I think my favourite cool and dark album cover early on was Black Sabbath's self titled first album. I loved the look of the green skinned witch in the yard of the derelict house. The first song just added to the whole feel of it by starting out with pouring rain and big claps of thunder before Ozzy broke in with song.

Another favorite a little later in Junior High were Yes album covers. The Dune or Lord of the Rings, drug culture look timed perfectly with what I was experimenting with.

Paul