Kerrang! Front Cover Analysis

What type of magazine is it?

Kerrang! is a hard rock and metal music magazine.

From the front cover what kinds of issues/articles are going to be inside?

The front cover shows Ville Valo on the front cover with the cover line saying “The Amazing Resurrection Of Ville Valo” so the magazine will feature something about him inside. It also lists more bands down the side, this shows there may be interviews or reviews or something about them inside the magazine as well.

Who is the target audience for the magazine? What particular age group? What are their interests? How do you know all of this?

The target audience for this magazine would primarily be teenagers (mainly those 16+) and also those in their 20’s. Some of its audience would be around their 30’s (the same age as the people featured in the magazine). You can tell that the target audience is mainly teenagers because the bands featured in this magazine have got mainly teenage fans, and also the title itself appeals to teenagers and people in their late 20’s (the design of it is edgy which appeals to them). From the front cover we can only see that their interests are mainstream rock groups. The front cover has a header listing some mainstream bands; the main image on the front cover is of the lead singer of a mainstream rock group, and on the side they list other mainstream rock groups that are going to be in the magazine and also are advertising that they have posters of yet more mainstream rock groups. If we wanted to find out any more of their interests we would have to look inside the magazine at the table of contents.

What mode of address is the mag using? What does this tell you about the type of relationship it wants with its reader?

The magazine’s mode of address appears to be exclusive to people who either read the magazine or listen to the bands mentioned on the front cover. This tells us that the magazine caters to its audience, and only the audience they regularly get. They aren’t trying to increase their audience by including more articles about wider things; they are just giving their audience what they want.

Who is on the front cover and why?

Ville Valo is on the front cover; from the main cover line “The Amazing Resurrection Of Ville Valo” we can assume that he is making a comeback of some sort. He is the lead singer of the band HIM which is a mainstream rock band who Kerrang!’s readers would like. Their target audience would be interested to read an interview about him and about his comeback.

What does the main cover line say? What does this imply about the artist/band?? What overall message is the artist/band giving?

“The Amazing Resurrection Of Ville Valo”. This implies that the band “HIM” are coming back, seeing as he is the lead singer of the band. The word “resurrection” suggests that they are making a comeback but also the idea that they died first or something like that.

Are there any ‘buzz’ words? What effect does it have on the reader?

“Resurrection” is the only buzz word on the front cover; it has more than one meaning when used here. As mentioned before it implies a comeback but also resurrection (as mentioned before) suggests that the band have died before.

Is there a strapline/selling line/slogan? What does it tell you about the magazine? How does it help to attract readers?

“Life Is Loud” is the strapline for the magazine. This tells you that the magazine definitely does music, the word loud could also imply that they do a LOT of music, thus why it is loud. It also suits the genre of music that is inside kerrang!

What colours are used? Do you find them attractive?

Black and white are the main colours used, I personally do not find them attractive but does are colours their readers like and enjoy