The layered “Mezmerize” is composed of multiple sheets of semi-transparent painted gels and chrome vinyl separated by two panes of plexiglass. The original artworks - 4 feet by 3 feet by 5 inches deep - possess a heft that is not readily apparent on the album covers.

Reproductions of “Mezmerize” and “Hypnotize” are selling briskly on the Internet, thanks in part to System’s albums, with the same titles, having sold 1.7 million and 1 million copies, respectively.

The attention the elder Malakian has garnered from the album covers has helped revitalize an artistic career that was on hiatus for almost two decades after he emigrated to America. The originals might constitute an odd choice of home decor for Vartan and Zepur Malakian - except that Vartan, 59, is the artist who created them, and the couple’s son, Daron, is System’s guitarist, co-vocalist and principal tunesmith. Titled “Mezmerize” and “Hypnotize,” the works are the source images for the covers of two albums released in 2005 by the hard-rock band System of a Down. Think we've missed out a stone cold classic? Let us know at the bottom of this epic album cover round-up.ON the walls of a quiet Spanish-style house in suburban Glendale hang two paintings that, although largely unknown to art critics, are million-sellers. We want to know which you think is the ultimate album cover, so upvote your favourite designs. Get these up on your wall as well as on your turntable. We've picked 50 of the coolest album designs ever created. Even the best album covers of all time, then, come at a price. Sometimes, even more so: legend has it that the cover of New Order's Blue Monday was so expensive to make that their label lost money on every copy sold. It's a stunning documentary that's packed with intimate footage of the band. If you want to see the band making some of the music for their final album then head over to Disney Plus and watch Get Back, the legendary album sessions that lead to Let It Be and some of Abbey Road. UPDATE: Abbey Road is currently second in our best album covers of all time list. Originally just a protective cover for the fragile crackly goods beneath, it soon evolved into a space for artistic expression in its own right, very often becoming as important as the music itself. The rise of digital music, unfortunately though, threatens one of the greatest canvasses of art seen in the 20th Century - the record sleeve. With the rise of streaming the humble album cover is becoming something of a lost art, which is a crying shame as this list of the best album covers of all time proves that there is some amazing art for the long player.

System of a down album covers