VISUAL KEI DIGIPAKS&ALBUM COVERS

Conventions of a Digipak Digipaks depending on the genre of music consist of similar codes and conventions that have certain structure designs and orders, especially with the way an image is presented to make sure the Album is professional and appealing.

Conventions often include a main dominant image (Splash image) on the surface of the cover either showing the artist, or an image relating to the content of the Album or the style of music the album is offering.

On the reverse side of the Album/Digipak, a track list is often shown to inform the audience what content remains inside and are features.

The Artist’s name is usually less significant as the title of the Album as consumers recognise the Album’s title more than they do the artist, but the artists name appears on the surface displaying who it is by and the importance it withholds.

Various images of the artist or band is often used, however in Visual Kei conceptual art is often used to express their movement and style, although this is not apparent in all Visual Kei album covers because some rely on the musicians/band/artist for an iconic effect.

Requirements are: Barcode, Labels of Record companies, Copyright information and Parental Guidance (However this optional depending on the country and classification board.)

The use of a Distinctive design yet with anAmbient feeling is conventional of Visual Kei album covers. The use of three dominant colours suggest this as it is engaging yet simple. This “splash” image, the destruction of Roses gives away what genre of music it is. A metal genre, due to the destructive idea it has given us and that idea is usually related to that form of music.

The lack of a Dominant image of a musician shows the significance of each individual of the band. They are all equal so they do not appear on the album cover, only through the band name are they shared on this cover. This can suggest mystery and alienation as we cannot see the band, although this is down to individual interpretation (As the image emphasized) which the band have clearly thought about.

The destruction of the roses fits the album’s title “Crush” showing the visual link between the text and the image, showing this relationship to brand the identity of the album itself. The crushing of “Love”.

The grotesque imagery is the main dominant image on the album cover “The splash image” in which this draws the audience and target audiences attention by using an extreme form of art that is morbid as it is eye catching. This will appeal to gore, artistic and hardcore Dir En Grey fans as they understand the hardcore artistic visual style that are implementing within their band.

The title of the album “Average Blasphemy” consists of subliminal messages that are not directly visible and may have a more obvious meaning with the music in the album. There is conceptuality relating between the album cover itself and the text. It should also be noted that the bands name is bolded in black for a more obvious effect in versus to if it wasn’t, this creates importance for the band and suggests this to us through the sizing and bolding of text.

The blank background increases the importance and shock value of the mashed up and grotesque artistry that is centred in the middle for that sole purpose. This is to increase awareness on such nuances, and following the conventions and motifs that many Visual Kei bands use to make their digipaks appealing.