Artist: Random Hand.
Album Title: On the March.

Genre: The main genre associated with this band is Ska/Punk, however, it is quite progressive in the sense that it is a hybrid genre and combines elements of other genres into one common sound.

generic conventions: band name clearly printed, not a picture of the band but a somewhat random picture that may interest the buyer. also alike allot of other punk CD covers the image in fantasy, made up, a logo.

font stly lettering: The font used on this CD cover is quite simple yet the incorporation of the colours red and black are cohesive to the rest of the cover and are not bringing any new information about the band to our attention. The name of the band is in a larger font than the rest of the writing, and this technique is typically used across all genres to help with recognition. White shading has been used also to give the writing a 3D effect so it 'pops' out of the CD cover. The title of the album is also in white and this symbolises new life and light, this gives us the idea that the band have something new to offer their target audience. It also contrasts very well with the black background and therefore goes with the red for recognition. If any other colour were used it would draw us away from the sense of anarchy, so i think that this is the main message the band want to get across through this CD cover. The simplicity of the type allows the audience to recognise their name and then instantly be drawn to the significance of the image below the type. The fact that the type is in the top left corner leads the audience to that point first and then allows their eyes to follow the continuity of the writing down until they reach the image, this makes everything coherent and flowing on the cover, nothing seems like it shouldn't be there or like it is in the wrong place.

Sound: This band incorporates quite a few aspects of other music genres into the sub-genre of punk. This includes reggae, punk rock, hip hop, metal and dub. The nature of their lyrical themes are based around socio-political issues in Britain.

colour: black back ground, red logo and writting to stand out and also to be bold as if making a statement as its quite a brash colour and brash is insinuated with punk music.

mise-en-scene: black back ground, band name written across the top in a larger font than the rest, and underneath the album name. the logo is a hand gesture know as the rock out/on, punk rock sign also on the logo is the initials of the band name.

representation: The conventions of this CD cover is in keeping with the genre because Punk bands don't typically have images of the band on the cover because there is normally an image which represents the issues that the band sings about e.g. anarchy, authority. The image of the hand is a symbol which represents the support of rock and punk bands from fans. It is an image that is well known and the audience would probably recognise what the band stands for just by looking at this one image on the cover. The image of the hand is used cleverly to incorporate the band's initials and the name and image are cohesive in the sense that the word "hand" is in the band name and a hand is on the cover, so the audience can make a distinction.