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FatherAlabaster

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FatherAlabaster Grand Master

FatherAlabaster

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After discussing Mogwai in another thread, I realized that there are a few instrumental bands I listen to, and I don't know if we have a thread about them. These aren't necessarily "metal" bands. I think you guys know my take on the genre label discussion by now anyway; engaging, heavy music is the bottom line. The heaviest stuff here is near the bottom - Arctopus and Zu. Feel free to skip ahead. What, if any, instrumental bands are you into? How would you describe them? Don't need an in-depth review; I'm always looking for new stuff (or old stuff). Any suggestions are welcome. Some of the bands I get into: Mogwai - from Scotland! The CD that got me into them was a collection from the late 90s called "Ten Rapid". Not strictly instrumental, but they rarely have lead vocal parts. The focus is on the music - guitar-driven songs with keyboards and good rock drumming. Great for alternating melancholy atmosphere with brooding, crushing rock drones. They've had a lot of influence on the "post-rock" genre, whatever that actually means. I haven't listened to their later material yet; the most recent one I've heard is Mr. Beast, which I really enjoy. This is one of their early hits: SblD4JzCuPQ Explosions In The Sky - in the vein of Mogwai, really nice dark atmospheres, long compositions, some good sweeping melodies. They've been featured on soundtracks - a perfect use of their music IMO. Riff-driven music, with three guitarists and a drummer IIRC. From Texas. TnTCwg7-UKg This Will Destroy You - they remind me a lot of Explosions In The Sky, but it's not a bad thing. They incorporate more electronic elements into their recordings. Another band from Texas, and maybe they feel the need to differentiate themselves? Oxes - two guitarists and a drummer, from Baltimore. They play a sort of trashy-sounding math-rock/hardcore hybrid. Cool guitar work, worth checking out. Apparently they would let audience members do impromptu vocals live, and they released one album with a vocalist, which I haven't checked out yet. I only recently got turned on to these guys. The disc I have is called "Oxxxes". They stopped playing together a few years ago but did some shows last year. 0lAdFlP56kQ Behold... The Arctopus - from my area! Colin Marston, their "bassist", also joined Gorguts for their latest album. This is experimental, odd-sounding metal with a lot of math and prog influence. Excellent musicianship. The EP that I have is called Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning. I love this track: myZb4gvwdN0 Zu - an Italian trio of bass, drums, and sax who have done a lot of experimental jazzy collaborations with other groups. I don't get into all of their stuff, but they released a mostly instrumental CD called Carboniferous a few years ago featuring collaborations with Mike Patton and Buzz Osbourne. Another album with superb musicianship, where the sax and electronic elements take the place of guitar work. Patton and Osbourne both left their mark on this recording - some of the heaviness of the Melvins, more involved in rhythmic exploration than atmospheric melody. A good amount of aggression, sometimes reminiscent of Meshuggah. This track got me into them: gP3-PSWZtzY The one song featuring Mike Patton on vocals remains one of my favorite tracks to this day: McnbbQEmYZo I keep meaning to check out Pelican and Don Caballero, but I haven't... anyway, if you dig any of this shit, please feel free to join in.

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SBird94 Newbie

SBird94

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Instrumental Music I enjoy a lot of instrumentals especially Metallica's 80's ones, they are the band that got me into looking into more intrumental stuff. I also really like mogwai, scotlands shame is one of my favourite songs by them. I like Instrumental Djent bands because usually i don't enjoy their vocals so intrumentals are always really good to listen to. Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

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~Mere~ Newbie

~Mere~

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I can't think of much instrumental metal that I like. Sometimes I do listen to a little electronic instrumental music' date=' though.[/quote'] Most instrumental I really listen to is classical. But recently I found this experimental progressive metal band, Pomegranate Tiger, and it's pretty good. I think they only have one album called Entities. It may not be to your liking either but you never know :)
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Iceni Newbie

Iceni

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I like Karaboudjan, pity they only released one album. Animations is a very good Polish group whose first album is instrumental and engaging, and recently I've been listening to Steamforged.

animals as leaders(djent' date='jazz prog metal)[/quote'] Oh, they wish they were that interesting.
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~Mere~ Newbie

~Mere~

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How are they? I kept seeing them in my recommendations bar on YouTube.
They're pretty good. Great musicians but some of the bass and guitar parts are annoying or distracting (kind of numetal-ish sounding) don't be discouraged by the intro either, it does get better lol Even so, I think you should check them out, you'll prob find something you like.
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~Mere~ Newbie

~Mere~

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I should check them out as well. Recently I've been getting into Secret Chiefs 3. There's a video of a live performance at this little club in Paris' date=' I'll post it in a bit. Their energy is just amazing, they look like they're having so much fun playing.[/quote'] I haven't heard them, def give it a listen though!
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Frostaudn Newbie

Frostaudn

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I see that Long Distance Calling isn't mentioned yet. They used to be an instrumental band, but for their latest album they got a singer. So now it's fifty/fifty. But I like their instrumental songs more. This is their latest album, The Flood Inside. My favorites are Waves and Breaker. qCue2I8i4a4

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Black Milk Newbie

Black Milk

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Id say Pelican is my favorite instrumental band, next to Bongripper of course. Others I dig are Red Sparrows, Russian Circles, Couch, and Colour Haze (though maybe a third of their music uses vocals sparingly) Then there's a few bands that I do like but cant say I'm avidly into for the sheer fact I only have one of their albums, like Leech, RotoR, 35007, and Sons of Alpha Centauri

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Comprodrigue Newbie

Comprodrigue

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Hi there pals, I am very new on this site and there is maybe 3 months since I made my first step into progressive and neoclassical waters of music. I adore dinamic instrumentals and bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X and Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force. I really want to hear something new everyday so which bands and instrumentals would be on your all time fave list? 

Up the irons!! \m/

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