KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's 'Heartache' Is One Of 'Ten Greatest Covers in Roadrunner History'

Since 1910 musicians have associated visual arts with their sonic output in the form of the almighty album cover. And since 1987, Roadrunner Records has been a source of some visually stunning and visually disturbing images in the wide world of album art, nevertheless honoring the tradition. Whether using an image to set the tone for what's to follow on your speakers, or as a means of branding in forever associating a picture with a title, there is no question as to the power of the album cover — which is why the label took a look at every album released on Roadrunner Records U.S. to find the greatest covers in its celebrated history.

Voted on by the Roadrunner worldwide staff, showcasing the iconic vs. the blasphemous, the painted vs. the photographed, as well as the found art vs. the commissioned art, we give you the "Ten Greatest Album Covers in Roadrunner History" — one at a time.

Feast your eyes on #6 below, and check back at RoadrunnerRecords.com every day as the label counts down to number one.

#10: KING DIAMOND - "Abigail"
#9: MACHINE HEAD - "The Blackening"
#8: TYPE O NEGATIVE - "Slow, Deep And Hard"
#7: SEPULTURA - "Chaos A.D."

#6: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - "The End Of Heartache"

Released in 2004 to critical acclaim, this third full-length album from Massachusetts metalcore trailblazers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE showcased the band's new singer Howard Jones for the first time, taking the band to another level. With all the rapid, melodic riffage, vicious screaming alongside hearty crooning and double-bass mastery one could want, it's no surprise this album won the title of the Roadrunner staff's album of the decade just earlier this year. And right there with its sonic splendor, "The End of Heartache"'s imagery — as done by bassist and graphic designer Mike D'Antonio for all KILLSWITCH albums — is just as noteworthy.

Says Mike D. , "It's exciting to be recognized for 'The End Of Heartache' album cover design. It still remains one of my favorites to this day. Surprisingly, the heart with nails image was something that was stuck in my head for many years. And I am glad it translated well into print."

As for how he made it exactly, Mike goes on, "It all started with a trip to my local craft store. I bought a styrofoam heart, red and black gouache paint, a box of assorted nails and a few strings of fake flowers. In total, it cost me about $12.

"I painted the heart thick with black gouache and pushed nails into the styrofoam by hand. Next I set up a bunch of flood lights in my 4x4 bathroom and dunked my wife's hands in red gouache (for that thick 'blood' look). I probably took 2 gigs of digital photos for the right angle and look for the cover... The rest is history."

Roadrunner Records Senior VP of A&R Monte Conner on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's "The End Of Heartache":