Artwork is extremely important to an album, in my opinion. It doesn’t always signal the quality of the album, but I think, in general, it does signal the care and inspiration behind the music. Last year, there were some extraordinary album covers, and these are my favorites.

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10. Telosia – Elsewhere

Artist unknown

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9. Bosco Sacro – Gem

Artwork by Carlo Veneziano

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8. The Emerald Dawn – In Time

Artwork by Tree Stewart

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7. Pendragon – North Star

Artwork by Liz Saddington

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6. Haken – Fauna

Artwork by Dan Goldsworthy

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5. Deposed King – One Man’s Grief

Artist unknown

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4. Lord of Shadows – Echoes of Yore

This one is a bit of a cheat on my part, since it is the artwork for a single, not an album.

Artwork by Heike Langhans

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3. ISON – Stars and Embers

Artwork by Carolynn_h

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2. Kamelot – The Awakening

Artwork by Giannis Nakos

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**1. Silent Skies – Dormant**

Artwork by Mattias Norén of ProgArt Media

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