12. Mastodon β Cold Dark Place (2017)
A surprise curveball from the sludge titans. Not a full instrumental album, but the title track and ambience-heavy sections offer a prog-metal soundscape that chills and grooves. A dreamy, heavy lullaby for stargazers in denim vests. π
11. Animals as Leaders β Weightless (2011)
Tosin Abasi = guitar wizard. This oneβs all djenty breakdowns, jazzy time signatures, and enough notes-per-second to break your brain. No vocals needed when your guitar is basically doing death-defying gymnastics. ππΈ
10. Liquid Tension Experiment β LTE 2 (1999)
Prog on steroids. Featuring Dream Theaterβs John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess and Mike Portnoy (plus Tony Levin on bass), this is like a musical space battle. If youβve ever wanted to be dropkicked into hyperspace by a Moog synth, this one’s for you. πΈπ₯
9. Earth β Earth 2 (1993)
The drone-doom blueprint. A wall of feedback and tone so thick you could spread it on toast. There are only 3 tracks, but they last longer than your average Iron Maiden encore. Warning: not for the faint-eared. β οΈπ
8. Joe Satriani β Surfing with the Alien (1987)
The Silver Surfer shreds. This one defined β80s guitar instrumental rock. Whammy bars, melodic hooks, cosmic vibes β itβs a time capsule of neon fretboard wizardry. Satriani made his Ibanez S scream and sing. πΉπ
7. Russian Circles β Geneva (2009)
Post-metal excellence. Cinematic, brooding, yet as crushing as a glacier falling on your tent at ArcTanGent. This is the soundtrack to hiking across a storm-ridden mountain with thunder in your boots. ποΈβ‘
6. Metallica β S&M2 (Instrumentals only) (2020)
Alright, this oneβs cheeky. But the instrumental versions of Metallicaβs classics with the San Francisco Symphony? π Goosebumps. βThe Call of Ktuluβ and βOrionβ are straight-up heavy metal ballets. π€π»
5. Explosions in the Sky β The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003)
Post-rock perfection. This album feels. Like heartbreak and hope had a jam session. No distortion overload here β just shimmering guitars painting entire emotional galaxies. π π
4. Steve Vai β Passion and Warfare (1990)
Steve Vai doesnβt play guitar β he channels aliens through six strings. This album is bonkers. Epic, weird, spiritual, and just the right amount of βis this guy alright?β madness. βFor the Love of Godβ is a shredder’s gospel. ππ½
3. Pelican β The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw (2005)
Post-metal done with brute force and grace. Massive riffs, soaring dynamics, and an apocalyptic sense of groove. Like Isis and Mogwai formed a tag team and decided to soundtrack the end of the world. π₯π
2. Buckethead β Colma (1998)
From the man who wears a KFC bucket and plays 300+ albums, Colma is a rare moment of serene genius. Ambient, emotional, restrained (!), and oddly comforting β like meditating in a haunted dojo. ππ
π₯ 1. Scale the Summit β The Migration (2013)
Tidy! This is peak instrumental prog-metal. Every track is like hiking through a fantasy world with dragons, riffs, and time signatures that need a calculator. The Texas-based band are insanely tight, melodic, and imaginative without ever needing a vocalist. The true champions of the modern instrumental metal scene. ππ
π€ Honourable Mentions (Because Weβre Not Monsters)
- Steve Morse Band β High Tension Wires
- Yngwie Malmsteen β Rising Force (He sings on some tracks, but mostly itβs just fretboard fireworks)
- Mono β Hymn to the Immortal Wind
- Blotted Science β The Machinations of Dementia (metal and neuroscience had a weird baby)
π€Final Riff
Who needs lyrics when the guitars are telling tales better than any bard could? These albums prove rock and metal donβt need a frontman to slap β sometimes a distortion pedal and a vision are all it takes to blow our minds (and eardrums). π§π₯
Let us know which ones we criminally left out. Diolch, legends! π΄π
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene specialβfrom legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether heβs battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, heβs always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When heβs not writing or interviewing artists, youβll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than musicβtheyβre about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Thatβs exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. π€
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