Herbie Hancock's mid-70's period is beyond reproach:

How could I have forgotten?

Another really cool instru-metal band with a great band name! Warr guitar is excessive but too cool. Gotta throw Animals As Leaders in this group as well...Tosin Abasi is pretty amazing.

All great submissions. I'll add the following...

Breadwinner
Ghosts and Vodka
Secret Cheifs 3

All four records are great

Lots of good stuff already posted so I'm just going to add a few.

Verma
Kinski (ocassional vocals with these guys)
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow and Wired era

And whoever mentioned Grails was spot on. Love them.

Yawning Man (Rock Formations onward is instrumental)/ Big Scenic Nowhere/ Dark Tooth Encounter
35007
Monkey3
Pharaoh Overlord (first 3 records)
Ultra Electric Mega Galactic (first album)

Honorable mentions for me, as many of their songs are instrumental, are Colour Haze and Mundell-era Atomic Bitchwax.

Lots of great bands mentioned so far. I'll add Yuri Gagarin

Yes, totally excellent.

my top #1 instrumental band of all time is return to forever. the original supergroup and they own all. Romantic Warrior is one of my favorite albums period.

^^^ Wow interesting! ;)



Gotta add Buckethead to all this....

Stinking Elizabeth. Jeff Becks fusion stuff , mostly listen to Jazz for instrumental stuff. Much prefer K2Bs 1 st LP with the singer. Gotm all but that's the most dramatic. Might even be so if vocals stripped off. Did they but a singer on some of the tracks from the 10'? The tour with a dif. Guy singing didn't work tho. Got a hot shit double cd of stuff from the Cramps collection of instros . Not at home can't check tittle. On bus.