Rock sound

Rock sound: 30 seconds to
Mars, issue num 109 released May 2008


The next magazine I have annualized is “Rock Sound.” A monthly magazine priced at £3.60. The free give away in this magazine is a free CD in nearly every issue and sometimes posters and stickers. The CD offers tracks of new CD’s soon to released and new bands.

RockSound uses the slogan “New music first”, this is even underlined to make it seem like a statement and they consider it factual.
Unlike Kerrang! Their font styling is basic; to me they look like they are trying to mimic Kerrang! with the broken scattered font. Only Rock sound only do it a little at the edges and not in the whole section of writing.

In the monthly issue that i bought features the American band 30 seconds to Mars. The band are made up of
-Jared Leto: Lead vocalist, and now guitarists. Jared is an actor, directs some of the bands music videos. Jared and the band have recently been in the news due to Virgin records suing them because of a broken contract.
-Shannon Leto: The drummer and Jared’s brother who has been making music with Jared from a young age.
-Tomo Melvic: Lead guitarist, Tomo is a recent addition to the band.

I found it odd that some of the font was hand written such as “the long road out of hell...The untold story”. I had another discussion with my mum on why this could be. We said it was written in the form of hand writing to make the reader feel as id it’s their own personal story all the way.
I also think that the reason the writing is highlighted in florescent yellow because it’s to make it stand out and doesn't merge into the background.
What can make this seem really effective is the section told as “The untold story” where this has a black border behind it. This could be used to draw you in and seem like it’s an exclusive and quite sub focal.
Other subheadings that have yellow backgrounds, these include “WIN!” written in skeptical text, another way to put the readers focus on the reason to invest in buying.
Then you have “150+ Release reviewed-including...” They say 150 to boast they have lots more to interest you, to me the circular shape is used makes it look like a sticker, as if it’s recently been put there and looks very stylish.

The 30 seconds to Mars logo is laced at a medium height, your eyes neither have to look up nor then down to know what bands are featured.

As Usual Jared is put as front man and is doing an odd pose, in this case as if he's preying which goes very well with the headline toiling with hell.
i think the clothes director has picked out Jared a blue anorak coat to make him stand out the most, and I find it really reflective the way the collar is sticking up and his cheek bones are sucked in.
While Tomo and Shannon however are dressed in black and really merge into the background. Tomo (Left of Jared) hairstyle has dramatically changed, and so has Shannon’s appearance. I have only put that point in because it seems un natural that Shannon hasn't shaved and Tomo hasn't straightened his hair, again this is most likely representing the title given, showing their exhaustion of getting out of hell.

The magazine cover looks slightly messy and un-organised, this is because of the small image of Matt Tuck (Lead vocalist of Bullet for my Valentine) “Bullet for my valentine-party hard in the USA.” To me the image seems pointless and has no relation to a big party atmosphere the title is giving out.
Giving some of the sub headings a ripped effect seems to be based around a stereotypical punk style. Where as Bullet for my Valentine are a heavy metal band so to me it doesn't combine very well and the white background and makes it seems a little aluminous.

I like the strap lines across the banner giving a description of why they are featured, also the way all the colours combine as one.
-”The offspring + Finch”: Its clever how both are combined into one topic “The punk rock heroes return”.
- “Paramore On the record”: This can assume a new debt album will soon be released, another small tease into making people buy the magazine.
-Nine Inch Nails-Reznor reveals all: Its almost as if there's something that has never been told, and all that's stopping you from finding out what the story is about is you buying the magazine.

The weirdest title is “Math Metal the ultimate guide,” you wonder how such a subject can arise. Deep light blues are used to blend and contrast the yellow, its to calm the yellow down. The yellow writing “Win” is my main focoual point then once the colour toned down I noticed the price.

Another subheading is again to show what bands are feature in the monthly issue. “Genghis Tron, Parkway Drive, Filter, Goldfinger, Cult of Luna, Trice”. These are written in white and bold. Its he way they are oddly highlighted and again uses the same text as the main title.
The other bands mentioned include “Cancer bats, Panic at the Disco, The Audition, Brigade, Tetament.” Thee bands however are fronted in small font size and I have also noticed that the bands in blue are more famous than the ones written in white. Could this be a way to promote the unpopular bands.