Having unveiled their brand new album Holy War, Thy Art Is Murder begin their new controversial chapter. Revealing the highly suggestive artwork it has now transpired that this wasn’t to be the albums original artwork. Instead the band wanted to really go for the shock factor that would have people up in arms the world over.

The original artwork seen above definitely goes for the jugular, after their notorious live presence and the occasional run in with the press, one particular instance seeing front man CJ incite a total riot for their encore at a show in Australia, causing fans to rush the stage for their classic “Reign Of Darkness”. Personally having seen the censored version, I think that the sense of a refined understated approach works better. To me this cover screams a little too try hard, as though the band are aiming to just be as controversial as possible instead of actually putting across a message through the lyrical themes in the music. Censored the album contains a lot more threat, with not knowing the intentions of this hooded face giving it an all too menacing touch, not to worry though as this artwork has been commissioned to be in the records inlay!

Though guitarist Andy Marsh says it best :

“We wanted Holy War to be our most confronting release to date. From the moment the album title was conceived and the lyrics were born we had a distinct vision that the album cover artwork must be equally as confronting, as scary, and as real as what we are about as a band. Unfortunately after circulating our intended album cover around to the distributors and retailers, and after several meetings with the label and those we all work with, we were told we would have to cover the image, or choose a different cover.

Not wanting to alter our desired cover in any way shape or form, we opted to contain it within the album packaging and roll with one of the other images from the layout. Here it is in all its magnificent glory, a child for every religion that has indoctrinated the young and disadvantaged, and sent them off to war and bloody death without cause or reason. This album is for them.”

Thy Art Is Murder’s brand new album Holy War is set for a June 30th release via Nuclear Blast.