I like the new Slayer artwork, too. Very "classic Slayer" looking, àla Reign/South/Seasons. The new songs seem to be subpar though...
I really love the new Maiden art. It's very mature and dark. I'd like the back cover to show the "life" side - the same landscape as an intact agricultural countryside without the tank and skeleton-soldiers, with the bandmembers in it or something like that.
I hope the new album is a mixture of The X-Factor's darkness, Powerslave's heaviness and Dance Of Death's playfulness. Album of the year I guess (just a tad better than Synchestra).