Behind The Artworks: SVARTFJELL - I, The Destroyer (2024)

The cover image of I, the Destroyer is undeniably striking. A dark figure holds a sceptre aloft as red clouds gather ahead, lava erupts from the distant mountains and cracks in the earth, and a mist descends upon the trees below, engulfing everything as cataclysm sweeps across the land leaving it as barren as the far horizon.

The cover image was designed and painted by the incredible artist Luciana Nedelea, who has an almost endless portfolio of amazing artwork. The main idea for the cover art was extremely distinct in my mind, putting an image to the lyrics of the title track I, the Destroyer, and I tried my best to put this image into words for Luciana when providing her the brief. Not only did Luciana fulfil this brief, she added so much more depth and expression to all the artwork she provided, I cannot describe the feeling when I saw it. The dark, horned figure is the eponymous Destroyer, cast in shadow as he stands and surveys the scene before him. The sceptre he holds aloft is conjuring a spell that brings about the end of the world through cataclysm; Cracks tear apart the ground, fire and magma billow from fissures in the earth and mountainsides, and storm clouds billow in the sky cast in crimson. It is through this destruction that the Earth can be purged of humankind and all its failings, and be given the chance to regenerate. The tracks I, the Destroyer and Black Mountain are filled with detail, and I can clearly see the influence these songs have had on Lucianas design.

As well as the cover image, Luciana provided the back cover artwork too, which shows cascading woodland enveloped in mist, as we see people throwing themselves from the mountainside to the rocks below. I adore this image, which is inspired by a lyric in Black Mountain; “Blinding, is the light that shines upon me, piercing the shroud of darkness, as one by one they throw themselves to the rocks below”. This lyric, and by extension artwork, is a metaphor for all those who self-sabotage, follow the herd, or are unfit to reach the summit of their own personal mountain. The journey to the summit is hard, rife with obstacles and treacherous falls, and the image of many choosing to instead plunge to their own death rather than face this climb is extremely strong to me, I am very proud to have Lucianas depiction of this lyric on the album.