10 Great Obscure Post-Rock Bands

1. Toundra

Calling Madrid, Spain home, instrumental quartet Toundra, according to their official bio, “are as influenced by the big names of progressive and rock as they are by the many faces of punk and alternative rock.” Since 2007, they've released a string of excellent albums, always challenging themselves to chart new territory and incorporate fresh ideas.

A testament to the group's ambitions and wide-ranging influences dates to 2017, when they teamed up with then-emerging Flamenco artist, Niño de Elche, to record a joint project under the moniker, Exquirla. Never a band to sit still, Toundra's 2020 album, Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari, was conceived as an original soundtrack to the classic German silent horror movie of the same name, timed to coincided with the 100th anniversary of the film's director, Robert Wiene.

Their latest offering, 2022's Hex, displays all the usual Toundra hallmarks – a bruising passion and intensity balanced out by fine compositions full of drama and pathos. This is a cerebral band with a great melodic sensibility, well in touch with their rock roots.

Contributor

Chris Wheatley is a journalist and writer from Oxford, UK. He has too many records, too many guitars and not enough cats.