I'd have to say Russian Circles. They're an american instrumental-progressive-post-metal trio who simply rocks the ****ing shit out of me. Guitarist is amazing (better live than in studio). I mean he just nails all notes, expands the sound, creates loops as he plays (ultimately having like 2-3 loops on at the same time). The bass is on heavy distorition just like it should be. And the drummer. oh the drummer. Probably (in my opinion) the best drummer out there (excepting Math-rock drummers). His technique is just amazing, I've never seen anything like it. Someone said he looked like Jesus while playing, and I agree. There's something holy about him. Everything they do in the studio they do twice as good on stage. What added to the effect was that they played in a small place in front of a crowd of like 60-70 people. After the show, they shook hands with people at the front and you could basically just walk up and talk to them. Afterwards they moved around the crowd and signed shirts and albums.
