[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 (11–20)
MirageGlass Beams
Glass Beams is a mysterious music project from Australia.
They released their debut EP, Mirage, in 2020, featuring four tracks that incorporate cosmic instrumentation, Eastern scales, and polyrhythms influenced by krautrock.
The project’s founder, Rajan Silva, draws inspiration from his cultural roots, as his father was born in India.
Mirage is a captivating work with elements of jazz and psychedelia, and it has garnered attention from figures like DJ and producer Jayda G.
With a slot confirmed at Fuji Rock 2024, Glass Beams are certain to raise their profile in Japan—so you should definitely keep an eye on them now!
Juana La CubanaLA LOM
LA LOM has been attracting attention for its unique sound that blends the diverse traditional music of Latin America—such as Mexico, Cuba, and Peru—with classic American jazz, rockabilly, and soul.
The three members, who held a residency at a historic hotel in Los Angeles, debuted in 2021 with the EP “LA LOM.” In August 2024, they released their highly anticipated album “The Los Angeles League of Musicians” on major label Verve Records, achieving the remarkable feat of reaching No.
5 on Billboard’s Tropical Albums chart.
This accomplished trio has not only opened for Vampire Weekend on tour but has also performed alongside renowned artists like Gladys Knight and Beck.
Enjoy their captivating sound, which, through its multicultural palette and unique artistic vision, presents new possibilities at the intersection of folk traditions and pop music.
Mogwai Fear SatanMogwai
Even within the broad label of post-rock, there are many different styles.
For many people, the first image that comes to mind isn’t the Chicago “post-rock” school epitomized by Tortoise, but rather a dramatic musicality that envelops you in walls of roaring guitar, wielding a dynamic interplay of quiet and loud.
The band that shocked the world with that kind of roaring guitar instrumental sound is Scotland’s Mogwai.
Their appearance at Fuji Rock in 2022—returning to the Red Marquee stage for the first time in 22 years and captivating the audience with a fantastic live performance—is still fresh in our memories.
Mogwai formed in 1995 as a very young band that included members still in their teens, debuting with singles on their own label.
They then signed with the local Glasgow label Chemical Underground, and in 1997 made their full-fledged debut with the explosive first album Mogwai Young Team.
Fusing an aggressive sound rooted in hardcore with startlingly beautiful melodies and ear-splitting guitar noise, they overwhelmed not only music fans but many musicians as well.
Having established one archetypal post-rock style, they didn’t remain bound to any single genre thereafter.
While experimenting with approaches that toned down their trademark roaring guitars or incorporated vocals, they never lost the core of the band and continue to hold a singular, solitary position to this day.
Personally, I recommend starting with the early releases and listening in order of release!
Lingus (We Like It Here)Snarky Puppy
When people hear the word “jazz,” they often imagine something lofty, with only the so-called classics getting all the praise.
It’s precisely those with that preconception who I hope will discover the bands that embody the ever-evolving “now” of jazz.
The star of this piece, Snarky Puppy, was formed in 2004 around members who were then college students; they honed their craft in the underground and have since grown into a group that has won Grammy Awards.
From the outset they’ve been a large ensemble of around ten players, and under the leadership of Michael League, their ranks—which include Japanese members—have grown into what could now be called a full-fledged community.
Many of them release solo projects, and their activities are closely watched across the music scene.
Musically, they’re not just “jazz” in the narrow sense: they span funk, fusion, pop, rock, world music, and more.
Their shape-shifting, powerful improvisational ensemble playing has a jam-band quality, yet it remains accessible and pop-friendly rather than difficult or obscure—which is truly fantastic.
They’ve released many records, but a great entry point is Empire Central, their latest at the time of writing, recorded in Dallas, Texas—the band’s former home base—and released in 2022.
Give it a listen and dive into their sound!
Dead Between The WallsPELICAN
Alongside Russian Circles, Pelican are pioneers of what’s called post-metal in the American underground scene.
The Chicago band is known for colossal sonics and epic works that often feature dramatic tracks exceeding ten minutes.
While their sound incorporates elements of doom metal and sludge metal within heavy metal, it also shares affinities with post-rock acts like Mogwai and Mono.
At the same time, their music forms a uniquely Pelican-esque world—like a symphony of roaring sound—that has captivated many listeners across genre boundaries.
Formed in 2001, they signed with the legendary label Hydra Head Records—founded by members of Isis, one of the most important bands in the post-metal scene—and released their debut Australasia in 2003.
A Japanese edition was also released, and devoted music listeners were deeply struck by the ferocious guitar thunder and song structures that carried a cinematic narrative quality, as if watching a short film.
Their second album, 2005’s The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw, is personally the Pelican record I’d recommend picking up first.
Its blend of lyricism and sheer volume across seven tracks—said to represent the four seasons of their hometown Chicago—is truly superb.
If you’re not familiar with this kind of music, it might even change your concept of what an instrumental band can be.
They tour Japan regularly, too, so if you enjoy the recordings, be sure to catch their live show, where they deliver an absolutely overwhelming performance!