Blackletter logotypes and metal music. (1st March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vestergaard, Vitus
• Is Part Of: Metal music studies. Volume 2:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2016-03-01
• Subjects: Heavy metal (music) -- Periodicals; Heavy metal (music) -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; 781.6605
• DOI: 10.1386/mms.2.1.109_1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-3998

Abstract

Text and band logos based on blackletter scripts are a common sight in visual metal music culture such as on album covers. This article develops a framework for analysing the affinity between blackletter script and metal music. The analytical framework includes five themes: genre tradition, religion, history, geography and shape. The first four themes have to do with connotation whereas the fifth theme has to do with experiential metaphor. Though these themes the article demonstrates how meaning is produced when blackletter scripts are used on visual artefacts such as album covers. These insights provide an answer to the question why blackletter scripts have become part of the visual repertoire of metal music and why so many famous metal band logotypes are based on blackletter.