My Favorite Album Covers: Patryk Zwoliński (Blindead 23)
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Frontman of the Polish juggernaut shares his artistic preferences ahead of the band's forthcoming debut on Peaceville Records.
Blindead 23, who you knew at one point as Blindead, are set to release their debut album, Deuterium on April 24, 2026 via the always consistent Peaceville Records, breathing new life into this revitalized powerhouse led by ex-Behemoth guitarist Mateusz "Havoc" Smierzchalski. Joining Havoc is Roger Öjersson (ex-Katatonia), Pawel "Pavulon" Jaroszewicz (Vltimas, ex-Vader, ex-Decapitated), and today's featured guest, vocalist Patryk Zwoliński.
Zwoliński is at the forefront of a slow-burning, visceral endeavor that took shape over the course of the last few years following the recording in 2023. It's a departure of sorts from the otherwise explosive discography of each member's previous bands, but one that dives deep into a more progressive-leaning, comprehensive songcraft. Towering from the start, Deuterium is an inviting experience that encourages a patient engagement, one that unfolds with each passing listen. Said engagement occurs from the moving cover artwork it sports, courtesy of Journal of Emptiness. That said, Blindead 23 understand the significance of visual representation in metal, the hold it can have on a viewer or listener, and have found meaning in an artwork created for a different purpose.
Patryk Zwoliński now shares a brief list of covers that have impacted him from his early years in metal to the contemporary era:
Napalm Death — "Scum" (1987)
"Awesome art cover done by Jeff Walker from Carcass. It defines grindcore. Huge influence on grindcore band covers."
Slayer — "South of Heaven" (1988)
"Classic. My first Slayer album and my favourite one. This art works perfectly with the album's title. Needs a longer study to find every little detail."
Queensryche — "Operation Mindcrime" (1988)
"Just a perfect cover for a perfect album. It looks like a movie poster. Simple but powerful."
Entombed — "Left Hand Path" (1990)
"One of the great covers by Dan Seagrave. His works will always remind me of death metal and the 90’s."
Ghost — "Prequelle" (2018)
"Best work of Zbigniew Bielak in my opinion. I love this cover. Pure evil and metal."
Deuterium arrives on April 24, 2026 via Peaceville Records (Listen).
