Aeternam, ‘Disciples of the Unseen’ — Album Art of the Week

Aeternam have released 'Disciples of the Unseen' on Metal Blade, their first album for the label -- and the debut album for the band. In terms of cover art, the Canadian death metal band definitely started themselves on the right foot by hiring Montrealer Pascal Laquerre, who gave them the striking image of a demon in bright reds and oranges with an Egyptian wedjat eye in flames above his mouth.

"My mission for the cover of this album was actually very clear, yet open," Laquerre told Noisecreep. "Get me one of those bad-ass djinn, in a desert set, and do it crazy so that it sticks to the music. Open canvas with a visually strong beast, I was off with a freakishly good start!"

Considering the band's fixation with Egyptian themes and Middle Eastern modes dancing on their blastbeat-laden songs, using the Eastern version of a demon was apropos. "So since I knew they where into this Egyptian mythos thing, I simply tried to figured out what was the grimmest thing one of those bastards could do to mankind from an Egyptian point of view," Laquerre continued in his explanation. "Why not eat the sky? So there you see it, consuming the sun god (often known as Ra) before your eyes."

Laquerre's situation surrounding the creation of the album art might be of interest to fellow designers. "Unfortunately I don't have any spicy story for you on this one," Laquerre said. "And it was definitely a good thing, since I was [overseas] when I did this one. I was basically stuck with a small laptop screen and a lowest-end Wacom graphic tablet -- in a drunken backpacker's house. Not the best studio."

Aeternam have planned select shows in the coming months to support 'Disciples of the Unseen.'