Year: 2018-2019
Client: Shinko Music Entertainment
Country: Japan
Mediums: Book
Official release date: July 2019
Concept & Request: German metal theme, stereotypical art-style of heavy metal (similar to the cover of the album Shogunate Macabre I did), woman character
Client: Shinko Music Entertainment
Country: Japan
Mediums: Book
Official release date: July 2019
Concept & Request: German metal theme, stereotypical art-style of heavy metal (similar to the cover of the album Shogunate Macabre I did), woman character
Illustration of a character for a cover of a book about German metal (English title: The Glory Of German Hard Rock & Heavy Metal // Japanese title: 詳説 ジャーマン・メタル) written by Yuji Okumura, published in Japan in July, 2019.
This was a challenge how many elements inspired by German metal bands I can incorporate into one character clearly (but not too much clear). I also accepted requests from the writer, the client, and persons involved in the world's biggest heavy metal festival Wacken Open Air. And then I made a woman character having elements of WOA and 22 bands (+ some unclear elements).
FINISHED ILLUSTRATION
Colored character + optional background
Black and white version
Background variations
PROCESS
FINISHED BOOK
This book also has descriptions about the elements of the character in the inner cover.
Wacken Open Air founder Thomas Jensen with the book. Photo by the writer
Q. for metalheads! How many elements inspired by German metal bands did you find in this character?
(Click the image to see the answers about the elements)
A. The list of the elements (select the space below to see):
01 RAMMSTEIN --- flame projector inspired by the one for the song Feuer Frei
02 POWERWOLF --- wolf fur cape inspired by the band's character
03 FAIR WARNING --- sign inspired by the album Fair Warning cover art
04 RUNNING WILD --- pig emblem inspired by the band's character
05 PRIMAL FEAR --- eagle head inspired by the band's character
06 LEAVES' EYES --- Jomsborg-style shield inspired by the band's albums
07 LUCIFER'S FRIEND --- inspired by the album Lucifer's Friend cover art
08 EQUILIBRIUM --- old paper inspired by the album Sagas cover art
09 HELLOWEEN --- pumpkin bag inspired by the album Sweet Seductions cover art
10 BLIND GUARDIAN --- hoodie, shirt, and hairstyle inspired by the single The Bard's Song cover art, and fur leg warmers inspired by the single Mirror Mirror cover art
11 RAGE --- steel trap inspired by the band's character
12 SCORPIONS --- forks and bandages inspired by the album Blackout cover art
13 KREATOR --- flag inspired by the album Flag Of Hate cover art
14 IN EXTREMO --- bagpipe inspired by the one that the member has
15 DIE KRUPPS --- earring inspired by the band logo
16 SODOM ---gasmask inspired by the box set 30 Years Sodomized: 1982–2012 cover art
17 GAMMA RAY --- skull mug inspired by the LP To The Metal cover art
18 ACCEPT --- mechanical heart inspired by the album Metal Heart cover art
19 KNORKATOR --- tattoo print inspired by the tattoo that the front man has
20 GRAVE DIGGER --- buckle and belt inspired by the album Excalibur cover art
21 DESTRUCTION --- bullet belts as their trademark
22 DORO --- lace-up pants as her trademark
02 POWERWOLF --- wolf fur cape inspired by the band's character
03 FAIR WARNING --- sign inspired by the album Fair Warning cover art
04 RUNNING WILD --- pig emblem inspired by the band's character
05 PRIMAL FEAR --- eagle head inspired by the band's character
06 LEAVES' EYES --- Jomsborg-style shield inspired by the band's albums
07 LUCIFER'S FRIEND --- inspired by the album Lucifer's Friend cover art
08 EQUILIBRIUM --- old paper inspired by the album Sagas cover art
09 HELLOWEEN --- pumpkin bag inspired by the album Sweet Seductions cover art
10 BLIND GUARDIAN --- hoodie, shirt, and hairstyle inspired by the single The Bard's Song cover art, and fur leg warmers inspired by the single Mirror Mirror cover art
11 RAGE --- steel trap inspired by the band's character
12 SCORPIONS --- forks and bandages inspired by the album Blackout cover art
13 KREATOR --- flag inspired by the album Flag Of Hate cover art
14 IN EXTREMO --- bagpipe inspired by the one that the member has
15 DIE KRUPPS --- earring inspired by the band logo
16 SODOM ---gasmask inspired by the box set 30 Years Sodomized: 1982–2012 cover art
17 GAMMA RAY --- skull mug inspired by the LP To The Metal cover art
18 ACCEPT --- mechanical heart inspired by the album Metal Heart cover art
19 KNORKATOR --- tattoo print inspired by the tattoo that the front man has
20 GRAVE DIGGER --- buckle and belt inspired by the album Excalibur cover art
21 DESTRUCTION --- bullet belts as their trademark
22 DORO --- lace-up pants as her trademark
Thank you!
