[2026] Recommended Western instrumental bands: Popular overseas bands
What kind of image do you have of bands that mainly play instrumental-focused music?
Some of you might be somewhat interested, but feel put off by the idea because you’re not used to listening to songs without vocals.
In this article, we introduce recommended instrumental bands from overseas for those very people.
Rather than classic instrumental-focused acts like old-school jazz or progressive rock, we highlight many new-generation groups—from post-rock and math rock since the 1990s to the contemporary jazz-adjacent scene.
So even if you’re already well-versed in instrumental bands, be sure to check it out!
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[2026] Recommended Western instrumental bands: Popular overseas bands (61–70)
Cissy StrutThe Meters
The Meters are an instrumental R&B band that produced a sound similar to Booker T.
Their music was called ‘New Orleans funk.’ ‘Cissy Strut’ is a special number for New Orleans funk, serving as the first track on their debut album.
IVBadbadnotgood
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.
Organic NucleationDark Matter Secret
Dark Matter Secret is an instrumental progressive death metal band based in Russia.
Their music is characterized by a unique sound that fuses elements of technical death metal and progressive metal, with the fretless bass tone being particularly striking.
They debuted in 2015 with the single “Xenoform,” and their first album, “Perfect World Creation,” released in June 2017 on the Nashville, Tennessee label The Artisan Era, became the band’s signature work.
Their songs prioritize technicality and quality over sheer speed, offering a beautiful fusion of progressive and technical death metal.
A Tender History In RustDo Make Say Think
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!
Forever LostGod Is An Astronaut
God Is an Astronaut is a post-rock band formed in Ireland in 2002.
Their debut album, The End of the Beginning, achieved success that led to video airplay on MTV.
The band’s music is primarily instrumental, characterized by cosmic and psychedelic atmospheres.
Albums such as All Is Violent, All Is Bright and Far From Refuge led to international touring.
To mark their 20th anniversary, they have undertaken ambitious projects to reinterpret past works in a contemporary way, including recording their debut album live.
With their distinctive sound and deeply expressive emotion, they captivate fans around the world.
Highly recommended for those interested in instrumental bands!