[2025] Recommended Instrumental Bands in Western Music: Popular Overseas Bands

LeandiMosaik

Mosaik ~ Leandi

This is a project by Swedish musician Jakob Rymdlego.

While it initially featured a sound influenced by electronica and chill, the next release showcased greater variety by highlighting vocals and incorporating strong elements of electropop.

Theme from AntarcticaVangelis

Theme From Antarctica (Remastered)

This is an insert song from the 1983 film “Antarctica.” His popularity had skyrocketed thanks to the hit Chariots of Fire and his Academy Award, and after various twists and turns he ended up working on the score for a Japanese film for the first time.

Another Vangelis work with ties to Japan is the anthem he provided for the 2002 Japan–South Korea World Cup.

IVBadbadnotgood

BADBADNOTGOOD – IV (Full Live Concert)

The band name may sound like a joke, but the Toronto-based BadBadNotGood are a cutting-edge instrumental group with worldwide recognition.

They’ve collaborated with huge stars like Tyler, the Creator and Kendrick Lamar, and have even earned the honor of a Grammy Award.

The group was formed by three members who met in the jazz program at Humber College, a well-known local university, but interestingly, they bonded not over jazz, but over their love for hip-hop acts like MF DOOM and Odd Future, the collective that includes the aforementioned Tyler, the Creator.

That background naturally shaped their sound: when they formed in 2010, they gained attention by releasing instrumental covers of hip-hop tracks.

Since then, they’ve collaborated with many artists, produced tracks, and released a number of distinctive albums as a band, earning acclaim—especially with their 2016 album IV, which received high praise worldwide.

While rooted in hip-hop and jazz, their body of work—created alongside numerous guest musicians—is anything but straightforward.

At the same time, their live performances aren’t lofty or austere; they’re energetic and sometimes even convey a rock-like dynamism, which I personally find very cool.

A Tender History In RustDo Make Say Think

Do Make Say Think – A Tender History In Rust

Do Make Say Think is a post-rock band based in Toronto, Canada.

Formed in 1995, they self-released their self-titled debut album in 1997.

They later signed with Constellation Records and have released a total of seven albums.

Their music features jazz-influenced drumming, distorted guitars, quirky horns, and prominent bass guitar, fusing elements of psychedelia, jazz, punk, progressive rock, and electronica with a high degree of originality.

Their seventh album, Stubborn Persistent Illusions, released in 2017, won the Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year and Artwork of the Year in 2018.

With a history spanning over two decades and fans around the world, their work is highly regarded as experimental music that expands the possibilities of instrumental bands.

If you’re interested in post-rock or instrumental bands, be sure to check them out!

Touch and GoINTERVALS

Intervals | Touch and Go (Official Music Video)

Intervals is an instrumental progressive metal band formed in 2011 in Toronto, Canada.

Aaron Marshall, the band’s founder and central figure, remains avant-garde and innovative within the modern instrumental music scene while staying rooted in traditional musical elements.

They released their debut studio album, A Voice Within, in 2014, and despite subsequent lineup changes, they have continued to maintain their innovative sound while collaborating across genre boundaries.

Marshall’s guitar work is highly regarded for both its technical precision and emotional depth, playing a pivotal role in expanding the possibilities of instrumental music.

Their energetic yet emotionally rich melodies and complex rhythmic structures make them a must-check for fans of progressive metal and related genres.

Nude Beach. Pin Hole CameraPele

Pele performs ‘Nude Beach. Pinhole Camera’

Pele is an American instrumental band that brought a fresh breeze to the indie rock scene.

They drew attention in genres like math rock and post-rock, known for their distinctive structures and melodies.

Their 2000 album The Nudes is a defining work that embodies their musical identity.

The sound is simple yet infectious, and their performances—fusing improvisation with rock—are nothing short of stunning.

The tight interplay of members Chris Rosenau, Jon Mueller, and Matt Tennessen is a must-hear.

If you’re interested in late-’90s to early-’00s post-rock and math rock, be sure to check them out.

Giving Birth to Imagined SaviorsRed Sparowes

Red Sparowes – Giving Birth To Imagined Saviors

Red Sparowes is a post-rock band based in Los Angeles.

Formed in 2003, the band includes current and former members of notable groups such as ISIS and Marriages.

Their debut album, At the Soundless Dawn, was released in 2005, followed by ambitious works like Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun and The Fear Is Excruciating, but Therein Lies the Answer.

Characterized by an experimental rock sound that makes extensive use of pedal steel guitar, their instrumental tracks convey a sense of message through the use of sampling and field recordings.

Amid their heavy, drone-like sonic textures, they occasionally reveal a distinctive sense of dynamics that leaves a strong impression.

It’s a band I highly recommend to fans of cutting-edge heavy rock.