Masked metalcore outfit Divine Grave has recently shared a new single, “Grief.” To continue to promote the song, the artist has teamed up with Metal Insider to share a list highlighting the 10 Masks from Music & Movies that Inspired Divine Grave.
Masked characters embody a blend of mystery, depth, and allure. Their masks conceal identity, inviting curiosity and encouraging us to question what lies beneath. This veil of secrecy allows these characters to transcend societal norms, explore hidden truths, or reveal complex emotions that resonate deeply with us.
The beauty of masked figures lies in their duality: they are both hidden and exposed, shielding vulnerabilities while amplifying the enigma of their personas. Audiences connect with them because masks symbolize universal desires—protection, reinvention, and freedom from judgment.
Here is a list of my top 10 iconic masks in music and film that inspired my own.
10) Guyver
This may have been my first exposure to a masked character growing up. Especially for its time to be all “prop” and no special effects, the design is incredible. I love that it had this sci-fi/alien origin. It’s sleek, minimal, and aggressive. It’s just a normal guy who learns to accept the responsibility of becoming a hero. He is one of the few masked characters where his humanity is not lost at the cost of his power. Almost a synergistic relationship between him and the suit.
09) Sleep Token
Specifically, the mask used for the “Sundowning” and “This Place Will Become Your Tomb” albums. Fun fact, the individuals who made that mask, also made my mask. Sleep Token has a unique look to their mask, it was the first time I saw a musical act with a mask that didn’t look too “Halloween” and I mean that respectfully. There’s some sort of realism to their mask that makes it look almost organic, instead of a silicone or plastic look that you could get at a store, and that really stood out to me.
08) Eric Draven from The Crow (Brandon Lee)
The tragedy mask is a face paint that serves as a dual identity. Separating his human vulnerability and his supernatural power. Visually, The Crow is one of the inspirations for my character “The Seraph”, in more than one way. Eric was a musician that wore black jeans and boots and my tribute to growing up listening to metal was to create an image that represented that. Further, I look at myself as a Revenant. Eric having his musical career cut short was something I experienced myself. Divine Grave is somewhat a “return” from my previous life and I view Divine Grave as my redemption for past failures.
07) Spawn
A dark antihero. The mask melds with the scars of his face which is such a sick concept. Spawn has this sense of autonomy where he doesn’t belong with the good guys or with hell. It’s otherworldly, which was one of the concepts I incorporated into my own mask. It’s a celestial/cathedral feel, but in a much darker sense. It’s a manifestation of his torment, vengeance, and hellish origin.
06) A prodigy of Organized chaos. While it’s not necessarily a mask, his physical features (scars) are enhanced and brought to the forefront of his image with paint, it’s brilliant, creative and innovative. For me, when I think of the Joker, his image is the first that comes to mind. He’s unpredictable, but he’s calculated.
05) Michael Meyers
There’s a meme about Michael that says “it doesn’t matter how quickly everyone around you is moving. If you’re determined, just go at your own pace and you’ll kill it every time. Thanks Mike”. As funny as that is, when you look at the nature of his work, it’s truly menacing, you’re not going to win. That is how I approach my own work. The mask is void of emotions, he doesn’t speak, and the blue jumpsuit is so simple, yet memorable.
04) Ghostface
A great example of less is more. A blade, a mask, and a murdered out wardrobe. It’s a very clean cut design. The “wailer” ghost design appears soulless and has become arguably one of the most popular masks of all time. The character is charming, intimidating and cold blooded. For me, it is the overall cool factor for this mask matched with the personality of the killer.
03) Darth Vader
A villain who is ultimately redeemed in the end. Darth Vader’s aesthetic is one of the most iconic villain images there is. A character who was stripped of his childhood and falls to the dark side due to feelings of anger, hate, and fear. The all black look is sleek and menacing, but is also the thing that keeps him functioning. His suit was designed to be painful and restrictive to constantly keep him on edge and tap into the dark side.
02) Growing up, I played Halo every single day. It’s one of the few games that I follow the entire story/campaign. The Master Chief is a stoic character of minimal words and never shows you his face in the games. He is the ultimate hero. This faceless character is abducted as a child and turned into an absolute unit. Despite that, he is always on the side of doing the right thing, saving people. I resonate deeply with how his childhood was lost in the pursuit of excellence, but when you look at what he became, you almost seem to justify his suffering.
01) Slipknot
Specifically, Corey Taylor’s mask from the self-titled album “ Slipknot” and “Iowa”. It was an old crash test dummy mask and the dreads originally were his own hair. In the past he claimed, the mask smelled, rotted, and was slimy and uncomfortable, which ultimately fed more into the rage that is in their music. It was like he needed it to be that way to really immerse himself. The mask represented the brutality of their music and Slipknot is the one of the main reasons I am an artist today.
