Favorite Rock/Metal Instrumentals.

[88keys]

In no particular order...

Metallica - To Live is to Die

Rush - La Villa Strangiato

Dream Theater - Stream of Consciousness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNilsLf6eW4
Thane Farace - THC

Liquid Tension Experiment - Universal Mind


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WdYt9VkVek

 

[Snock514]

Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake

 

[phucheneh]

God, I forgot how hilariously fast Stream of Consciousness got at close to four minutes in. John Petrucci is just like 'welp, guess I'll break the universe now.'

 

[88keys]

I think Petrucci is one of the best shredders around. I like the little shred he does during the solo for Erotomania.

 

[Ns1]

Nine inch Nails Just Like you Imagined
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaI2qTpsgu0

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Metallica - The Call of Ktulu

I'm also a huge fan of the instrumental break in Master of Puppets, but it's not a full instrumental so I don't know if it qualifies.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I like some of the obvious ones from Satriani, Eric Johnson, SRV, etc.

David Bryan with Edgar Winter - Netherworld Waltz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYEkEpTUwP0

Wishbone Ash - The Spirit Flies Free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMK2H-FoQOs

ZZ Top - Asleep in the Desert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svkqqFaihPQ

Not on YouTube:
Michael Penn - several on his Tarots and Tea b-sides CD
David Baerwald - Oh My Baby (from Hurly Burly)

 

[88keys]

Metallica - The Call of Ktulu

I'm also a huge fan of the instrumental break in Master of Puppets, but it's not a full instrumental so I don't know if it qualifies.

I think those would be called "Epic Songs". Popular with 70's prog rock bands, and early Metallica.

 

[phucheneh]

Metallica - The Call of Ktulu

I'm also a huge fan of the instrumental break in Master of Puppets, but it's not a full instrumental so I don't know if it qualifies.

I think this type of music just needs vocals. I can't cite much in the way of true Dream Theater instrumentals that I like. But they write such long, technical, instrument-focused music that it's hard for me to differentiate something like Octavarium or, say, one of their various medleys from 'instrumental' music. LaBrie is there, but he's more...strategic, I guess. Not a 'lead' so much as just using his vocals as an instrument that is secondary to pretty much everyone else in the band.

I'm also a big fan of 'concept albums,' where an instrumental may not be that impressive on its own, but as part of the whole, it's fucking great.

Right now this thread has inspired me to listen to Leitmotif (dredg). Might as well be one giant instrumental (technically it alternates tracks with/without vocals). How about opera singing, does that count? No one knows what the shit they're saying, anyway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un027bv0yPs#t=80

Can I have chanting, at least? :/
Eluvitie - Elembivos

 

[KeithTalent]

Melvins - Love Thing

I've always loved Fugazi's instrumentals. I think they have one on every album.

Fugazi - Sweet & Low

Fugazi - Steady Diet

There are also bands like Pelican, Russian Circles, Godspeed, etc.; I like most of their stuff.

KT

Edit: this is one of my favourite songs of all time (there is a bit of vioce over at the beginning, but it's an instrumental Godspeed - Sleep fucking epic.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Would be a crime to omit a couple of the granddaddies of rock instrumentals:

Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group

Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin

 

[Ns1]

Would be a crime to omit a couple of the granddaddies of rock instrumentals:

Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group

Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin

YOU'RE RIGHT

A Saucerful of Secrets - Live at Pompeii - Pink Floyd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSsjxbRxgqY

The first part is a hard listen, but the song is not complete without both parts.

 

[schmuckley]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBE7u7byTk

can't forget Satchmo or Vai..

or Johnny Winter

 

[NikolaeVarius]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK0rvReE-4c
Far Beyond the Sun- Yngwie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG2804ggsI0
Sea of Lies.Not reall an instrumental but I've always loved to hear the guitar section only by itself.

 

[stargazr]

The Meters - Cissy Strut
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_iC0MyIykM

 

[JManInPhoenix]

Miserlou - Dick Dale

Hawaii Five O - The Ventures

Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson

 

[esquared]

In the Memory of Elizabeth Reed

Hocus Pocus

Albatross

Soul Sacrifice

Fire on High

Embryonic Journey

Harlem Nocturne

Town Without Pity

Classical Gas

 

[drebo]

Hocus Pocus! Yes!

Also, Apocolyptica has a lot of good stuff.

 

[88keys]

Steve Vai - Juice

 

[BrokenVisage]

Cliffs of Dover

 

[Spydermag68]

Neil Peart Drum Solo Time Machine DVD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nKe7JZ41GI

The Rhythm Method
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlCREjYgFEs

 

[HamburgerBoy]

The classic Metallica instrumentals are all great, as mentioned. Deathrow's Triocton comes really close in quality (and easily exceeds those in technicality), and OSI's Dirt From a Holy Place is also a big favorite for me.

EDIT: And when it comes to pure prog, Gentle Giant's The Boys in the Band is one of the best too.

 

[TechBoyJK]

I think Petrucci is one of the best shredders around. I like the little shred he does during the solo for Erotomania.

he's not the fastest, but I think he's the best. He still plays with soul and some seriously ambitious musical intent.

 

[inf1nity]

I haven't really heard any instrumentals, but One by Metallica has a pretty good rhythm in the beginning.

 

[TechBoyJK]

I haven't really heard any instrumentals, but One by Metallica has a pretty good rhythm in the beginning.

If you like that, absolutely listen to Dream Theater's 'Stream of Consciousness', which was mentioned in the OP and commented about the next few posts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIANchfl7Z8

Metallica's style had a huge influence on Dream Theater and this song is a grand instrumental by some seriously badass players. Shit gets real haha