So, you’ve probably seen it by now. That blue-tinted, clinical, slightly jarring image of a pelvis that’s been taking over your feed. It’s the Lorde new vinyl cover, and honestly, it’s a lot to process. If you were expecting the sun-drenched, "bare-bottomed" optimism of Solar Power, you’re in for a massive vibe shift.
The album is titled Virgin. It dropped June 27, 2025. And the cover? It’s literally an X-ray.
But it’s not just any medical scan. If you look closely at the center of the frame—right there in the uterus—you’ll see a small, T-shaped object. Yes, that is an IUD (intrauterine device). It is bold. It is clinical. And it is very, very Lorde.
What’s Actually Going on With the Virgin Cover Art?
Lorde—or Ella Yelich-O’Connor, if we’re being formal—didn’t just pick this image because it looks "cool" or "edgy." She worked with photographer Heji Shin to create something that felt "techy but mystical." Basically, she wanted to show the parts of herself that usually stay hidden.
The cover features:
- A pelvic X-ray scan.
- A visible belt buckle and pant zipper.
- That now-famous IUD.
- A deep blue and white "cyanotype" aesthetic.
It’s meant to be a document of her femininity. She’s called it "raw" and "spiritual" but also "masc." It’s a weird contradiction, right? Calling an album Virgin while putting a contraceptive device front and center. But that’s the point. It’s about the tension between purity and the reality of a body that’s been through it. She told fans in her newsletter that the album was "100% written in blood," and this medical imagery really drives that home.
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The Vinyl "Jumpscare" Everyone is Talking About
If you think the front cover is intense, the physical vinyl release of Virgin takes it to a whole other level.
There’s a reason the Lorde store has a "Parental Advisory: Adult Images" warning on the listing. While the standard X-ray is what you see on Spotify, the actual vinyl includes an eight-page booklet with photography by Talia Chetrit.
Here is where it gets controversial.
Inside the gatefold, there is a very explicit, high-definition photo of Lorde wearing completely transparent "bathwater" plastic pants. It’s not an X-ray. It’s a real photo. And it’s… very detailed. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit have been calling it a "jumpscare," with some jokingly (and some not-so-jokingly) complaining that they weren't prepared to see their favorite pop star's "Lordeussy" while just trying to put on a record.
But honestly? It fits the theme of "full transparency" she’s been preaching. She wants there to be "nowhere to hide." No filters, no flowery metaphors, just the human body in all its "primal" glory.
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The Symbolism You Might Have Missed
Why the X-ray? Why now?
Lorde has synesthesia, which means she sees music as colors. For this era, she described the color as "clear." Like ice. Like spit. Like windows.
When you use an X-ray, you’re looking through the skin at the structure underneath. It’s the ultimate form of being "clear."
There’s also a deeper political layer that fans have been dissecting. The album announcement coincided with Denim Day, an international campaign to support survivors of sexual violence. By featuring a zipper and a belt that are closed and locked in the X-ray, Lorde is asserting a sense of bodily autonomy. You can see inside her, but you can’t get in.
The Tracklist on the Back
The vinyl itself comes in a few variants, including a "Bathwater Clear" edition that looks like frozen glass. The back of the Lorde new vinyl cover lists 11 tracks that lean into a more industrial, electronic sound—a far cry from the acoustic guitars of her last record.
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- Hammer
- What Was That
- Shapeshifter
- Man of the Year
- Favourite Daughter
- Current Affairs
- Clearblue
- GRWM
- Broken Glass
- If She Could See Me Now
- David
Tracks like "Clearblue" (yes, like the pregnancy test) and "Broken Glass" mirror the clinical, fragile vibe of the artwork. It’s a cohesive aesthetic that feels more like an art gallery installation than a standard pop release.
Is It Too Much?
Look, some people hate it. They think the IUD is "too much information" and the interior vinyl photo is "unnecessarily vulgar."
But Lorde has always been about the "gross" parts of being a girl. From the "teeth" in Pure Heroine to the "fluorescence" of Melodrama, she’s obsessed with the physical. By 2026, we’ve seen pop stars do almost everything to get attention, but this feels different. It feels like she’s using her body as a biological map rather than a sexual object.
Whether you find it "iconic" or "gross," you can't deny it's got people talking. And in the world of vinyl collecting, where everyone is just trying to sell another "sunset marble" variant, Lorde gave us something that actually makes us feel a little bit uncomfortable.
To get the most out of this era, keep an eye on the "Ultrasound World Tour" dates running through May 2026. If you're a collector, the "Bathwater Clear" vinyl is the definitive version of the vision, but be prepared for that interior booklet—it’s definitely not one to show your parents during Sunday brunch.