10 Great Metal Albums (For People Who Don't Like Metal)

One of the most successful in modern, capital-M-Metal, Mastodon throw back to the epically inclined, riff-heavy acts of yore, but with an up to date sense of irony and fun. Sure, they’ll write a full-length concept record about Moby-Dick, but they’ll have a right good laugh while doing it.

This album, Leviathan, could be their masterpiece, but it’s heavy going, often highly technical and hard edged. Their 2011 release The Hunter is perhaps the best entry point for newbies, a straight ahead collection of massive, exuberant songs that sound amazing and are played brilliantly.

It’s impossible not to be won over by the combo of “Curl Of The Burl” and “Blasteroid”. The first is a swaggering number with a great, powerful riff and a proper ear worm of a chorus. The second is a breakneck, lurching affair, replete with tempo changes and colossal, pounding drums.

They can pull out daft solos on “Octopus Has No Friends”, Sabbath-esque mysticism on the title track, and a doomy grind on “Creature Lives”. They’re a hugely versatile act of which it sounds great fun to be a member.