Content analysis- Kerrang Cover

One thing common with all kerrang magazines is that the cover is majority black with white or red writing. The models on the cover of this magazine seem to blend in with its background as they are both wearing black clothing. You can tell that the two models on the cover link to the main section of the magazine which, in this issue, is '100 killer riffs'.
The positioning of the two models is or the far left and right of the magazine, off centre. However, they still keep to typical page split where all magazines split the front cover into three sections, left..centre and right. By doing so it allows them to produce something different with the cover, this makes it more eye catching as it isnt what you usually expect to see on the cover of a music magazine.

There are few inset pictures on this cover, one at most. This helps focuse attention on the main part of the magazine. Instead of inset photos, they have sticker type logos on the front. By doing so, it makes the magazine blend in together, they can advertise certain things within the magazine in these logo type objects on the front as this will sublimanally enter the readers minds without them knowing because they dont stand out massively.

The models on the front cover give an impression like they own the cover, it is theres and no one elses, it cannot be taken from them, they are kings in their mind. They are both dressed in black giving a very stern look, as if not to 'mess' with them. The model on the right hand side of the page looks like what a typical 'biker' is portrayed as, with his body slightly turned to the right but looking dead straight at the camera, he has a very serious look on his face, which is typical with 'biker' or members of certain rock bands. He is dressed in the typical fashion too, all in black, leather jacket with a black t-shirt underneath as well as black trousers.

In contrast to the model on the left of the page, he is wearing just a t-shirt and trousers. He is holding an electric guitar like he is playing is however with the smile on his face it seems like it means more to him than just an instrument, its like another child, they could be portraying that music used to mean everything to the older artists, it was more than just playing like it is said to be now, it was a case of really putting everything into it, heart and sole. He is wearing a top hat, these are usually stereotypically associated with classy men, weddings and formal events however by the model wearing one, it subverts that stereotype. He is also wearing several bracelets and chains which are commonly associated with rock stars, many are objects with skulls and crossbones which are again stereotypically associated with rock stars.

The masthead is very cleverly designed, it is the same design on each cover, old and new. The white writing on a common black background helps it stand out in comparison to other common mastheads on different magazines. Something noticable with the Kerrang masthead is that it looks like a pain of glass that has been smashed, with cracks in it. It could also look like a set of lasers being shot across the letters, all originating from the same place.
The models are placed infront of the masthead indicating they are very important. This is a big deal as it shows to the reader that the models are more important than the magazine itself.