Why Album Art Still Matters in the Streaming Era

At the height of the early-2000s “nu-metal” phase (think jagged type, grunge textures, and gothic logos, you remember), Deftones’ album White Pony stood out by doing the opposite. Sleek silver cover. Simple horse silhouette. That’s it. It was a quiet but powerful statement, designed by Frank Maddocks, who back then was a young designer at Warner Records. That minimalist risky move not only redefined the band’s visual identity but also kicked off a collaboration between Maddocks and Deftones that’s still going strong today. Since then, Maddocks has shaped album art for everyone from Linkin Park to Madonna, proving that album covers are so much more than just packaging. Whether blown up on stage backdrops, merch, or tiny Spotify thumbnails, his work shows that great music still needs great imagery.