willzyk from South Park. (Artist: Costin Chioreanu)

2017 — I have a friend who’s into lucid dreaming. In his first lucid experience, he tells me he reached into the sky and moved the Moon, then took a deep breath and spit fire out his mouth. I rarely remember my dreams, but I know I have them, so I wonder how many wondrous scenes I’ve forgotten while asleep. (Artist: Greg Bogart)

2017 — It seems such devastation has come to the world that a guardian angel is trying to pull down the entire fabric of the sky, like one might draw the bed covers over one's head to shut out the night. The melancholy of the situation really sits heavy on the heart. One of Adam Burke's best and most affecting works. (Artist: Adam Burke)

2017 — A tarot card of Juraj Janošik, the Slovak Robin Hood, staggering around a mushroom forest with a bottle of liquor. The detail is magnificent: The Reaper stands in the distance, the woman to his left harvests mushrooms with a scythe, and demonic figures play cards in hell while they wait for their comrade to bring Janošik to them. The real Janošik was supposedly executed by being pierced with a hook and then left dangling in the air, so this checks out. Just a rich work of art. (Artist: Dávid Glomba)

2017 — War is the Devil's puppet show, and he's out there on every battlefield pulling strings. Soldiers know, they've seen him, getting off to the gore with his stiff pitchfork. Sometimes he may even be disguised as a comrade (see the film "Platoon"). But yeah, there’s some silliness to this cover, too. (Artist: John Santos)

2017 — I once had a tall, sharp-beaked bird viciously squawk at me through the glass of a too-small cage in Bukittinggi, Indonesia, and it was absolutely terrifying. This particular bird most closely resembles the cassowary, which is like a bluer, more dangerous version of an emu. All the swirls and dots and geometric details are interesting as well, and really create an uncomfortable sense of movement into the bird's mouth. (Artist: Metastazis)

2017 — PTP has a distinct sci-fi aesthetic that distinguishes them from other bands, including their equally impressive debut “U.M.A.” Here we have a space station within the orbit of twin moons, which is a scene you can really dream on. (Artist: Alexander Preuss)

2017 — Quite the pitiable situation. The famished pup already has open wounds and now has its paw stuck in a snare meant for a squirrel or rabbit. There's also some yellowish drool coming from its mouth and the look it's giving reeks of fear and desperation. But oh, the will to survive. I have a feeling it will find a way forward; the question is simply at what point is it no longer worth it. (Artist: Caroline Harrison)

2017 — You gotta love a good shaman. For first-time users of ayahuasca, peyote, or San Pedro, they're downright necessary and respectful. Never been to a summoning before, though, where spirits rise to leave their mark on the world like an insect's exoskeleton (i.e. "exuvia"). Perfect cover for a black metal album with tribal influences. (Artist: Julia Schneider)

2017 — As a prolific snooze button presser, this is about as relatable as they come. I think there's even an imprint of an earlier snooze attempt, which is a neat touch. The down-to-earth content and minimalist colored pencil style is altogether a charming reprieve from most metal art. (Artist: Breanna Utz)

2017 — Well, that's one big, bad, she-wolf. Very similar to the "Capitoline Wolf" in Rome, featuring a baby sheep instead of Romulus and Remus. But why so ferociously protect what would normally be prey? Maybe the wolf's regular offspring have died and her motherly instincts have turned toward a substitute. I've seen many (really cute) instances of this on social media, including the famous tiger mother who adopted piglets in tiger costumes. (Artist: Eliran Kantor)

2017 — Lady gremlins with huge knockers block the path of a night rider on a two-wheeler while burly bald men look on. Total nonsensical badassery with a wicked art style, and I am here for it. (Artist: Ariel Zucker-Brull)

2016 — Normally I am not a fan of fart humor, but this makes me laugh. The way the devil looks back is really cheeky and it's so minimalist there's nothing to take attention away from the joke. Whoosh! (Artist: Pede)

2016 — A tragic tale, I see here. Two destructive, yet noble beasts are immobilized then tied up together like dogs. After torture and neglect, one dies, and the other, likely its partner, commits an unforgiveable act when its survival instincts kick in, hunger being as powerful as it is and all. Now cursed, its eyes turn white with blindness as it clutches the leftover skeleton with a vague fondness. Impressive art from one of the band's core members. (Artist: Lassi Mäki-Kala)

2016 — Have you ever thought of the aurora borealis as a highway to space? How beautiful! One-man-band Markov Soroka was apparently inspired by a trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, where I first saw the aurora borealis as well. I would pay a pretty penny to ride along its wispy and otherworldly curves, especially if I had someone join me to share the memory. With the bottle lodged in ice, this piece would also make for a superb Coca-Cola commercial. My pick for AAOTY in 2016. (Artist: Adam Burke)

2016 — Safety and shelter deep in the forest during a rainstorm, how comforting! And instead of a “coven” of witches, I like to imagine it's Joan Wilder and Jack T. Colton camping out in a downed, drug-runner plane during a Colombian monsoon. If you know you know. (Artist: Mar.A)

2016 — Two things stand out in this piece: First, that the ocean is above the land and sky, and second, that the ocean is portrayed in a considerably more sinister manner. My interpretation is that someone has felt suffocated while literally spending too much time above ground, such as in a high-rise apartment or something. The evil shark, octopus, and fish could represent the people or situation inflicting the suffocation, and the bright figure is finally finding a way to escape, downward, to safer pastures. Very thought-provoking stuff. (Artist: Piere d'Arterie)

2016 — Pyramid of Kukulkan to launch in 3...2...1... Blast off to return to alien origins... Just kidding. The pyramid is Mayan. Don't let the History Channel tell you otherwise. (Artist: Eli Quinn)

2016 — I feel like I have to include a classic skull design on a list of metal album art. And this is a good one! It’s got the cheekiness of the Misfits skull but with sharper detail. Blood red is an effective background color as well. (Artist: Pol Abran Cantador)

2016 — Ooh, this be one hell of a "metal" jellyfish; electrified like the band's riffs. Contrary to popular belief, however, jellyfish do not just drift. They detect ocean currents and are efficient swimmers, expanding and contracting muscles in the "bell" of their bodies. Insanely, they are also responsible for almost 40% of all biomass in the ocean, so, they're everywhere. (Artist: Aaron Marsh)

2016 — According to the band, this medieval-style portrait of a king "represents the last stand of integrity and justice" in a corrupted court. The puppet strings and the chain attached to the crown therefore make sense; the free will of the king is hamstrung by sinister forces. It's perhaps most powerful, though, to think of the "king" that is within us: How are we deviating from our noblest intentions? What is preventing our better selves, and why? (Artist: Eliran Kantor)

2016 — It's easy to miss, but in the middle of this desolate, war-torn landscape is a soldier returning home. The scene is intensely melancholy, like Adrien Brody walking through the ruins of Warsaw in "The Pianist," and provides quite the starting point for one of Glass Hammer's many concept albums. I marvel at the balance between hopeful orange and hopeless grey. Press play to see which one wins out. (Artist: Michał Loranc)

2016 — What a kooky piece. Everywhere you look, more creatures pop up, most of them owls and creepy-crawlies. This makes for a fun viewing experience. Also, the spherical forest looks a lot like a cell that's been attacked by viruses. There are a few little balls in the bottom area that resemble those types of cells, too. So, the message is to protect yourself from attack, and, uh, get vaccinated. Got it. (Artist: Sebastian Jerke)

2016 — Such a feast for the eyes! In every corner, there's something interesting: from the sinking ship and sinking sun to the shining star and colorful sky. I mean, look at that sky! Thus, it's easy to miss arguably the most important feature of the piece: An unfortunate soul hanging from the mast, camouflaged by one of the clouds. This arouses many questions. Was it a suicide? Mutiny? Did enemy mariners sack the ship? (Artist: Orion Landau)

2016 — Hmm, it seems this girl is zombified in some way and in need of the right key to get her going. Which will it be, friend? Are you able to unlock the best version of someone else? Do you have the key to someone else's pure self-expression? If so, use it. It is a tremendous gift. (Artist: Fuco Ueda)

2016 — Dark, towering, hovering oval, hmmm… I feel like I’ve seen that before… Yes, quite the coincidence that the movie "Arrival" was released just a few weeks later. The imagery evokes serious wonder in both cases. (Artist: Zdzisław Beksiński)

2016 — So, I am vegetarian and generally have a tremendous love for animals. I go to great pains not to kill spiders, flies, and bugs (except mosquitoes). That said, there are two animals that I just don't jive with: geese and peacocks. They're both annoying, mean, and poop everywhere (I've been in neighborhoods in SoCal where wild peacocks roam all around). I can attest that this portrays the true nature of peacocks... But hey, it looks good. Probably has something to do with evil and beauty packaged together, like a femme fatale or something. (Artist: Travis Smith)

2016 — Imagine if you truly had the power of the pen, and something to say that would most definitely change the world, like Martin Luther's "Ninety-Five Theses" or Newton's "Principia." Imagine then the interests that would be working against you, ready to wipe clean the ink (or "atrament") of your pen, perhaps even physically harm you. Would you capture the moment, or let it slip? ...I think this dude just might be slippin’ judging by that unruly glob. (Artist: Ryohei Hase)

2016 — A large swan with a pink ribbon and wreath of flowers would seem to be an obvious symbol of love and fertility, making marriage or childbirth the likely unity on tap. More notably, though, are the tones in this piece, which are as gentle as a mother's caress. One long look can ease one's anxiety and uplift one's soul. (Artist: Sergey Shenderovsky)

2016 — Ever wonder what immediately preceded the scene on "Family Man" by Black Flag? Well, this is it, with just a touch of supernatural flavor. And if you have an urge for more violent and disturbing content, check out their other albums. This selection stands for the discography. (Artist: A.J. Garcés Bohmer)

2016 — In Slavic folklore, "Zorya" is the feminine personification of dawn. Since dawn literally appears here, instead of a woman, I interpret this to be a kind of "reverse personification" of feminine beauty, using dawn. Or maybe just beauty in general. It's gorgeous, no doubt. (Artist: Jeffrey Smith)

2016 — An interesting meditation on reincarnation and the circle of life using Byzantine iconography of St. Helen and St. Constantine with animal heads. Organic matter cycles from the natural world to living beings and back, each form as sacred as the last. Other elements relate directly to the lyrics and song titles, such as the birds ("Sirály" = seagull) and the windmill ("Malmok" = mills), translated from Hungarian. (Artist: Agnessa Kessiakova)

2016 — Graffiti artists are sneaky. You think you're safe in the metal genre, then bam! There it is on a cover for you to deal with. For real, though, I think cities should hire more graffiti artists for urban beautification projects. Done right, it's art, and the collaborative effort might even reduce actual vandalism. (Artist/Designer: Daniel McBride)

2016 — You know, I really shouldn't be talking with y'all. The first rule of boogie is you do not talk about boogie. But when you boogie with the undead, people gotta know, right? That's Papa Legba right there, standing next to vodou queen Marie Laveau. They summoned some truly diabolical Lwa, but there were all kinds of spirits: Sumerian, British, Babylonian, all kinds! They gave it their all, I'll give 'em that, but I got groovy. Ain't nobody boogie my groove. (Artists: Karsten Sand, Michael Poulsen)

2015 — The puma has been my spirit animal since the release of this album, as it was the same year I spent 6 weeks in the Bolivian Amazon walking a fully grown male puma (named Sonko) on jungle trails ~8 hours/day. Pumas are also prominent symbols in Mesoamerica, from Bolivia to Mexico (where this band is from). Snakes are important too, as one appears in an eagle’s beak on the Mexican flag. I never saw Sonko face off with a snake, but I did see him devour several chickens. I would take puma over snake in this matchup. (Artist: Eliran Kantor)

2015 — Vivid and eye-popping from all corners. Octopuses are already so smart, if they start growing human-like hands they might just start civilization in the seas. There's a humorous element too, as most of the "scary" creatures look to be stupidly swimming around with bulging eyes. Based on the horror novel of the same name by William Hope Hodgson in 1907. My pick for AAOTY in 2015. (Artist: Sebastian Jerke)

2015 — This is a stand-in for all of Baroness's albums, as well as Kvelertak's self-titled and "Meir." While I love the art style, they all hit me about the same, so I'm going to feature the one that's purple (of course). Huge props to the band's lead vocalist-guitarist-artist, what a talent. (Artist: John Dyer Baizley)

2015 — What a grim, devastated landscape. Is this our future? Jungles, deserts, tundras, and other elements have swallowed up settlements and even civilizations before, but if the apocalypse came for us now, tens of thousands of hulking structures would likely remain, sticking out like sore thumbs. (Artist: Travis Smith)

2015 — Features a version of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (who is venerated in the Orthodox Church) and Baby Jesus with their faces blurred or scratched out, suggesting iconoclasm. This is perfect for the band, who made their live performances like solemn regurgitations of Orthodox mass (before all the legal disputes). Also love the pre-Renaissance style with the gold and lack of perspective. (Artist: Христофор)

2015 — Fun with words! All of which are taken from lyrics on the album. Some are gems, like "Marie taunts me with her naked breasts" and "I come from the City of Hair beyond the Wrinkled Mountain and I will not rest until I've washed every penis in this room" (only part visible). Yeah, it's hipster, but it's fresh, and kinda fun to see what phrases go together. (Artist: John Vochatzer)

2015 — Looks like Little Red Riding Hood has grown up and the forest now follows her wherever she goes. Flowers in bloom at the beat of one's feet, what a superpower! Then the stained-glass texture has been applied with such tenderness that it reminds me of pound cake. It’s all more then enough to make up for the jarring black box. (Artist: Chris Stevenson-Mangos)

2015 — A more horrifying version of WALL-E. However, which is more horrifying, the dead bodies or the plastic waste? I have actually seen beaches in Indonesia with more plastic than this, albeit not spilling out of someone's guts. If there's trash and plastic twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean alone, an apocalyptic scenario based in garbage is not out of the question. We need to make changes to our material consumption and make them fast. (Artist: Wes Benscoter)

2015 — In Maui, legend has it that when a drop of coconut water spills into the sulfur vents of Mt. Haleakalā, the skies come alive in an orange glaze and the waves rise up to meet them. This band is from Perth, so there's probably no connection, but legends have been known to travel the Pacific before, and it really makes you wonder... (just kidding, I made it up). (Artist: Ryan Felton)

2015 — This one is a struggle for the brain. Five colors and ten shapes directly interfere with the band name and title, in addition to the swirling design within the font itself. Most of the shapes are sliced into halves, but the halves are jumbled all around, and the green stick's half is missing entirely. Yet, despite it all, this cover is quite pleasing. I find that remarkable. (Artist: Alyssa and Ben Sharp)

2015 — Ethereal and majestic. The same wispy brushstroke depicts schools of fish, flickers of flames, currents of wind, and the airs of the heavens. I can just imagine my favorite singer, singing from the mountaintops: "In the misty morning, on the edge of time..." (Artist: Adrian Dexter)

2015 — All of Ghost's album covers have been various levels of fantastic, but this one is my favorite. For the first time, the anti-Pope literally becomes engrained with the buildings of the city, becoming its only source of light. The "second appearance" of the anti-Pope is even more impressive, as the portcullis, stained-glass windows, lanterns, and strobe lights all come together to form another face. Move over, God, your adversary reigns supreme in this town. (Artist: Zbigniew Bielak)

2015 — There's a unique place in my brain that gets activated whenever I see labyrinths in the style of M.C. Escher. You could probably play an entire game of Chutes and Ladders using just this album. Trippy stuff. One question I have is why all the little people seem to be in their high school gym uniforms. (Artist: Ulf Lundén)

2015 — In what world are people casually strolling into whatever that is?? It's like if Disney hired some sick minded folks to make a Halloween-themed amusement park. Actually, I wish I lived in that world. I want to walk in, too! (Artist: Brian Smith)

2015 — Is that the Sun using an arm of its trench coat to shield itself from a swarm of paparazzi at an intergalactic gala? No? Well, it's abstract. See what you want to see. I also love how the pastels are protruding out of the square frame at certain places, making the whole image more off-kilter and chaotic. (Artist: Daniel Wagner)

2015 — In 1959, nine experienced Soviet ski hikers died under mysterious circumstances in the Ural Mountains. The ensuing investigation determined that a "compelling natural force" was at fault, leading to theories as colorful as blaming a wrathful goddess of the local Mansi people called "Sorni Nai." Recent investigations point to a slab avalanche as the likely culprit, but nevertheless, this cover gives the album's meditation on what became known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident a ruggedly beautiful start. (Artist: Sonya Melnyk)

2015 — Kekal is a band from Indonesia, land of 18,000 islands (which is still somehow ~250,000 short of Sweden) and probably hundreds of thousands of wooden docks and piers. Thus, I love the symbolism of the rope literally tying into human flesh, as dock pilings are foundational to the nation, so to speak. There's also a fantastic mean mug on the piling that just makes me laugh. (Artist: Levi Sianturi)

2015 — This one reminds me of Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and the feeling that the ancient buildings were somehow alive. Prambanan is a magical place, though I've never been anywhere where buildings float above you like planks of wood in a pool. Sigh, the things I wish that were real... (Artist: Chris Sukut)

2015 — What if you were born into a skin that everyone was afraid of? Even if you never meant harm. Or worse, what if you were born into a skin that you were afraid of? Unable to control actions that you didn't really mean to do. I am not one of those people, but they're out there, and I feel for them.

2015 — One glance at this figure hopelessly reaching out is more potent than any of my words could be, so I will keep this blurb short. Just take a gander and feel. (Artist: Marcel Roux)

2015 — Here we have a Greek or Roman woman, looking absent-mindedly at something we can't see, troubled by something, perhaps, and I just want to ask her: How did you come to be on this cover? It’s nice of you to drop by, but shouldn't you be somewhere else, attending to your own matters, in some other world that has no crossover with mine? Originally titled "Lycinna," painted in 1918. (Artist: John William Godward)

2015 — A core memory of a Ferris wheel with someone special on a summer day... that's been tainted, perhaps. Maybe that special someone got in a serious accident on the metro near the Ferris wheel, or maybe they hopped on the metro and never came back. The sky pales, leaves disappear, shadows abound, and the core memory fades away, interfered with and no longer pure. Gritty art.

2015 — Such a fantastic silhouette. I like to think that hunched figure is my father, perhaps a little older than he is now, scrounging the desert for a trinket or new species of cactus to add to his collection. He loves to pick things up off the ground, even if they have no value, and takes care of 20+ cactuses in his house. This cover also bears a slight resemblance to the movie poster for "Empire of the Sun." (Artist: Samantha Muljat)

2015 — Anthropomorphic mountains with faces to the sky and humans climbing ant-like all over them. Creepy, but intriguing. My interpretation is that this represents the insatiable human ambition, or "hunger undying," specifically in regard to conquering nature. Ever ready to ascend, we yearn to cast off our earthly foundation and become our own gods. (Artist: Jeff Christensen)