Top 5 On Friday – My 5 Favorite Instrumental Albums from 2025
I am a big fan of heavy instrumental rock music. The heavy underground has a decent amount of these types of bands, each honing in on their own style. There is a big variance from heavy riff rock to atmospheric and psychedelic tones. I enjoy it all! I wasn’t exposed to as much heavy instrumental music this year compared to the past. However, the ones that connected with me this year are all excellent! Each of the bands chosen are very new to me, mostly brand new with the exception of one being discovered last year. It’s wonderful on how much quality music is being produced today. I enjoy allowing the music to take me on an expansive mental journey through my thoughts and emotions. Instrumental music voids the distraction of vocals, allowing the focus to be at one with the instruments and the flow of the sounds. Some styles can be more ambient and relaxing while others can be energetic and riff-centric. It really depends on the mood and moment. Anyways, here are my top 5 favorite heavy instrumental rock bands from 2025. You can check out my top 25 favorite albums of 2025 here and also my top 25 favorite EPs from 2025 (here).
5. MOTORIK ROAD TRIP – V
The three-piece band from Bristol, England can really crank out the jams. This blazing fury of riffs and spectacular drumming is the kind of thing that Motorik Road Trip delivers throughout their six song record. The music is very interesting and explores different sonic avenues throughout its thirty plus minute runtime. This album was released in January and is one that I would return to from time to time. Very great grooves and bombastic drumming that blends nicely with the fuzz and cosmic rhythms.
https://motorikroadtrip.bandcamp.com
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4. CAUSA SUI – IN FLUX
The Denmark four-piece are considered legends in the heavy instrumental rock umbrella of underground music. They have been a band for over two decades now and I only discovered them last year. The name was a constant throughout the years and finally last year’s From The Source (review here) was my introduction. Causa Sui has returned a year later with In Flux and continues to amaze and transcend me with their formula of psychedelic rock. This band is the real deal and everything that I’ve heard from Causa Sui so far has been stellar. In Flux is no exception!
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3. ICARUS BURNS – SELF TITLED
This six track album is excellent! The German quartet have made a huge statement and imprint on the heavy instrumental rock genre with their Self Titled debut full length. The now instrumental juggernauts are mixing in the cosmic psych of My Sleeping Karma or Monkey 3 and combining in the riffy prog like Rotor and Dysrhythmia. Either way, Icarus Burns is a scorching release that is dense and introspective. This was an early in the year release and it made a huge impact on me.
https://icarusburns.bandcamp.com/music
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2. THE DEATH WHEELERS – THE ECSTASY OF MOLD
The Death Wheelers are a wild and rambunctious joy ride of sleazy hard rocking riffs and break neck biker rhythms. Blending some obscure movie samples in with their energetic hard rock and psych, The Ecstasy Of Mold has it all! The tight playing is matched with a raw aggression that’s pure magic. Like a train barreling down the tracks, the music is thrashy at times but totally rocking all the time.
https://thedeathwheelers.bandcamp.com/music
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1. CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC – BIRMINGHAM 2024
This band and album totally blew me away! I wasn’t expecting it to be this fantastic! Birmingham 2024 was completely recorded live in the studio, with no overdubs. The sound quality is amazing! This band is a musical monster from New York and they can riff and doom better than most. The overall rocking groove and transitions of these four tracks has totally sucked me in. With over ten albums in, Clouds Taste Satanic are brand new to me and I’m really enjoying their sound. This album is a first in a series of “live in studio” recordings from past tours. The band books a day in the studio from whatever country they are playing in and records the set live, as it was intended to sound at a show. The drums are thunderous and the guitars and bass all sound great too. This album has been one hell of an introduction for me to discover this band from. I love this whole concept and can’t wait for the latest, Berlin 2023 to be released this coming March.
