2020 — If fungi suddenly wanted to take over all the mounted taxidermy in the world, I would not hate it. Bring life back to the lifeless! I'm also a fan of the very realistic detail of the wood and the artist's sneaky signature. (Artist: Marald van Haasteren)

2020 — Although this is more likely to be a massacre among church pews, it strongly reminds me of a roller coaster and someone throwing their hands in the air. I have no stomach for the more intense roller coasters, so all the blood, guts, and headless corpses sum up my anxiety nicely. (Artist: Noah Cutter Meihoff)

2020 — The concept of Atramentus's debut album is centered on the curse of immortality, in which a lone warrior must witness the death of all he knows, including Earth itself. Such grandiosity fits Lewandowski's signature style perfectly. The warrior looks on, defeated and alone, as the Sun blinks out, eternal night sets in, and Santa Muerte pays him no attention. (Artist: Mariusz Lewandowski)

2020 — Chimpanzees have been observed to experience something akin to awe in the face of natural phenomena such as waterfalls and sunsets, so, why not a deer at the foot of a mountain? The juxtaposition of power with the beauty and tranquility of the valley seems to have turned its antlers. Bonus points for the pleasing framing technique and for resembling my birth region. (Artist: Chris Stevenson-Mangos)

2020 — It's ironic that a band called "Dark Tranquillity" features a cover that pops with so much color. The world seems to be set against the backdrop of a vinyl record, so my interpretation is that the golden column represents the needle of a record player and the greater world represents the whole of the music on the record. The "moment" or slice of the world the listener is currently experiencing is what's highlighted by the golden column. If this is correct, I bet that fireball is one hell of a riff! (Artist: Niklas Sundin)

2020 — So, you're born, you go through childhood, graduate high school, maybe college, then get a job, get married, have a kid, watch them grow up, retire, maybe go on a nice vacation (to some faraway planet), and then: Whoosh! Your life is over, and your cremated ashes are blown into the wind, and the world moves on. Here, there, and then gone... Co-selected with Glass Hammer's "Arise." (Artist: Jekyll & Hyde)

2020 — A mountain is a volcano... is covered in fluffy snow, is smothered in lava rock... is to be climbed, is to be avoided... is a place of life and lush greenery, is a place of death and scorched earth... is an ancestral protector of the tribe, is a capricious swallower of souls... A mountain is tall. I'm glad there are mountains. (Artist: Robert Kudera)

2020 — The peril of the Black Death in exquisite black and white. At least 1/3 of Europe was wiped out, which would not have occurred were it not for kings making arbitrary decisions, merchants transporting new bacteria from Central Asia, religious figures pushing superstitious ideas, and, of course, the whims of chance (i.e. the Grim!). Arguably the most stunning wood carving on MS. (Artist: Fabian Staniec)

2020 — Guilty pleasure selection, as this one reminds me of a wonderful trip I took driving around Iceland in a camper van in the winter of 2016. One of the days, we got stuck in the snow in front of the property of a rather terse Icelandic man. He told us he would help us in about an hour, then, on the dot, he came out, said no words, aggressively jiggered our car back and forth from the driver's seat to dislodge us from the snow, then left. Oh hero, our hero! (Artist: Wayne DeAdder)

2020 — Following the concept of the album, what’s depicted here is an ageless, omniscient, infallible creature that controls humanity and exists alongside our consciousness (aka "fireworker," or id, or lizard brain). Could it be the same wormlike creature in "The Boys" that's squirming around Billy Butcher's brain? Fans want to know. I must also mention that brilliant shade of green; my favorite of the greens on the list. (Artist: Antonio Seijas)

2020 — Close-ups of insects are remarkable because they really accentuate the gap between our species. They’re often surprisingly creepy and make insects seem alien and unlike us. Here we have a monarch butterfly, generally considered to be harmless and beautiful, struggling out of a chrysalis with spindly black legs and a bulbous face. It's different from us and from our normal idea of a butterfly, and the blank background forces us to consider these facts. Bonus points for the tasteful band name and title. My co-pick for AAOTY in 2020. (Artist: Kevin E. Taylor)

2020 — Once upon a time, society evolved, so that the beings most revered by humanity, the gods or “alphas” so to speak, came down from the sky and settled in skyscrapers… Or actually, they're just normal assholes with a lot of money. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, for example, lives in a 568-foot private skyscraper in Mumbai. My co-pick for AAOTY in 2020. (Artist: Zbigniew Bielak)

2020 — Everything in this piece seems to be in sync. The muted fall colors of the forest create a somber atmosphere appropriate for a tragedy. The forest itself frames the body with symmetry, though with a slight decay from left to right, reflecting the decaying of the body. As for the tragedy, arrows often signal an ambush, but I suspect an execution, as the body is naked and seems to lie on a platform. The scene reminds me of the execution of Aslan in Narnia, though nobody is rushing to the body in sympathy like in Aslan's case. Poor chap. (Artist: Moonroot)

2020 — Modeled on a vintage Victorian tea tin, this cover is an homage to English blues rock and an ode to where the album was recorded. It could also, you know, just be another American stealing someone's thunder: Did you know that Tabasco sauce is from Louisiana? Then there's hamburgers, and French fries, and... well, I digress, I like the cover. (Designer: Kate Moss)

2020 — Pure minimalist, black and white beauty. Three figures stand on a platform near the edge of dual waterfalls with Selene's moon overhead. It must feel like standing at the edge of the world. In fact, if the world wasn't round, I'd like it if this was what the edge of the world looked like. It would feel right. (Artist/Designer: Mads Berg)

2020 — Rarely do I feel like I could eat an album cover, but here we are. It really has the vibe of cream or butter flavored candy. Then there's a confusing mix of orchids, sundials, wishbones, and the Statue of Liberty, which is hard to make sense of, but sometimes it's nice not to have everything figured out. (Artist: Sam Octigan)

2020 — Danish solo artist Amalie Bruun currently displays this turn-of-the-century Norwegian painting in her living room, as her mother used to claim it was her in the painting and she has since inherited it from her grandmother. The family certainly has good taste. I have yet to make a trip to the fjords and have not watched "MS Nordnorge," so for me, the beauty of this piece is like a mental placeholder for the real thing. One day! (Artist: Hans Dahl)

2020 — If you are unfamiliar with this band, they are an eccentric bunch who call themselves "cultural engineers." For this album, they use a created language to tell the story of human evolution, ultimately preparing for a future in which Earth is ruled by a race of intelligent elephants superior to humanity... Yes, you read that right. The cover then fits like a glove, as the ancient Indian art style creates a sense of depth and complexity of epic proportions. There's so much to look at, though it's hard to focus on anything that isn't that magnet of a mustache. (Artist: Tomiyuki Kaneko)

2020 — Not the most technical piece, yet the mighty will-o'-wisp (trans: "Irrlicht") still manages to leap off the page and hit you right in the feels. Proof that artistic complexity is only loosely correlated with emotional impact. (Artist: Marcel)

2020 — This cover should come with a warning label attached: *May cause an immediate and emotional spurt of unrestrained imagination.* True for me, at least. Orcas, marlins, and sea turtles—three of my favorite sea creatures—swim majestically along the break of a massive wave while the barrel spirals inward in the form of a heart. Have no fear, friends, just love! And wherever that takes you. (Artist: Liz Saddington)

2020 — I listen to a lot of music in my car, and some songs manage fill up the whole car with sound, as if they’re not coming from the stereo but from all around me (Dre and Snoop’s “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” is a great example). This cover gives me a visual version of that, with the natural beauty of New Zealand bursting from all corners. It’s less maximalist than it is “full,” and there’s a difference. (Artist: Chris Panatier)

2020 — The dividing line between rock and metal can be hazy, though very often it's as simple as an aesthetic. Is a band more Cretan Bull, snow-colored and beautiful? Or do they more closely represent the spirit of the Minotaur? This snorter is certainly the latter. (Artist: Ale & Cake Illustration)

2020 — What a brilliant scene. The staff in the person's hand makes me think of the shepherd boy in "The Alchemist" in the midst of his grand adventure. It's a good reminder for me to get off my couch, put down my headphones, and open up my ears… adventure always beckons. (Artist: Sergey Shenderovsky)

2020 — This one is like the Roman Colosseum meets "Sonnie's Edge" from Love, Death, & Robots. A number of Easter eggs also elevate the piece above standard death metal fare, including a dude in a baseball cap, a fish monster, a fluffy cat, and "Goro" from Mortal Combat. Fun stuff. (Artist: Aghy Purakusuma)

2020 — I've always said I'd be able to die happy if one day I dunked a basketball. Well, I'd also die happy if, from a grassy mound, I got to stare up at a starry sky bathed in an ocean of that beautiful purple. This selection also includes the band's equally dazzling mirror image companion piece, "Mosaic I." It's probably best to contrmplate them in tandem. (Artist: Luciana Nedelea)

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 would it be to say that they're a part of us? Not literally, like a fungal afro or something, but you know what I mean. (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. Maybe there, the forest is thick enough that very little escapes, not 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 eyes? And they're all looking at me! ...I think I'm high. (Artist: Dehn Sora)

2019 — One impressive 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. 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 with a kingdom on its hump 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 yearns for nature's vast skies, colored dimly by the waning 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 — A piece with brush strokes that are positively alive and in motion, swirling around like the benign funnel of a tornado. Superb color palette as well. Then, the central figure is unmasked and... tap, tap... could it be... yes, I do think it is the infamous "piece of ass" from "In My Room" by Insane Clown Posse. Somebody hide the pets and alert the neighbors. (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 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, [and] 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 this 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 — This is not a Lewandowski painting, but "The Hood" has nevertheless wandered into the frame. It's like he passed through the Wardrobe and is now hiding from a minion of the White Witch, who's searching the water’s edge for new creatures to send to her frozen garden. He should be safe, unless Turkish Delight is on offer again and he's got a 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 some concrete steps and raise his arms in ecstasy (trans: "Algleymi"). In contrast, an Icelander might go to the shore under a swirling sky lit only by moonlight, then raise their arms in ecstasy by offering a goblet to the elements. Different strokes for different folks. (Artist: Manuel Tinnemans)

2019 — The Sasquatch is a popular folk figure in the Pacific Northwest, 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 it's like the Grinch and simply needs a friend? (Artist: Paolo Girardi)

2019 — At the moment that I write this blurb, 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," which swaps the dog for a polar bear. (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 actually causes my mind to feel a little hazy if I look at it for too long. A rare "three-dimensional" cover art experience. (Artist: Kevin Saint Grey)

2019 — When I watched the original Star Wars trilogy as a kid, the random abysses and chutes to nowhere in the Death Star made me wonder where the hell you would go if you fell. We get an idea when Luke slides to the bottom of Cloud City; then again, when never see where Emperor Palpatine ends up when he's chucked down a chasm. This cover feels like an answer, but it could also just be sperm swimming to 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 archaeology for paleontology. Maybe even an Indiana Jones / Jurassic Park crossover! That would be wild. My pick for AAOTY in 2019. (Artist: Kenzie Adams)

2019 — Together with the band's ensuing release, "The Enduring Spirit," artist Jesse Jacobi created a fantastical alien world that is a mix of rocky and fungal imagery. In "PC," the tones are darker and more macabre, with a sentient terrain that threatens to shackle and devour. In "TES," the tones are lighter and more uplifting, as if a prisoner has broken free of their shackles and been reborn into a new life. In both cases, the full artwork is necessary to behold, and it'll be interesting to see if there's a part three. (Artist: Jesse Jacobi)

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, POWs, Boxer in "Animal Farm," heck, possibly even Amazon Fulfillment Centers (who knows what goes on in there!). The artist could have intended something totally different, of course, but you can't deny it 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 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 would 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 wisps of hair (or leaves?) blowing in the wind and just a dash of red, this cover violently disrupts its simple beauty and leaves an imprint of tragedy that's emotionally affecting. The fact that the woman's lips are also red could suggest a crime of passion, or maybe a miscarriage, considering how gloomy she looks. Kudos to the artist for doing so much with so little. (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). Now, 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. Probably a Canucks fan, in 2075... Or, you know, something totally different. But damn, it looks slick, 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 but 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 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 showing a "prothesis," which is the 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, the tasteful title font included. Co-selected with their next effort, "Tamashii No Yama," in which the band pivoted to traditional Japan.

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 (trans: "Deus vult"). The font is on point, too. (Artist: Diego Spezzoni)

2018 (Artist: Adam Burke)

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 a large part of the human emotional spectrum in one single blow. Very, very impressive. My co-pick for AAOTY in 2018. (Artist: Boone Naka)

2018 — Yeesh, that 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 — Could a cover really be mocking us? At first, all I saw were abstract swirls, then the buffoonish face locked into place and I realized the joke was on me. 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, then bail right when 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 thought there was an actual brightness coming from the cover when I first saw it. Clearly the artist knows something about contrast. (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 — As the son of movie buffs, I give this incredible ode to 1950s movie posters a tip of the cap. 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 spookier and 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 already has. (Artist: Jason Roeder)

2018 — The medieval version of dropping off a college student at their freshman 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 titled "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 emotions anyway, such as orca 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/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 it 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 dreamt 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. 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 the artist seems to have a signature. (Artist: Eli Quinn)

2017 — Based on the Japanese idea of "ukiyo" (i.e. Western materialism and urban pleasure-seeking), 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, the sense of depth is impressive, 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 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. Heck, when I die, she could even push me off in a boat and set it ablaze with a flaming arrow from the shore. (Artist: David Csicsely)

2017 — Gumbo is a tasty soup. As the official cuisine of Louisiana, it's got stock, meat (or fish), and Creole veggies. 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. "Willzyk" from South Park might actually be doing just fine. (Artist: Costin Chioreanu)

2017 — I have a friend who’s enthusiastic about 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 out fire. 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 you might draw the bed covers over your 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, a woman on 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 then dangled in the air, so this checks out. Quite 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, like in the film "Platoon." There’s some playfulness to this cover, too, of course. Levity always helps with heavy themes. (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 frightening. 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 help to 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 chock-full of possibilities. One of the sillier possibilities is that the lower moon is being used as a massive Catan board. (Artist: Alexander Preuss)

2017 — Quite a pitiable situation. The famished pup already has open wounds and now has its paw stuck in a snare meant for a squirrel or rabbit. Yellowish drool is coming from its mouth and the look it's giving reeks of fear and desperation. The will to survive is powerful, though, and the pup will push forward. The question is simply at what point "forward" is 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 necessary and respectful. I've 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"). Quite a fitting 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 a rather 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 mean mug from the side. 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 the piece is so minimalistic there's nothing to divert your 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 is mighty powerful, after all. Now cursed, its eyes turn white with blindness as it clutches the leftover skeleton of its partner 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 spectacular! One-man-band Markov Soroka was apparently inspired by a trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, which is 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 to join me to share the memory. This piece would make for a superb Coca-Cola commercial as well. 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-looking shark, octopus, and fish could represent the people or situation inflicting the suffocation, with the shining figure finally finding a way to escape, downward, to safer pastures. 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 it's only right 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. The blood red background color is effective as well. (Artist: Pol Abran Cantador)

2016 — A "metal" jellyfish, how cool! 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 about 40% of the biomass in the open 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, show that the free will of the king has been hamstrung by sinister forces. It's perhaps most powerful, though, to think of the "king" that's 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—a la Adrien Brody walking through the ruins of Warsaw in "The Pianist"—and it 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 or creepy-crawlies. It's fun to stumble on them all. Also, the spherical forest looks like a cell that's been attacked by viruses. I guess the message is therefore to protect yourself from attack, and, uh, get vaccinated. Got it. (Artist: Sebastian Jerke)

2016 — A piece that's a feast for the eyes in all directions: from the sinking ship and waning sun to the shining star and colorful sky. Seriously, just look at that sky! It's therefore quite easy to miss the unfortunate soul hanging from the mast, camouflaged by one of the clouds. Was it a suicide? A mutiny? Did enemy mariners sack the ship? Questions abound! (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 — A dark, towering, hovering oval… I feel like I’ve seen that before! Yes, quite the coincidence that the movie "Arrival" was released just a few weeks later. "Yodh" is the tenth letter in Hebrew and represents the divine spark of creation in Jewish tradition, so maybe, in this case, it's a re-appearance of the Creator, stunned by the desolation they see. What happened to their chef-d'œuvre? In even greater shock is the assistant, who's speechless and completely pale. (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. My friend lives in a SoCal neighborhood with wild peacocks, and I can attest that this portrays their true nature... But hey, it looks good, and is probably related to a femme fatale or something, even though the colorful peacocks are male. (Artist: Travis Smith)

2016 — Imagine if you had the power of the pen, and had something to say that would 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 might be slippin’ judging by that unruly glob. (Artist: Ryohei Hase)

2016 — A large swan with a pink ribbon and a wreath of flowers would seem to be a 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 anxiety and uplift the 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 their 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. It could also just be beauty in general, and it's gorgeous, no doubt. (Artist: Jeffrey Smith)

2016 — An interesting meditation on reincarnation and the circle of life using the 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). (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 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 the 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 — Quite the 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 — Featured here is a version of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Baby Jesus with their faces blurred or scratched out—an act of iconoclasm in the Orthodox religion. This is perfect for the band, who made their live performances like solemn regurgitations of Orthodox mass (before all the legal disputes). I also dig 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 partly visible). Yeah, it's hipster, but it's fresh, and kinda fun to see what phrases go together. (Artist: John Vochatzer)

2015 — It 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! The stained-glass texture has also been applied with such tenderness that it reminds me of pound cake. It's all more than enough to make up for the jarring black box. (Artist: Chris Stevenson-Mangos)

2015 — Yowzers! A more horrifying version of WALL-E. The plastic waste might actually be more disturbing to me than the dead bodies. I have seen beaches in Indonesia with as much plastic as 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 speckled design within the font itself. Most of the shapes are sliced into halves, but the halves are jumbled all around, and half of the green stick is missing entirely. Despite it all, this cover is quite pleasing—a remarkable fact! (Artist: Alyssa and Ben Sharp)

2015 — An ethereal and majestic piece. The same wispy brushstroke depicts schools of fish, flickers of flames, currents of wind, and the ether 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. Perhaps that's part of the innocence on display. (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 protrude out of the square frame, 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 that 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 — 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 creep, and the core memory fades away, interfered with and no longer pure. Gritty art.

2015 — What a striking silhouette. I like to imagine the 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 my parents' house. (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)