![[2025] Start Here First! A Roundup of Recommended Western Post-Rock Bands](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/MASy-_eHLNY/maxresdefault.webp)
[2025] Start Here First! A Roundup of Recommended Western Post-Rock Bands
Have you ever heard the term “post-rock”? As the name suggests, it’s a music genre that deviates from the basic style of rock, captivating listeners with experimental sounds and a grand sonic landscape.
Its definition is vague and approaches vary by band, but its unique world—combining live instruments like guitar and drums with electronic elements—can be utterly addictive once you hear it.
In this article, we’ll introduce famous overseas bands that let you experience the true allure of post-rock.
If you’ve recently become interested in this genre, be sure to check them out.
[2025] Start Here! A Roundup of Recommended Western Post-Rock Bands (1–10)
Ascension DayTalk Talk
Who could have imagined that a band that took the world by storm with synth-pop would later become a gateway to post-rock? Hailing from the UK, Talk Talk achieved global popularity after their 1981 debut with hits like “It’s My Life,” but gradually ventured into more experimental territory.
Their 1988 album Spirit of Eden was a bold break from commercialism, pursuing a serene sound that embraced improvisation and jazz.
The record was even deemed “uncommercial” by their label, yet it went on to influence countless artists and is now celebrated as a masterpiece that laid the foundations of post-rock.
If you’re looking for a profound musical experience that finds beauty in silence and the spaces between sounds, this might be the perfect band for you.
Never meantAmerican Football
American Football, centered around Mike Kinsella—the younger brother of Tim Kinsella, who led Cap’n Jazz and Joan of Arc—and a legendary presence in the ’90s emo-core and US indie scenes, is also indispensable when talking about post-rock.
Although they went on hiatus after releasing a single album in 1999, their 2014 reunion generated major buzz.
Built around technically beautiful guitar arpeggios, their sound fuses delicacy and rigidity to stunning effect, captivating many listeners and exerting a tremendous influence on numerous bands in Japan, including toe.
Absent FriendBark Psychosis
Bark Psychosis is the legendary British band that sparked the birth of the term “post-rock.” Formed in London in 1986, they based themselves in a church basement and developed a distinctive method of recording that captured the resonance of the space itself.
Their 1994 debut album, Hex, featured a sound that overturned conventional rock wisdom—so much so that one music critic dubbed it “post-rock.” The soundscapes, unfolding from whisper-quiet stillness to all-consuming walls of noise, feel almost like watching a single film.
This is a band I especially recommend for those unsatisfied with run-of-the-mill music, or for nights when you want to immerse yourself completely in a vast world woven from the very reverberations of sound.
TNTTortoise
When it comes to iconic bands in discussions of post-rock, Tortoise surely comes to mind.
They were central among artists grouped under the Chicago post-rock/experimental scene, established themselves as standard-bearers of post-rock with their second album, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, and their third, TNT, and through their own label, Thrill Jockey, have released works by many post-rock artists.
BreathturnHammock
Hammock is an American duo that leads listeners into a dreamlike sonic world with layers upon layers of guitar.
Their allure lies in a beautiful yet profound musicality that blends elements of ambient and shoegaze.
They drew attention right after their 2005 debut, and their 2012 double LP, Departure Songs, received high acclaim, being named Album of the Year.
They overcame the tragedy of the 2010 floods, which nearly destroyed the members’ home, and are also known for the praise from comedian Ricky Gervais, who called their music “like the best film score by Radiohead.” It’s the perfect choice when you want to step away from the noise of daily life and immerse yourself in vast, beautiful waves of sound.
The Lost YouHood
Food, an English band that transcends the bounds of traditional rock, invites listeners into a profound sonic world.
Formed in 1990 by the Adams brothers, they craft experimental and beautiful soundscapes that fuse post-rock with elements of electronica and folk.
On their 1998 album “Rustic Houses, Forlorn Valleys,” they ventured into tracks averaging over eight minutes, and on their acclaimed 2001 album “Cold House,” they incorporated hip-hop, earning a Metacritic score of 87—evidence of their constant evolution.
If conventional genres leave you wanting, their intricate and original music is sure to resonate.
Embark on an unpredictable sonic journey and open a new door.
Your Hand In MineExplosions in the sky
They’re an instrumental post-rock band from Texas whose set at the 2016 Fuji Rock Festival was phenomenal.
A flagship act of the so-called quiet-loud dynamic—often dubbed “wall-of-sound” post-rock in Japan—their lyrical yet destructive guitar work captivates many.
If you want to be enveloped by stillness and an overwhelming roar of guitars, be sure to give this band a listen.