Thy Art Is Murder to release 'Holy War' with new artwork

Thy Art Is Murder's "edgy" cover for their new album, 'Holy War', has been rolled back for a new 'censored cover' for retail releases.

The third album from the Sydney outfit is due out for a release on June 26th, through Unified, with whom the band have just signed. The original artwork can be found below, and was taken by Thomas Savage (AKA Savage Photo/Film), including the new cover.

The controversy surrounding it (for lack of a better word) even got national mainstream media taking notice, with the Sydney Morning Herald covering it earlier. The new artwork for the record is below, which is still similar, just minus all of the blood and explosive devices.

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The band recently took to social media to talk about the meaning of the album to fans, which can be found below.

"We wanted Holy War to be our most confronting release to date, and from the moment the album title was conceived and the lyrics were born we had a distinct vision that the album cover artwork must be equally as confronting, as scary, and as real as what we are about as a band. Unfortunately after circulating our intended album cover around the distributors and retailers, and several meetings with the label, we were told we would have to cover the image, or choose a different cover. Not wanting to alter our desired cover in any way shape or form, we opted to contain it within the albums packaging and roll with one of the other images from the layout.

Here is our original cover in all its magnificent glory, a child for every religion who has indoctrinated the young and disadvantaged, and sent them off to war and bloody death without cause or reason. This album is for them."

The 12-inch picture disc vinyl, which comes with the original artwork, and is available exclusively through 24 Hundred.

Below is the track listing for the 'Holy War':

1. Absolute Genocide

2. Light Bearer

3. Holy War

4. Coffin Dragger

5. Fur And Claw

6. Deliver Us To Evil

7. Emptiness

8. Violent Reckoning

9. Child Of Sorrow

10. Naked And Cold