The scariest album covers of all time

31 October 2023, 09:00

Halloween is here... so we've rifled through the record collection for a selection of the most freaky and disturbing LP sleeves ever concocted.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast (1982)

   Maiden mascot Eddie reveals the true power behind the dark throne.

   

2. Sum 41 - Does This Look Infected? (2002)

   Eeew. Just what is all THIS about?

   

3. Ozzy Osbourne - Bark At The Moon (1983)

   The Prince Of Darkness himself went the whole hog for this solo outing - complete with meticulous werewolf make-up. Grrr!

   

4. Queen - News Of The World (1977)

   Terror robot destroys the world! Freddie, Brian, John and Roger all perish at his hands! Based on a 1950s science fiction magazine cover, the image managed to frighten Stewie Griffin in Family Guy too.

   

5. Sonic Youth - Bad Moon Rising (1985)

   An early album by the alternative legends. There's even a song called Halloween on it!

   

6. Eels - Beautiful Freak (1996)

   This weird, wide-eyed girl makes us shudder.

   

7. David Bowie - Lodger (1979)

   The Thin White Duke has a bit of a moment on a bathroom floor. Or something more horrible is happening...

   

8. Beck - Mellow Gold (1994)

   This skull-headed robot will destroy us all!

   

9. Korn - Life Is Peachy (1996)

   What's that staring over your shoulder, young man…? Eeek!

   

10. Aphex Twin - Richard D. James (1996)

    This man is quite clearly up to no good.

    

11. Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare (2010)

    This is why we sleep with the night light on.

    

12. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction (1992)

    What's happening here? A condemned man levitating? Or something?

    

13. Massive Attack - Mezzanine (1998)

    A big horrible black beetle gets all in your face on the sleeve of the '98 trip-hop masterpiece. Eeeek! Get it out of the house!

    

14. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (1970)

    Creeping around the black country, this witchy-looking woman inadvertently invents heavy metal.

    

15. The Cure - Pornography (1982)

    The idea behind this classic Cure sleeve was to show the trio dressed up as if they were Marilyn Monroe after she died... with backcombed hair.