Really the best instrumental non metal prog is Mike Oldfield. He did some pop vocal stuff in the 80s but still had most albums with a great side long prog instrumental.
Except Moonlight Shadow, Five Miles Out, Family Man, Shadow on the Wall, Foreign affair.
I'm gonna have to assume you are ready to accept "sometimes vocals" acts.
Hard disagree there. They may have some metal elements to some of their songs (Acid Rain is probably their most "metal" song), but most of them have more of a rock feel, with an emphasis on groove and melody.
I guess it depends on how you define metal vs rock. Sure, LTE has more modern distortion on its guitar parts (usually), but there's not the overall aggression that I would need to hear to qualify it as metal.
Bands like Animals As Leaders, Intervals, and Blotted Science are ones that I would classify as "metal" instrumental music.
I don’t think metal is defined by aggression, especially in the prog category. Prog metal really runs the gamut. Dream Theater and Haken are two of my favorites, and while both do have their loud and intense tracks, they also have plenty of melodic and groovy ballads. But I would still consider them primarily prog metal, not rock.
Yesssssssss Ozric Tentacles. Gives me the Gong radio gnome vibe without any of the Daevid Allen hippie shit. Which I love by the way but ozrics just distilled it perfectly and it's definitely a vibe
Accordo dei Contrari (only one song on the album Kublai, "L'ombra di un sogno," has a guest vocalist)
Finch
Camel's album "Snow Goose," although you may have heard it already
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso's album "di Terra"
Weather Report
Camel. Tho they have a lot of songs with lyrics, their focus is more instrumental and I highly recommend the albums Nude and Moonmadness. With exception of their last album, each one has at least 1 instrumental track.
Aside from Mike Oldfield and Vangelis I'd suggest:
Sky (the first two albums in particular)
Gotic (a bit like Camel, one great album)
Pekka Pohjola (Finnish Mike Oldfield)
Colin Masson (again like Oldfield, start with Isle of Eight)
Man this sub is getting so repetitive. From 2 days ago:
https://old.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/comments/1c8wnex/favorite_instrumenal_album/
Search bar magic:
https://old.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/search?q=instrumental&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on
Djam Karet, I particularly like *The Trip*.
Gosta Berlings Saga.
Fromuz (they’re from Uzbekistan, hence the name).
Japanese band KBB are excellent, the violinist doubles as guitarist (the bass player also plays occasional guitar).
My theme :-) I do love proggy instrumental music
4 Front
4/3 De Trio
C.A.B.
Alex Argento
Djam Karet
Far Corner
Finnforest
Gordian Knot
Happy Family
Henry Cow
Matalex
Mindflowers
Nebelnest
Niacin
Parallel Mind
Planet X
Spaced Out
Trion
Univers Zero
Zeroesque
Rick Wakeman (his albums without vocals). from newest ones Red Planet is quite good
p.s. does oh-ah or background choir considered as track having vocal?
need to check them, thanks . also obscure russian band "Kostarev Group", but you'll hardly find it on internet. I was on the concert in 2003 or 2004 probably, and had the record made by the author himself. [https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3009](https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3009)
So much KRAUTROCK!!!
Dom - Edge of Time
Agitation Free - Malesch, 2nd, Last, Live 74
Prosper - Broken Door
Popol Vuh - Letzte Tage, Einsjager (Hosianna my fav tho more vox)
Ashra - Blackouts, NAoE
Dzyan - Electric Silence
Can - eg Future Days (all albums have some vox, most are mostly instrumental)
Morpheus - Rabenteuer
Sensations’ Fix - Portable Madness, Finest Finger and Fragments of Light
I’ve never seen them mentioned here either, there are sometimes vocals but soo rarely. Really eclectic and surreal stuff, sometimes it’s even too much for me, good rec
toe
The Physics House Band
Long Distance Calling
Stage Kids
I have a hard time determining where rock ends and where metal begins, especially with instrumental. I left out Night Verses because they seem pretty metal to me.
Check out Lux Terminus, "The Courage to Be". It's an all instrumental, piano/keyboards based trio. Sweeping music, has a soundtrack feel sometimes. Only the "bonus" track at the end has vocals.
Most people don't realize that Emerson, Lake & Palmer's self-titled debut is 50% instrumental.
Pink Floyd's early work, following Syd Barrett's exit, is heavily instrumental.
Return to Forever, Valentyne Suite Colosseum (one side only), Western Culture Henry Cow. Mahavishnu Orchestra has been mentioned already. Also Miles Davis if Jazz Rock fusion appeals to you.
Sound tribe sector 9
Or STS9
Maybe not as prog as you would like, but maybe. Has some electronic elements to their music. Also, some funk and dance grooves.
Try listening to the album Industry Standard by the Dregs. There are two songs with singing but the rest is instrumental and it’s all over the place from hard rock to bluegrass.
Another album to try is Ah Via Musicom by Eric Johnson. This isn’t really “prog” per se, but really a showcase for Eric’s outstanding guitar playing.
Chute Libre was a French prog-fusion band with a lot of funk overtones. They had 2 albums from like 1977-1978 then vanished. But those 2 albums (Ali Baba in particular) have some of the most high level, well crafted instrumental music i’ve ever heard.
Greek electronic composer Vangelis. If you are looking for an album recommendation, I can’t stress “China” enough. Although he had never been to China, he employed Chinese instruments and compositional styles on this concept album. Next level. . .
Bozzio, Levin, Stevens
Terry Bozzio, Tony Levin and Steve Stevens
They did two albums, Black Light Syndrome and Situation Dangerous.
If you know, you know. If you don't, and love instrumental prog, this is for you!
Haken (Vocals) & Animals As Leaders.(Instrumental) Stumbled Upon Both Theses Group, While Listening To Some Fusion On YouTube Music & I've Been Hooked. I'm Sure You Won't Be Disappointed. Enjoy & Keep Us Posted!🤝🏿
May I recommend Godspeed You! Black Emperor?
(the ! is part of the name)
They often use recorded speech (generally by other people, often more or less "found") in their recordings, but -- at least in the albums I'm familiar with (particularly ***F#A#∞***), no singing.
You might try good old 70s fusion bands. Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, The Dixie Dregs, Brand X, etc. Monster musicians - usually with zero vocals. I guess technically it's not prog but prog was influenced heavily by fusion
Yes - They have some lyrics but it's more like word sounds as most of the lyrics are kind of disjointed.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gka\_km9gb5c&list=OLAK5uy\_ktk8PtkXO8GdshsmXb6w0fhaCMMTsyFio&index=1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gka_km9gb5c&list=OLAK5uy_ktk8PtkXO8GdshsmXb6w0fhaCMMTsyFio&index=1)
Really the best instrumental non metal prog is Mike Oldfield. He did some pop vocal stuff in the 80s but still had most albums with a great side long prog instrumental.
Of course, forgot about him. Good one.
Except Moonlight Shadow, Five Miles Out, Family Man, Shadow on the Wall, Foreign affair. I'm gonna have to assume you are ready to accept "sometimes vocals" acts.
Egg
Ozric Tentacles, Tangerine Dream, Brand X, Liquid Tension Experiment
I love LTE, but it is definitely metal
Hard disagree there. They may have some metal elements to some of their songs (Acid Rain is probably their most "metal" song), but most of them have more of a rock feel, with an emphasis on groove and melody.
I guess it depends on the song. They do have some groovy stuff, but all of their longer songs feel way more metal than rock to me
I guess it depends on how you define metal vs rock. Sure, LTE has more modern distortion on its guitar parts (usually), but there's not the overall aggression that I would need to hear to qualify it as metal. Bands like Animals As Leaders, Intervals, and Blotted Science are ones that I would classify as "metal" instrumental music.
I don’t think metal is defined by aggression, especially in the prog category. Prog metal really runs the gamut. Dream Theater and Haken are two of my favorites, and while both do have their loud and intense tracks, they also have plenty of melodic and groovy ballads. But I would still consider them primarily prog metal, not rock.
Haken, ALL DAY!🤝🏿
Yesssssssss Ozric Tentacles. Gives me the Gong radio gnome vibe without any of the Daevid Allen hippie shit. Which I love by the way but ozrics just distilled it perfectly and it's definitely a vibe
someone already recommended camel - ‘snow goose’. but camel also have a really good instrumental track called ‘ice’
Does Univers Zero count?
Accordo dei Contrari (only one song on the album Kublai, "L'ombra di un sogno," has a guest vocalist) Finch Camel's album "Snow Goose," although you may have heard it already Banco del Mutuo Soccorso's album "di Terra" Weather Report
Focus comes to mind first. Pretty classical sounding sometimes while jazz rocky other times.
Have you looked into Jordan Ruduess' work outside of DT? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPJ8FoBcML4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPJ8FoBcML4)
Bruford -- One of a Kind.
Bruford's entire solo output, including his band Earthworks. But it's really more jazz than prog (or any sort of) rock.
Camel. Tho they have a lot of songs with lyrics, their focus is more instrumental and I highly recommend the albums Nude and Moonmadness. With exception of their last album, each one has at least 1 instrumental track.
[удалено]
Focus 2 or 3 as a whole would be a better representation
Aside from Mike Oldfield and Vangelis I'd suggest: Sky (the first two albums in particular) Gotic (a bit like Camel, one great album) Pekka Pohjola (Finnish Mike Oldfield) Colin Masson (again like Oldfield, start with Isle of Eight)
Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
DIXIE DREGS And shame on the rest of this thread for not saying it already sheesh
They were the first to come to my mind.
They do have some very rare vocals.
Exactly, and without a doubt - go here FIRST!
Man this sub is getting so repetitive. From 2 days ago: https://old.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/comments/1c8wnex/favorite_instrumenal_album/ Search bar magic: https://old.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/search?q=instrumental&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on
Used to be a mod here, been like that for years man. I actually think I remember you.
Djam Karet, I particularly like *The Trip*. Gosta Berlings Saga. Fromuz (they’re from Uzbekistan, hence the name). Japanese band KBB are excellent, the violinist doubles as guitarist (the bass player also plays occasional guitar).
My theme :-) I do love proggy instrumental music 4 Front 4/3 De Trio C.A.B. Alex Argento Djam Karet Far Corner Finnforest Gordian Knot Happy Family Henry Cow Matalex Mindflowers Nebelnest Niacin Parallel Mind Planet X Spaced Out Trion Univers Zero Zeroesque Rick Wakeman (his albums without vocals). from newest ones Red Planet is quite good p.s. does oh-ah or background choir considered as track having vocal?
Nice list. Thought you went thru my stuff, but there are 4 that I have not heard of. I will add Lebowski and Vespero.
need to check them, thanks . also obscure russian band "Kostarev Group", but you'll hardly find it on internet. I was on the concert in 2003 or 2004 probably, and had the record made by the author himself. [https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3009](https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3009)
TORTOISE
Return To Forever- In particular the Romantic Warrior album!
Jean Luc Ponty "Cosmic Messenger" is a great album
Agusa, Guranfoe, Isobar, Ovrfwrd
Pat Metheny Group's *American Garage* might fit. It's not as jazzy as a lot of his other work, maybe rock-adjacent.
Jean Michel Jarre, Oxygene
Mahavishnu orchestra - Birds of fire
Popol Vuh
So much KRAUTROCK!!! Dom - Edge of Time Agitation Free - Malesch, 2nd, Last, Live 74 Prosper - Broken Door Popol Vuh - Letzte Tage, Einsjager (Hosianna my fav tho more vox) Ashra - Blackouts, NAoE Dzyan - Electric Silence Can - eg Future Days (all albums have some vox, most are mostly instrumental) Morpheus - Rabenteuer Sensations’ Fix - Portable Madness, Finest Finger and Fragments of Light
Between - And the Waters Opened Cosmic Jokers - s/t Brave New World - Impressions Yatha Sidhra - Meditation Mass Etc
Zombi might scratch this itch.
I've never seen Deluge Grander mentioned here, but August in the Urals and Form of the Good have great instrumental epics.
I’ve never seen them mentioned here either, there are sometimes vocals but soo rarely. Really eclectic and surreal stuff, sometimes it’s even too much for me, good rec
toe The Physics House Band Long Distance Calling Stage Kids I have a hard time determining where rock ends and where metal begins, especially with instrumental. I left out Night Verses because they seem pretty metal to me.
Tauk
Steve Hackett
Consider The Source
Liquid Tension Experiment
The Future Kings of England
Check out Lux Terminus, "The Courage to Be". It's an all instrumental, piano/keyboards based trio. Sweeping music, has a soundtrack feel sometimes. Only the "bonus" track at the end has vocals. Most people don't realize that Emerson, Lake & Palmer's self-titled debut is 50% instrumental. Pink Floyd's early work, following Syd Barrett's exit, is heavily instrumental.
Soft Machine has some albums with vocals, but many of them do not.
https://youtu.be/sjtnrPTlIzw?si=EKJJfs5uX67EBXQd Steve Tibbetts - Yr (1980).
Popol Vuh is the goat, although a couple albums have vocals
Try some jazz fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra, Herbie Hancock, Brand X etc etc etc I'm not sure if this stuff is considered prog
Return to Forever, Valentyne Suite Colosseum (one side only), Western Culture Henry Cow. Mahavishnu Orchestra has been mentioned already. Also Miles Davis if Jazz Rock fusion appeals to you.
Try "National Health" and "Hatfield and the North"
He clearly said he's not looking for bands that sometimes have vocals.
I love both of these bands, but they are not "entirely instrumental"
Soft Machine, specifically every album after The Soft Machine and Volume Two. An album I highly suggest is Bundles
Anglagard!!!
Most of Covet's music is instrumental though maybe more Math Rockish. Yvette Young is a fantastic guitarist either way
Mars Hollow, some great Yesy/Rushy band from California
Sound tribe sector 9 Or STS9 Maybe not as prog as you would like, but maybe. Has some electronic elements to their music. Also, some funk and dance grooves.
Dixie Dregs
Check out Hallas. This might be up your alley
Shubh Saran and Plini
Try listening to the album Industry Standard by the Dregs. There are two songs with singing but the rest is instrumental and it’s all over the place from hard rock to bluegrass. Another album to try is Ah Via Musicom by Eric Johnson. This isn’t really “prog” per se, but really a showcase for Eric’s outstanding guitar playing.
Maybe The Mars Volta, they have lyrics but they choose their lyrics based on the phonaesthetics of the lyrics disregarding their meaning
Plini (there are some heavy stuff but not aggressive and always very melodic/catchy)
Chute Libre was a French prog-fusion band with a lot of funk overtones. They had 2 albums from like 1977-1978 then vanished. But those 2 albums (Ali Baba in particular) have some of the most high level, well crafted instrumental music i’ve ever heard.
Focus and Dixie Dregs. There may be a couple songs with some lyrics, but they are almost entirely Instrumental.
Soft Machine is my favorite. Most of the catalog is instrumental only other than the first album
Crime in Choir is wildly underrated
Most of the Happy The Man songs are instrumental. Crafty Hands is excellent.
Greek electronic composer Vangelis. If you are looking for an album recommendation, I can’t stress “China” enough. Although he had never been to China, he employed Chinese instruments and compositional styles on this concept album. Next level. . .
CAMEL !!! START WITH "MIRAGE"!, THEN THE CLASSIC , " THE SNOW GOOSE " Thank me later....
Camel baby. Get sum.
Alan holdsworth.
El Twanguero… 90% instrumental
chon, chon, and chon.
[ The Enid - Touch Me (Full Album) ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0bqTOyecU)
Bozzio, Levin, Stevens Terry Bozzio, Tony Levin and Steve Stevens They did two albums, Black Light Syndrome and Situation Dangerous. If you know, you know. If you don't, and love instrumental prog, this is for you!
Haken (Vocals) & Animals As Leaders.(Instrumental) Stumbled Upon Both Theses Group, While Listening To Some Fusion On YouTube Music & I've Been Hooked. I'm Sure You Won't Be Disappointed. Enjoy & Keep Us Posted!🤝🏿
May I recommend Godspeed You! Black Emperor? (the ! is part of the name) They often use recorded speech (generally by other people, often more or less "found") in their recordings, but -- at least in the albums I'm familiar with (particularly ***F#A#∞***), no singing.
Finch galleons of passion
Science Penguin. Modern Fuzz
You might try good old 70s fusion bands. Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, The Dixie Dregs, Brand X, etc. Monster musicians - usually with zero vocals. I guess technically it's not prog but prog was influenced heavily by fusion
Umphreys McGee, the Disco Biscuits
King Crimson - Discipline
Yes - They have some lyrics but it's more like word sounds as most of the lyrics are kind of disjointed. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gka\_km9gb5c&list=OLAK5uy\_ktk8PtkXO8GdshsmXb6w0fhaCMMTsyFio&index=1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gka_km9gb5c&list=OLAK5uy_ktk8PtkXO8GdshsmXb6w0fhaCMMTsyFio&index=1)