22. Baroness – “Gold & Grey”

This album effortlessly combines complexity and commercialism. It is full of catchy songs that are full of intricate time and tempo shifts. It is prog but without the length. Instead of writing sprawling epic, Baroness have distilled their genius in tight and targeted five minute chunks. Nothing outstays its welcome. Instead, we get sixteen songs (six are instrumental interludes) that prove that you can make intelligent Metal that appeals to a mass audience. Utterly utterly excellent.