Oscar Isaac Reveals His Top Heavy Metal Album Pick
Oscar Isaac opens up about his love for Sleep’s Dopesmoker, calling it 'metal meets Gregorian chants.' The acclaimed actor and musician shares his passion for raw, powerful rock sounds.
Some folks just seem to have it all, don’t they? Oscar Isaac is one of those blokes who’s managed to carve out a name for himself not just on the big screen, but in the music world too. If you’ve caught the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, you’ll know he’s not just acting—he’s belting out tunes and strumming the guitar like he was born for it. That film gave him the chance to show off his musical chops, something he’s been keen on since his school days playing Nirvana covers and later joining a Christian ska-punk band that even opened for Green Day.
Despite his early music gigs, Isaac eventually chose to focus on acting. After studying at Juilliard in New York, he started landing roles in theatre, but he never really left music behind, still performing in local bars and clubs when he could. His film career took off with a string of smaller parts, including a memorable turn alongside Russell Crowe in Robin Hood. Soon after, he popped up in Drive with Ryan Gosling and The Bourne Legacy with Matt Damon. But it was Inside Llewyn Davis that really put him on the map, earning him a Golden Globe nomination and a stack of industry awards.
From Indie Films to Blockbusters
Since then, Isaac’s been everywhere—Star Wars, X-Men, Dune, and even Marvel’s Moon Knight. He’s also starred in big one-off films like Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. No matter how busy his acting schedule gets, though, he’s never lost his love for music. In a chat with NME, he gave fans a peek into his taste for heavier sounds, singling out the band Sleep and their album Dopesmoker as a standout favourite.
Talking about the 2003 release, Isaac described it as,
This stoner metal album is actually just one epic, grinding track. I’ll listen to this when I really just want to wallow, man. I call it ‘sludge metal’ or ‘metal meets Gregorian chants.’ It’s real head music, if you know what I mean.
His praise didn’t go unnoticed—Sleep were chuffed enough to share his comments on their Facebook page, which makes sense given their music’s a bit of a niche taste and Isaac’s a proper Hollywood star.
Staying True to His Musical Roots
Even with a packed calendar, Isaac keeps his passion for music front and centre. He’s got a few major films lined up, including another team-up with del Toro on Fury, a thriller about two criminals on a violent road trip. He’ll also be starring with Elizabeth Olsen in Flesh of the Gods, a throwback to ‘80s vampire flicks, and is set to play Snake in a new adaptation of the video game Metal Gear Solid.
Isaac’s story is a reminder that you don’t have to pick just one path. Whether he’s on stage, in a bar, or leading a blockbuster, he brings the same energy and love for his craft. And when it comes to music, he’s not afraid to go heavy, slow, and deep—just the way he likes it.