I'm including this part of my weekly music recommendation column here as a followup to the thread regarding instrumentals. Most of these are progressive rock and or metal, though I have included a wide sampling of many genres, and these should satisfy anyone's taste for heavy instrumental music.
The Words Unspoken: My second instrumental spotlight. Because the first one is not archived on Ultimate Metal, I will rewrite most of it here.
Shadow Gallery second half of Cliffhanger II: not one per se, but some of the most mind-blowing playing youll hear all year
Andromeda Chameleon Carneval: a superb showcase for this young bands talents, one of the most impressive debut albums in a long time.
Ice Age Musical Cages: In addition to this piece, Liberation also features several shorter and effective instrumentals between songs.
Derek Sherinian Rhapsody In Black, La Pera Loca: His solo album features guests ranging from Zakk Wylde to well known session musicians like Simon Phillips and Steve Lukather.
Madsword Living Hexadecimal: Amazing seven-minute instrumental from this Italian bands superb debut (and only) full-length
Ambeon Fate: Awesome atmospheric instrumental piece from Arjen Lucassens latest release.
Gordian Knot Singularity, Redemptions Way: Sean Malones followup to the acclaimed instrumental album will reunite him with two Cynic members, and include prog luminaries Bill Bruford and Steve Hackett.
Adagio Immigrant Song: Stephan Fortes neoclassical reinvention of the Zeppelin classic.
In Flames Man Made God: Excellent instrumental from the Jap version of Colony that showcases why this band have become the ambassadors of melodic death.
And Oceans TBA In A Silver Box: The experimental black metal band reaches out on this electronically-tinged piece, which sounds like it could fit on a science fiction soundtrack.
Iced Earth Transylvania: You probably paid extra for Horror Show partly because of this cover of the Maiden classic.
Attention Deficit RSVP, Low Voter Turnout: Bass wizard Michael Manring teams up with Alex Skolnick and Tim Alexander on this innovative instrumental album.
Tiles Ballad Of The Sacred Cows: This piece carries the spirit of Rush at their peak and is full of shifts and surprises.
Porcupine Tree Voyage 34: Excellent extended-length experimental piece with a trippy atmosphere, several different versions have been released.
Nightwish Moondance: Rousing instrumental piece from Oceanborn displaying some of Tuomas Holopainens eclectic influences.
Ozric Tentacles Xingu, Waterfall City: Spaced out weirdness from the prolific British cult instrumental prog experimentalists.
Marcel Coenen Independence Day: Instrumental solo album from the former Lemur Voice guitarist.
Platypus Partial To The Bean: 10-minute piece from the DT side project featuring John Myung and Derek Sherinian. Liquid Tension fans should enjoy this
Ulver - Hallways Of Always: The always unpredictable Garm offers up a few staggering electronic pieces on his latest opus Perdition City.
The Words Unspoken: My second instrumental spotlight. Because the first one is not archived on Ultimate Metal, I will rewrite most of it here.
Shadow Gallery second half of Cliffhanger II: not one per se, but some of the most mind-blowing playing youll hear all year
Andromeda Chameleon Carneval: a superb showcase for this young bands talents, one of the most impressive debut albums in a long time.
Ice Age Musical Cages: In addition to this piece, Liberation also features several shorter and effective instrumentals between songs.
Derek Sherinian Rhapsody In Black, La Pera Loca: His solo album features guests ranging from Zakk Wylde to well known session musicians like Simon Phillips and Steve Lukather.
Madsword Living Hexadecimal: Amazing seven-minute instrumental from this Italian bands superb debut (and only) full-length
Ambeon Fate: Awesome atmospheric instrumental piece from Arjen Lucassens latest release.
Gordian Knot Singularity, Redemptions Way: Sean Malones followup to the acclaimed instrumental album will reunite him with two Cynic members, and include prog luminaries Bill Bruford and Steve Hackett.
Adagio Immigrant Song: Stephan Fortes neoclassical reinvention of the Zeppelin classic.
In Flames Man Made God: Excellent instrumental from the Jap version of Colony that showcases why this band have become the ambassadors of melodic death.
And Oceans TBA In A Silver Box: The experimental black metal band reaches out on this electronically-tinged piece, which sounds like it could fit on a science fiction soundtrack.
Iced Earth Transylvania: You probably paid extra for Horror Show partly because of this cover of the Maiden classic.
Attention Deficit RSVP, Low Voter Turnout: Bass wizard Michael Manring teams up with Alex Skolnick and Tim Alexander on this innovative instrumental album.
Tiles Ballad Of The Sacred Cows: This piece carries the spirit of Rush at their peak and is full of shifts and surprises.
Porcupine Tree Voyage 34: Excellent extended-length experimental piece with a trippy atmosphere, several different versions have been released.
Nightwish Moondance: Rousing instrumental piece from Oceanborn displaying some of Tuomas Holopainens eclectic influences.
Ozric Tentacles Xingu, Waterfall City: Spaced out weirdness from the prolific British cult instrumental prog experimentalists.
Marcel Coenen Independence Day: Instrumental solo album from the former Lemur Voice guitarist.
Platypus Partial To The Bean: 10-minute piece from the DT side project featuring John Myung and Derek Sherinian. Liquid Tension fans should enjoy this
Ulver - Hallways Of Always: The always unpredictable Garm offers up a few staggering electronic pieces on his latest opus Perdition City.