Eliran Kantor is one of the best known artists, responsible for the design of some great album covers including the amazing self-titled Helloween album. We got in touch with him to find out a bit more about his influences, collaborations, future plans and of course Helloween. The contribution of the official Helloween Greek fan club, Savage Pumpkins, was invaluable.
Interview: Sakis Nikas
Rockpages.gr: Were you given any specific directions on the cover from the band or did you come up with the concept on your own?
Eliran Kantor: At first I talked over the phone with their manager, and we discussed what he liked about my other work and he asked me in which direction do I envision we can take a potential Helloween album. I said in advance that a classic yet serious fantasy art approach will be the right way to go, but keeping in mind that it shouldn’t just look familiar and “old school”, but also feel fresh, be interesting, original and exciting. I said the art should reflect that Helloween are not just another reunion, instead it’s like a re-birth filled with new ideas and exciting music.
The main idea came from the band, but it was a short request which allowed me a lot of creative freedom: they wanted the Keeper as an angel descending onto earth, and the working title was ‘Skyfall’. That’s all. So I went on and came up with the compositing and poses, the idea of bringing back the keys, the crystal ball, the trumpeter, the demon/devil, and dr. Stein even makes an appearance on the right side panel of the 3-part trifold.
The clock was Sascha’s suggestion later on, so were the rings which were Andi’s, and the spaceship came from Kai – since I knew there’s gonna be a ‘Skyfall’ single, I asked them to send me the lyrics for it so part of the triple gatefold can be used for that as well.
Rockpages.gr: Were there any other ideas of yours that were rejected or altered?
Eliran Kantor: The only thing we changed from the sketch was the spaceship on the back cover / the ‘Skyfall’ single. In my first sketch it wasn’t shaped like a guitar, but then Helloween showed me the rough still from the upcoming music video, so then we changed it and used that flying V design.
Rockpages.gr: What was the band’s impression when they saw the final result? Was there anyone that wasn’t too excited about it?
Eliran Kantor: It was probably among the most extremely supportive feedback I’ve ever gotten on a sketch, because the management called me on the phone to express that in the final version I SHOULDN’T change too much from the sketch. That rarely happens if ever. I got what they meant though, they liked the rough energy of the painting style, and wanted to make sure it wouldn’t get lost with too much perfecting and tightening. So I made sure some parts will be kept loose and energetic.
Rockpages.gr: At your first exhibition in Berlin in 2022, many of your exhibition posters were vandalized. What was your first thought and how did you feel?
Eliran Kantor: Posters are advertisements so naturally the act affects me directly, but more than anything I was confused since it’s an anonymous act. You can’t tell what went through the head of whoever did this and what led them to do it. We can only speculate. The part that was vandalized was “Of Truth & Sacrifice” so it can be anything from someone thinking it’s in their eyes not family/kids appropriate, or maybe promotes violence against women (it’s not), or maybe hurts religious feelings, maybe it triggered a trauma in them or any other reason – no idea. I’d love to actually talk to the person who did it and have a dialog if their attitude allows one to be had. There was a devout religious person who came to the exhibition and asked me ‘where is god in my painting?’ and I think the answer I was able to give them back was honest and respectful, so dialog and de-escalation is usually the pragmatic choice I make, when applicable.
Rockpages.gr: Is there any inside funny story with Helloween that has never been revealed and you could share it with us?
Eliran Kantor: When we were working on the back cover / Skyfall single cover, just in order to amuse me, Kai sent me a bunch of funny alternative ideas for the single, all very Roswell 47 themed with green aliens and such. He’s a funny guy.
Rockpages.gr: Since one of the core members of the Official Greek Helloween Fan Club is also from Israel, he has one question: Are there any Israeli or generally Middle-Eastern painters that have influenced you and your work?
Eliran Kantor: A Greek painter I will surely recognize as an influence on me would be Nikolaos Gyzis. As for Israelis: Uri Fink is the country’s all time most popular and well known comic-book artist, and his influence on my growing up cannot be understated. I bought his “how to draw” book and learned a lot from copying his famous comic ‘ZBENG’.
Rockpages.gr: How about your other works with various metal bands…do you have a favorite one or a painting that stands out for a specific reason?
Eliran Kantor: There are a few – Loudblast “Live Ceremony”, Artizan “The Hangman”, Venom Prison “Erebos”, Bloodbath “The Arrow of Satan is Drawn”, Thy Art is Murder/Fit for an Autopsy “The Aggression Sessions” to name a few. My favorites are those that I was excited when I got the idea in my head, and the execution felt like it archived what I had envisioned.
Rockpages.gr: Is there any chance or talk about working with Helloween once again?
Eliran Kantor: It’s up to them of course, I’ve met them a couple of times since we worked together, super nice people, and on my end I would love to work with them again for sure.
Rockpages.gr: Any work in progress as we speak?
Eliran Kantor: Oh yes, the schedule for this year and the next year is full of very exciting records with great bands. Some are finished and some are booked for later on. MOONSPELL, BEHEMOTH, GAEREA, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, LIVLØS, NIGHTFALL, IMPERIALIST, DESPISED ICON, DEVIN TOWNSEND, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS and FOLTERKAMMER.
