This podcast has a well-earned explicit rating. If you choose to download, listener discretion is advised.

Into The Combine is a well-produced podcast with theme music, segments, interviews, and three hosts who are experts in metal music. However, the show art didn't reflect their quality. I wanted to create artwork that matched the passion and effort they put into their podcast.

Original artwork

In my research, I noticed that almost every metal music podcast had the same color palette: black or even blacker black. The show names were small, with logos that screamed "metal" but were often illegible. I decided to focus on three key elements for my design: a clear logo, a unique skull concept to stay on-brand, and a distinct color palette.

I chose a typeface for the logo and made some adjustments to make it unique while ensuring the hosts could easily reproduce it without external help. After browsing dafont, I settled on "Another America." It had a metal feel but remained legible.

For the skull element, I drew inspiration from the Catacombs of Paris. After a brief search, I decided to use a photo rather than an illustration. Photos not only give a realistic texture, but they also add depth, which illustrations often lack.

Regarding the color palette, I didn't want to use white or black, as those are typical in metal design. While scrolling through podcasts on iTunes, I noticed a lack of yellow, which seemed like a great way to stand out. To balance the yellow, I chose burgundy, which wasn't common in my research either.

With my elements in place, I laid out the design. I made the logo large since I've spent hours squinting at tiny podcast logos. The skull photo blended into the burgundy background, creating a striking visual. The yellow logo on burgundy tied everything together perfectly. I aimed for a look that was subtly loud, and I think I nailed it.

Into The Combine also has a Patreon subscription podcast, and I wanted to create distinct but related artwork for it. The solution was simple: flip the colors! It worked beautifully, allowing for easy differentiation while maintaining a consistent brand.

I sent the new artwork to the hosts, letting them know there was no obligation to use it, as the last thing I wanted was to offend them if they were proud of their current design. Within five minutes, they replied, thrilled with the new covers, and started using them right away. 

Considering this artwork wasn't requested and was a shot in the dark, I'm thrilled with the reception it received from both the hosts and their listeners. I love seeing their updated social media avatars featuring the art I created. If you're a fan of extreme music, I highly recommend checking out Into The Combine. It's an outstanding podcast.