Double Page Spread Analysis

Kerrang! Double Page Feature

The image spans both pages, with the text superimposed on in a mixture of ‘typewriter’ style fonts and a ‘drippy’ font. That adheres to the rock genre or being mismatched and unique, and also makes you think of a wall of posters/adverts with a mixture of different texts, advertising different upcoming gigs and events.

The mean and moody stances and looks of the all male band members, as well as the mish mash of clothes, yet again works with the rock-esk and dark colour scheme flow throughout the magazine thus far.

The main body of text, which pulls focus with the large T, is squished in the bottom right corner. However, wouldn’t that make it difficult to read? Seems odd to have all that space, and yet choose to push the text and therefore the focus of the article away.

‘In the company of darkness’ Dir En Grey is a heavy metal/rock band, and the metal/rock genre has often been associated in the past, and still now to some degree, as being a dark form of music, even demonic. This statement brings negative connotations with it, but also makes the reader feel that the band is something to be feared and respected in equal measure, daring them almost to read on.

Mix Mag Double Page Spread

Very bright colours! That all work nicely together to make it appear professional and neat. The only criticism I can see, is that the amount of pink used makes the spread seem quite feminine, three of the images are also female dominated, which further reinforces the feminine side put across by the colouring.

Unsuccessful parts I think would be the sheer amount of text, it seems like a lot to wade through, and it’s something I’m going to avoid in my magazine.

There’s northing really lost in the centre page fold, which is great, because I find it annoying when there’s text or a picture obscured by a big fold through it, again, something I’m going to avoid or at least try to avoid. I’ll do that by placing things so there can’t be any obstruction around the centre fold, this will hamper my layout choices a little, but I believe it’s worth it to get a professional looking result.

The images don’t really link wit the headers, they all look too clean to have been dancing all night, though I like the cheeky two finger sign on the top left hand page, gives the spread a funky, tongue in cheek vibe which is always great in a magazine, music or otherwise.

Q Magazine Double Page Feature

Boom! ‘YOU MUST HEAR!’ It’s a command in bold red letters, in a slightly old fashioned font. That gives off a vibe of ancient rules and commandments; they know what’s best for you like a parent does their child.

The casual stances of the band pictured, shows they’re easy going, and their instruments hit at them being an acoustic band, who are quite down to earth by the looks of their clothing.

The main text body is superimposed onto the main image which takes up both pages, the sticker interrupting the non covered picture, increasing the importance of whatever it says (too blurry for me to read :S).

I’d say it was a mixed gender spread, the all male band could go either way, and the simple black, red, and pine texture colour scheme isn’t gender specific. I’m inspired to make my colour scheme simple, however, I think this looks a teensy bit boring, even if it does conform to the magazine colour scheme.

One thing I find odd, is that its US bands only that are going to be featured, why not worldwide? But I guess it was to save space in the magazine, as to focus on one country would save a lot of research and time.

Alternative Press Double Page Feature.

I love the corkboard/brown paper background with the names of various band scrawled onto it like graffiti in the back of a notebook or on a wall.

It really links in with the punk subculture, as punk’s often modify clothing or an existing object, and are often associated with graffiti and being abit messy (scattered photographs).

It would also be likened to a yearbook, with photographs stuck about and big bold writing like someone’s signed it, the ‘Class of 2001’ being a big hint.

The colour scheme is relatively simple, and although I can’t comment on the house style, other then the red used is the same at the front cover logo I analysed, I feel it does fit in well with the alternative/indie scene.

Gender-wise, I think it may be a more masculine spread, as people don’t often associate the punk genre with women anyway, and all the images you can see have men in them.

Uncut Double Page Feature

All black and white! Ahhh! Hurts the eyes slightly! The black and white keys in with the ‘flashback’ article, but makes it all seem very dull. I like the low amount of text, but what text there is swamped by the Images.

Something odd I noticed, there’s no page numbers that I can see, which is odd, and makes the spread appear unprofessional slightly, although not all double pages in magazines have numbers on them.

All the images containing an instrument/s of some kind/s, really puts across the idea that these people know what their doing, and are professional musicians.

Definitely mixed gender, I can’t comment on the colour scheme as there’s only the greyscale and black, with a stark white background. I have a horrible feeling as well that this is some A level Media Students work rather then a proper magazine, and they’ve just used the same name.