Behind The Artworks: Grone - Descent (2026)
Anyone who follows GRONE probably knows that Chris Gennaro (Bass, Vocals) and Chris Christopher (Guitars and vocals) are both painters. In the earlier years, we used to do a lot of collaborative pieces, but lately we’ve settled into mostly doing every other release cover duties. Descent was my turn to do the cover.
In case it’s not completely obvious, it’s a nightmare-ish figure in an underworld setting. The main figure started as a background figure in an abandoned sketch I did. I sort of liked the concept of an entity/creature whose body was a dark space into which there were unknown terrors. No arms, no legs, just a space you wish was empty.
I ended up redoing a bunch of the background elements several times. I just wanted to populate this underworld with all manner of creatures and weird stuff. And some of it worked, and other things I just redid until I liked them. I was also going for a bit of a Bosch hell feeling, though I’m not sure the end result is very Bosch-like.
I’m also mostly an oil painter, but Descent was done in acrylics. I was thinking of adding more color into it in the late stages, but the further along I got with it, the more I liked the subtle warm and cool greys. And I just went with it.
Ironically, the bottom jaw on the right was one such creature that wasn’t working, and while painting over it, it just felt right to turn it into some sort of well of souls. It worked much better that way.
The other covers I’ve done for GRONE include ‘The Sky’ and ‘Chucklepatch’. Chris C did Murder Engine, Diyu and Made to Suffer. All of which you can see on our Bandcamp page.
The Sky came out of a photoshoot I did with my son, who does a lot of reference shots for me these days. He’s available and a good sport with posing and taking direction.
Chucklepatch I did before I even had kids. That’s how old that one is. Chris Christopher suggested the name, as the flowers reminded him of the old TV show ‘Magic Garden’. As I also watched that as a kid, it just fit.
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