diff --git a/beetsplug/replaygain.py b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
index 552984ed14..dbc2f98cc6 100644
--- a/beetsplug/replaygain.py
+++ b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
@@ -463,6 +463,119 @@ def _on_pad_removed(self, decbin, pad):
         assert(peer is None)
 
 
+class AudioToolsBackend(Backend):
+    def __init__(self, config):
+        self._import_audiotools()
+
+    def _import_audiotools(self):
+        try:
+            import audiotools
+            import audiotools.replaygain
+        except ImportError:
+            raise FatalReplayGainError(
+                "Failed to load audiotools: audiotools not found"
+            )
+        self._mod_audiotools = audiotools
+        self._mod_replaygain = audiotools.replaygain
+
+    def open_audio_file(self, item):
+        try:
+            audiofile = self._mod_audiotools.open(item.path)
+        except IOError:
+            raise ReplayGainError(
+                "File {} was not found".format(item.path)
+            )
+        except self._mod_audiotools.UnsupportedFile:
+            raise ReplayGainError(
+                "Unsupported file type {}".format(item.format)
+            )
+
+        return audiofile
+
+    def init_replaygain(self, audiofile, item):
+        try:
+            rg = self._mod_replaygain.ReplayGain(audiofile.sample_rate())
+        except ValueError:
+            raise ReplayGainError(
+                "Unsupported sample rate {}".format(item.samplerate)
+            )
+            return
+        return rg
+
+    def compute_track_gain(self, items):
+        return [self._compute_track_gain(item) for item in items]
+
+    def _compute_track_gain(self, item):
+
+        audiofile = self.open_audio_file(item)
+
+        rg = self.init_replaygain(audiofile, item)
+
+        rg_track_gain, rg_track_peak = rg.title_gain(audiofile.to_pcm())
+
+        log.info(
+            u'ReplayGain for track {0} - {1}: {2:.2f}, {3:.2f}'.format(
+                item.artist,
+                item.title,
+                rg_track_gain,
+                rg_track_peak
+            )
+        )
+
+        return Gain(gain=rg_track_gain, peak=rg_track_peak)
+
+    def compute_album_gain(self, album):
+
+        log.info(
+            u'Analysing album {0} - {1}'.format(
+                album.albumartist,
+                album.album
+            )
+        )
+
+        item = list(album.items())[0]
+
+        audiofile = self.open_audio_file(item)
+        rg = self.init_replaygain(audiofile, item)
+
+        track_gains = []
+
+        for item in album.items():
+            audiofile = self.open_audio_file(item)
+            rg_track_gain, rg_track_peak = rg.title_gain(audiofile.to_pcm())
+            track_gains.append(
+                Gain(gain=rg_track_gain, peak=rg_track_peak)
+            )
+            log.info(
+                u'ReplayGain for track {0} - {1}: {2:.2f}, {3:.2f}'.format(
+                    item.artist,
+                    item.title,
+                    rg_track_gain,
+                    rg_track_peak
+                )
+            )
+
+        rg_album_gain, rg_album_peak = rg.album_gain()
+
+        log.info('-' * 100)
+
+        log.info(
+            u'ReplayGain for Album {0} - {1}: {2:.2f}, {3:.2f}'.format(
+                album.albumartist,
+                album.album,
+                rg_album_gain,
+                rg_album_peak
+            )
+        )
+
+        log.info('=' * 100)
+
+        return AlbumGain(
+            Gain(gain=rg_album_gain, peak=rg_album_peak),
+            track_gains=track_gains
+        )
+
+
 # Main plugin logic.
 
 class ReplayGainPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
@@ -472,6 +585,7 @@ class ReplayGainPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
     backends = {
         "command":   CommandBackend,
         "gstreamer": GStreamerBackend,
+        "audiotools": AudioToolsBackend
     }
 
     def __init__(self):
diff --git a/docs/plugins/replaygain.rst b/docs/plugins/replaygain.rst
index 889fa3a89b..fb6d2369bc 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/replaygain.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/replaygain.rst
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ you can configure the path explicitly like so::
     replaygain:
         command: /Applications/MacMP3Gain.app/Contents/Resources/aacgain
 
+Python Audio Tools
+``````````````````
+
+This backend uses the `audiotools`_ module to compute ReplayGain, in a range of different file formats. Installation of the module is not available through PyPI. The requirements for most of its dependencies can be installed on Mac OS X via `Homebrew`_: ``brew install mpg123 mp3gain vorbisgain faad2 libvorbis``
+
+.. _audiotools: http://audiotools.sourceforge.net
 
 Configuration
 -------------
@@ -70,7 +76,7 @@ configuration file. The available options are:
 
 - **auto**: Enable ReplayGain analysis during import.
   Default: ``yes``.
-- **backend**: The analysis backend; either ``gstreamer`` or ``command``.
+- **backend**: The analysis backend; either ``gstreamer``, ``command`` or ``audiotools`.
   Default: ``command``.
 - **overwrite**: Re-analyze files that already have ReplayGain tags.
   Default: ``no``.