Originally when I planned to feature notable artists from the metal scene on this site, I had a short list of prominent names (Dave McKean, Dan Seagrave, Travis Smith, Wes Benscoter, etc.) and I was actually worried that I’d run out pretty quickly. Instead, I’ve been discovering new artists faster than I’ve been able to post about them, and have been generally amazed at how many talented artists and designers are out there contributing to the scene.

The subject of this post is Belgian artist Christophe Szpajdel, an artist whose name may not be as recognizable as the artists mentioned above, but whose body of work is at least as pervasive in metal as any of them. Szpajdel has designed over 7,000 band logos, including the iconic logos of Emperor, Enthroned, Nargaroth, Tsjuder, Horna, Moonspell and Nachtmystium. A forestry engineer by trade, Szpajdel draws inspiration from landscapes, forests and other aspects of nature. He also is influenced by different styles of architecture he encounters while travelling, and he has lately begun exploring different directions such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau.

Various interviews with Szpajdel over the years have revealed him to be a fascinating and complex person whose passion for underground metal is matched only by his enthusiasm for his profession. He speaks eight languages, has traveled the world performing research, and possesses almost encyclopedic knowledge about regional metal scenes and bands.

It’s interesting that Szpajdel has admitted that he has, at least in the past, preferred not to receive direct monetary compensation for his logos. Instead, he requests several copies of the bands’ CDs so that he can both make some money and promote the band. His commitment to the scene is also evident in his method of choosing which bands to design logos for - he compiles information about the band and makes a decision based on the level of dedication the band displays to their music.

You can read more about Christophe Szpajdel in this excellent 2002 interview by Maelstrom Magazine, as well as this interview in Vice Magazine. You can also find Szpajdel on MySpace and Flickr.