>>96948423
I have no doubt that the eavy metal team was always capable of vhordrai, I think they usually are just mandated to paint in a very specific way. It's why their female faces suck so much, heavy aggressive highlights designed for uber masculine space marine faces are probably how it's written in the guidelines.
But sometimes they let their painters off the leash for some reason. Look at some of the new nurgle stuff, golden demon tier in places.

>>96942130
when you put them next to each other the difference in paint level between old blight kings and the newly revealed stuff is hilarious.