My entire life has been spent sifting through the bins at record stores. Browsing the cover art, reading liner notes, staring at the photography and even trying to customize my middle school notebooks with the logos of some of the greatest albums ever released. Add to that the thrill of discovering some of the most obscure things along the way.
This year was a terrific cycle for musical creativity. Album after album, the influx of quality continued to please my ears month in and month out. Along with the massive amount of music available to enjoy, we also have a healthy amount of bloggers and year end listers to help us discover or rediscover the brilliant works represented at the height of quality.
With all of the tasty treats being served up, the year also brought a bitter taste to the table. Be it welcome and unwelcome, the discussion has grown louder. In an age where artificial intelligence has taken center stage as the workplace solution to many of the time intensive and monotonous jobs, it has also slowly crept into the world of audio and visual arts.
For my part in the year end list mania it seemed like a good idea to look back at some of the album artwork of the year and artists behind them. In many cases, the visual artwork speaks to us before we ever hit play. It is as much a part of the album as the music it represents.
It would be easy for this list to exceed hundreds of albums, so the self-imposed limitation for myself is to only pick one from each month. That leaves a massive amount on the table for discussion. Don’t be shy about your picks. Let me know what some of your favorite pieces of album art were this year.
Let us begin.
January
WYATT E. - zamāru ultu qereb ziqquratu Part 1 (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Art, drawings & layout by AMMO illustration
https://wyattdoom.bandcamp.com/album/zam-ru-ultu-qereb-ziqquratu-part-1
February
WARLUNG - The Poison Touch (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Artwork by Laura Bennett
https://warlung.bandcamp.com/album/the-poison-touch
March
THIS GIFT IS A CURSE - Heir (Season of Mist)
Cover Art: Jonas A. Holmberg / House of No Light .317
https://thisgiftisacurse.bandcamp.com/album/heir
April
RÝR - Dislodged (Moment of Collapse)
Artwork by Philipp Gentner
https://ryrpostmetal.bandcamp.com/album/dislodged-2
May
Skyjoggers - 12021: Post-Electric Apocalypse (Supernatural Cat)
Artwork: Malleus Rock Art Collective
https://skyjoggers.bandcamp.com/album/12021-post-electric-apocalypse
June
LERA - Rêverie (Subsound Records)
Artwork & Graphic Design by Nicola Olla
https://thebandlera.bandcamp.com/album/r-verie
July
CLAIRVOYANCE - Chasm Of Immurement (Carbonized Records)
Artwork by Paolo Girardi
https://carbonizedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/chasm-of-immurement
August
Dan Rosenboom - Coordinates (Orenda Records)
Artwork and Design by Kio Griffith
https://danrosenboom.bandcamp.com/album/coordinates
September
MAD DOGS - The Future Is Now (Go Down Records)
Design by Bangalore Studios & Luna Sucia Désign Studio
https://maddogsrnr.bandcamp.com/album/the-future-is-now
October
STONEBIRDS - Perpetual Wasteland (Ripple Music)
Artwork by DZO
https://stonebirdsarestone.bandcamp.com/album/perpetual-wasteland
November
V/Haze Miasma - Praise Me! Erase Me! (Inertial Music)
Artwork: Niklas Sundin
https://vhazemiasma.bandcamp.com/album/praise-me-erase-me
December
Morte France - Hesperia (Antiq)
Artwork: Veneden Art
https://antiqofficial.bandcamp.com/album/hesperia
BONUS
There we have it. An impossible task to limit this feature to twelve works. There were SO MANY to choose from. After selecting from a mountain of my favorites, the only way I could proceed was to pick at random from my extensive list. Even with that, it seems impossible to stop myself from discussing a couple more.
Shall we continue?
Those of you who are not in personal contact with me or perhaps are not keeping tabs on the small bit of personal info that is randomly shared, my struggle finds me shuffling between the endless creative cycle of the arts. Audio, visual, written or any other that may ignite that internal spark. The urge to pursue a passion for internal growth and express an energy that has long kept a candle burning to create daily. As of February 2025 that flame ignited a daily drawing passion. No matter how big or how small, I have put ink on paper every day since. The process does incorporate an additional shift between pencil, pen, paint or other forms but a daily ritual developed to start the day with an ink sketch and end the day in the same way. Over the months one thing became clear. Something personal was beginning to take shape while simultaneously calming some ghosts that sat silently within. The creation of art is an emotional journey and can be awkward to share.
Two specific pieces came to mind when this task presented itself. Neither were placed in the random selection because it felt important to share them regardless. Something about these resonated with me in a way that felt extremely satisfying. Seeing something in myself through their works. Inspiration, encouragement for personal growth, admiration of their skill level and thankfulness that they exist for someone like me to celebrate their beauty and light shining in the darkness.
DYSYLUMN - Abstraction (Signal Rex)
Illustration and sigil - Blaeks
https://dysylumn.bandcamp.com/album/abstraction
DESERTFEST BERLIN 2026
Artwork by Kuba Sokolski Illustration
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