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I think I've discovered the best "modern" instrumental band.

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I'm here to recommend Grails, probably my favorite modern band. Purely instrumental, mixes post rock with psychedelia and Eastern instruments like the mandolin. It's trippy as fuck and sounds amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1lE90gT37U&sns=em

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5-iC-nc-RQ&sns=em

Edit: Really wanna link to one song from their album "Doomsdayer's Holiday" but unfortunately there's a nekkid lady (er thing) on the cover. If you dig what I've already posted OP do a search for "Grails Acid Rain" on YouTube. Song is fantastic.
 
Yup, Opeth is fucking awesome. Blackwater park has to be one of favorite albums.

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Late edit: Sorry for the double post!
 
I'm here to recommend Grails, probably my favorite modern band. Purely instrumental, mixes post rock with psychedelia and Eastern instruments like the mandolin. It's trippy as fuck and sounds amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1lE90gT37U&sns=em

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5-iC-nc-RQ&sns=em

Edit: Really wanna link to one song from their album "Doomsdayer's Holiday" but unfortunately there's a nekkid lady (er thing) on the cover. If you dig what I've already posted OP do a search for "Grails Acid Rain" on YouTube. Song is fantastic.

Not even done with acid rain and I love it. Not what I expected but damn it's good.
 
For weird music lovers that are somewhat into prog: good ol Magma.

It's kind of instrumental, since the vocals are sung in an invented percussive language - so just another instrument.
 
Not even done with acid rain and I love it. Not what I expected but damn it's good.

Glad you like it. Definitely check out their albums "Doomsdayer's Holiday", "Deep Politics", and "Take Refuge in Clean Living". The latter one is probably the most Eastern influenced and probably my favorite. Lots of gorgeous textures of mandolins laid on top of multiple guitars. Lush as hell.

I'll throw this one out there so you can get a taste of that one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1X96Fz0YyM
 
Holy shit, how can I forget them. Dan Briggs is awesome in this along with the rest of the band. Love this album.

And they just released a new one.

Every time I try to introduce people to them, they hate it. I still haven't heard back from the jazz musicians I told about them.
 
Some good picks that I don't think have been hit on too much yet:

Cloudkicker (Post-metal meet progressive metal. Incredibly dense and atmospheric without sacrificing complexity. Absolutely amazing.)
Gru (Incredibly intricate progressive metal with some of the most amazing solos out there. Seriously, I'm constantly blown away by them. It's so fucking good.)
Polyphia (Very catchy progressive metal with some awesome hooks and solo)
Sithu Aye (Jazz fusion meets indie rock. Just go with it.)
Plini (Same as Sithu Aye. Play this shit.)
 
Thanx! Never heard of them.

Personally i think Max Tundra is pretty much the best modern "band" for me. He's alone though.
He has a really unique style.
 
Some good picks that I don't think have been hit on too much yet:

Cloudkicker (Post-metal meet progressive metal. Incredibly dense and atmospheric without sacrificing complexity. Absolutely amazing.)
Gru (Incredibly intricate progressive metal with some of the most amazing solos out there. Seriously, I'm constantly blown away by them. It's so fucking good.)
Polyphia (Very catchy progressive metal with some awesome hooks and solo)
Sithu Aye (Jazz fusion meets indie rock. Just go with it.)
Plini (Same as Sithu Aye. Play this shit.)

Nice. I would also include:

Chimp Spanner
Chon
Exivious
Miroist
Modern Day Babylon
Pomegranate Tiger
Widek
Scale the Summit

And Animals as Leaders, of course.
 
I think his latest record, "the raven that refused to sing" is his best yet, mainly because its fucking awesome and because i'm a Minnemann / Govan fanboy :D

I don't know a lot of Wilson's solo work. Porcupine tree/blackfield is as much as I know. I'm sure it's just as good.
 
GAF, you continue to blow my mind. Not in a million years did I ever think people actually like the same type of music that I do. Especially this.
 
They're pretty heavy and really geared towards music nerds, but I can't think of a more "modern" instrumental band than Animals as Leaders. They are the very definition of progressive and fresh, from their songwriting to the actual techniques being pioneered on guitar by Tosin Abasi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UqlXHE56r0 - Guitar Center session version of Lippincott.

That being said, never heard Orzic Tentacles before and i'm really digging the linked track, so thanks.

What about Polyphia?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtVx01HMR98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jhZB73IawI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv7Hyz4hqm0
 
So many good bands listed in this topic. All of my favorites have been mentioned at least once, and I've found some new ones to listen to. Love all of you, and I love this thread.

EDIT: Apologies if it's been posted, but this is one of my favorite guitar demo videos: http://youtu.be/ihqT1aA4Q88

EDIT the second: Also, if you like Abasi you should give his side project T.R.A.M. a try. First heard it playing in a record store out in Phoenix, and bought the album the same day.
 
They're pretty heavy and really geared towards music nerds, but I can't think of a more "modern" instrumental band than Animals as Leaders. They are the very definition of progressive and fresh, from their songwriting to the actual techniques being pioneered on guitar by Tosin Abasi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UqlXHE56r0 - Guitar Center session version of Lippincott.

That being said, never heard Orzic Tentacles before and i'm really digging the linked track, so thanks.

I didn't even know there were 8(?) string guitars until I discovered animals as leaders.
 
Whoever recommended Gru, you were right. My mind is blown.

You're welcome! Gru's such an amazing reclusive genius. He's put out that one album (for free for a long time), did a few guest solos for Plini and Widek, and has posted a few little teasers/song ideas, but the dude stays quiet and quite an enigma.
 
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