10. Trivium - "In Waves"
Trivium's fifth studio album was an all out assault on the senses. Harking back to the days of "Ascendency" while keeping the best parts of their more recent output, "In Waves" is the sound of a still young band growing into themselves even further.
9. Skindred - "Union Black"
Benji Webbe's reggae metal pioneers are onto their fourth album, and "Union Black" may be their most complete yet. Everything about this record is fantastic, and it takes you on a musical journey through several twists and turns. Absolutely brilliant.
8. In Flames - "Sounds of a Playground Fading"
Over the past twenty years, In Flames have produced some of the premier melodic death metal ever recorded. "Sounds of a Playground Fading" continues their evolution, mixing the death metal with modern alternative metal and crafting a quite sublime record that gets better with every listen.
7. Nightwish - "Imaginaerum"
Four years after "Dark Passion Play", Nightwish return with the quite frankly stunning "Imaginaerum". A 75 minute epic concept album with a forthcoming film attached, the record shifts from the band's usual symphonic metal, into classical folk music, through goth and just about everything in between. The dramatic soundscapes never falter. Stunning.
6. Mastodon - "The Hunter"
To follow 2009's masterpiece "Crack the Skye" was never going to be an easy task for Mastodon, but this is a band of such extraordinary talents that they very nearly managed it. "The Hunter" takes a totally different direction, focusing more on short, unconnected songs. This versatility makes an incredibly rewarding listen. Mastodon have proved themselves as one of the best bands - metal or not - in the world.
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