EXAGITATUS is a conceptual doom metal project designed to explore the unsettling, atmospheric qualities of the genre. Taking its name from the Latin word meaning hunted, the band identity and album art capture the feeling of being drawn into the deep, eerie perils of a forest that feels both ancient and alive.
The goal was to create a visual language that mirrors the doom metal soundscape—slow, heavy, ominous—while staying rooted in the tradition of hand-drawn artwork with restrained yet impactful color accents.
The Challenge
Doom metal visuals often rely on surreal, hand-rendered scenes with undertones of mythology, dread, and decay. The challenge was to:
- Develop a band identity that felt rooted in the genre but not derivative.
- Balance intricate, hand-drawn qualities with modern compositional clarity.
- Use color strategically: just enough to hint at menace, but not so much that it disrupted the grayscale foundation.
- Create a typography system that felt timeless and ominous, while connecting back to the Latin origin of the name.
Research & Inspiration
The starting point was immersion in the visual history of doom and stoner metal, from iconic 1970s–80s psychedelic-doom album covers to contemporary underground releases. Inspirations included:
- Hand-drawn illustration styles—dense, textured lines and surreal, atmospheric compositions.
- Natural motifs—forests, decaying roots, and mythic landscapes as metaphors for entrapment.
- Typography—blackletter and runic-inspired forms adapted into bold, legible band marks.
- Color palettes—monochrome foundations broken by one or two sinister accent hues (deep red, mossy green, or ghostly blue).
Process
- Concept Development
- Anchored the narrative in the forest-as-hunter metaphor: an environment that ensnares the listener as the music does.
- Sketched early cover compositions with looming trees, shadowed figures, and claustrophobic framing.
- Illustration & Texture
- Created hand-drawn elements to echo the genre’s raw, artisanal feel.
- Layered ink-like textures digitally to enhance depth and menace.
- Typography Design
- Chose EXAGITATUS for its linguistic weight and ominous tone.
- Designed custom letterforms drawing from Latin inscriptions, Gothic blackletter, and doom-era band logos.
- Balanced readability with ritualistic, foreboding energy.
- Color Application
- Applied grayscale foundations, then introduced minimal color accents to direct attention—subtle splashes of red or green to hint at lurking danger.
- Tested saturation levels to ensure colors felt threatening without overpowering the illustration.
The Solution
The final identity for EXAGITATUS reflects doom metal’s core atmosphere—slow, eerie, and immersive.
- Illustration: Hand-drawn compositions of forest entrapment and decay.
- Typography: Custom lettering inspired by Latin origins, feeling both historical and foreboding.
- Palette: Stark grayscale punctuated with a single accent color for menace.
- Applications: Album cover, poster mockups, and social campaign visuals, all unified by the oppressive forest narrative.
Impact
As a conceptual work, EXAGITATUS demonstrates how a visual identity can embody the auditory weight of doom metal. By tying the band’s name, typography, and imagery to the metaphor of the hunted forest, the design achieves a cohesive storytelling system that extends beyond the music.
This project sharpened my skills in:
- Creating illustration-based design systems.
- Using typography as both language and atmosphere.
- Balancing restraint in color to enhance mood and narrative.
Reflection
This project underscored the value of environmental storytelling—the forest isn’t just a backdrop but a character in itself, symbolizing entrapment and menace. It also reinforced the importance of craft in doom metal design: hand-rendered elements and intentional imperfection are essential to authenticity.
If expanded further, I would explore full vinyl packaging, including illustrated gatefold inserts and textured finishes that mimic parchment or decayed wood, extending the tactile weight of doom metal into the physical experience.