Album covers are extremely important. Great album covers can:

1. Complement the mood of an album
2. Boost casual sales of an album
3. Make a band look totally awesome and creative

These are the metal album covers that get it right:

10. Reinventing the Steel - Pantera



Why: It's just so powerful.

9. In the Nightside Eclipse - Emperor



Why: I love nightscapes. This one has a really dark and epic feel.

8. Master of Puppets - Metallica



Why: The image of the war cemetery with the marionette strings is really moving.

7. Gore Metal - Exhumed



Why: It's campy, disgusting and awesome all at the same time.

6. Horror Show -  Iced Earth



Why: It's just too metal for its own good.

5. Show No Mercy - Slayer



Why: I'm obsessed with the logo.

4. Tomb of the Mutilated - Cannibal Corpse



Why: It's just plain wrong.

3. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Black Sabbath



Why: This was the first really metal album artwork and is still some of the best.

2. Painkiller - Judas Priest



Why: Just look at it.

1. Powerslave - Iron Maiden



Why: Absolutely epic.

DO YOU AGREE WITH MY TOP 10?