Why “Stairway to Heaven” Is Just the Beginning: The Lesser Known Genre of Instrumental Rock Music

By Meda B. '27

Check out this accompanying playlist.

When I read Orhan’s article, I was a little indignant. How could “Stairway to Heaven” be the best song ever, musically? First of all, it’s about hobbits—most people believe The Lord of the Rings inspired the song. Second and more importantly, every virtue listed in his article was something that I recognize in countless other songs. “Stairway to Heaven” is about as famous as a 70s rock song can get. But Led Zeppelin still doesn’t pull off a long, mostly instrumental epic any better than Pink Floyd, or Metallica, or Samsara Blues Experiment—a band that might have 0.002% of Led Zeppelin’s monthly listeners, but nevertheless one that produced some of the most amazing song sagas I’ve heard. 

Orhan’s article made me wonder—why is this genre of intricately instrumental rock music so under the radar of public opinion? Numerous songs are more musically compelling than “Stairway to Heaven,” yet most of them aren’t well known. To me, it’s a given that Pink Floyd’s “Echoes” is much more musically interesting than “Stairway to Heaven,” but have you, reader, ever actually listened to the song’s twenty-three minutes of eerie, symphony-like crescendos? Probably not, and I can’t really blame you. 

I believe that music is a uniquely personal experience, and there can never be one specific “best song ever.” When I listen to music, I like different songs depending on my mood. That’s why I won’t make any broad claims that a certain genre is the best (plus, it would give too much credit to a genre dominated by aging white male rockers.) But, I will argue that this specific kind of rock music deserves to be recognized and enjoyed for its musical complexity and instrumental storytelling. It’s distinct from the hoarse yelling and long-haired head-banging you might associate with certain kinds of rock. 

This kind of music isn’t a specific genre per se. Metal, Stoner Rock, and Prog Rock are all genres that include some of what I would call “instrumental rock songs.” What defines an “instrumental rock song” (a term I made up, so don’t try to google it!) is not necessarily a song without vocals. Many of these songs, including “Stairway to Heaven,” have an interesting lyrical melody. But what sets these songs apart from other rock songs is that the lyrics aren’t the focus. If these songs do have vocals, they’re just one more instrument, and each instrument gets a chance to stand out. Unlike a three-minute pop song or a thrashing punk number with the fuzz pedal turned up all the way, these songs are usually long, with an intense composition reminiscent of an orchestral piece. They can be fast or slow, loud or quiet at times, but what’s important is how they communicate meaning through their instruments. 

To show you a little of what I mean, I’m going to focus on the song “The Call of Ktulu” by Metallica. (You’ll enjoy this article more if you give this song a try, so please do. Give my yapping some context!). 

If you’ve never voluntarily listened to Metallica before, you probably think of them as nothing more than a screaming, ’80s hair band decked out in black leather and aggressive death motifs. Many of their more famous songs, like “Enter Sandman,” are overwrought enough to give that impression. To be honest, their 2023 72 Seasons album (yes, they’re still not retired) is little more than over-fast instrumentals paired with hyper-masculine yelling. But not all of their music is like this. For example, “The Call of Ktulu,” on the 1984 album Ride the Lightning, is something special. 

It’s entirely instrumental, which in this case increases the magic of the song. Without vocals, you can properly appreciate the musical complexity and skill of the band. The song delivers a narrative without lyrics. According to an (extremely reputable) source called the Metallica Fandom Wiki, it was inspired by a fictional story called “The Call of Cthulhu,” written by H. P. Lovecraft. The story is apparently about a powerful, god-like demon worshipped by cults on Earth, and there are vaguely demonic noises throughout the song. 

“The Call of Ktulu” opens with a gentle, repetitive melody on an amplified guitar that quickly changes as more instruments join in and the pace picks up. When the drums enter, the mysterious intro transforms into a forceful melody which is carried throughout the song. Though the rapid rhythm lines and drum pattern are classic metal, the song also has a unique beauty as it builds and changes over all nine minutes. From the guitar solo that drops four minutes into the song and seems to pulse through your whole body to the break at 6:10, which halts the crescendo and changes the musical pattern entirely, the song is vibrantly alive. By the time it finishes, you feel as if the song left a permanent impact on you. 

I hope you just listened to the song and are as impressed as I was the first time I heard it. If you’re not a fan, that’s okay—again, musical taste is subjective. But it’s undeniable that that song displays a level of skill and complexity that isn’t often seen in popular music. And it’s not alone. There are countless other rock songs that employ their own techniques and use instrumentation, not just singing, to evoke a story.

Though I’m no expert on classical music, there are clear commonalities between instrumental rock songs and baroque and classical pieces. Though the instruments and the themes are different, both genres highlight individual instruments while maintaining a consistent whole. They build a complex musical structure through disparate melodies, which build to dramatic exclamations and fall into gentle lulls. Most importantly, they communicate powerful emotions without relying on words. Some rock musicians, like the guitarist in the band Helmet, even began their careers with classical training, and it shows. Many metal or prog rock artists cite composers like Bach as inspiration for their work. Metallica itself even performed an entire album in collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony. 

 So, if you think that “Stairway to Heaven” stands out musically, tap into the wealth of lesser-known, complex instrumental songs out there. Listen to some of the songs on the playlist I linked at the top of the article. Each one is from a different genre, but they’re all pretty cool. 

And, if you got nothing else out of reading this article, at least next time you’re on a road trip and it’s your turn to choose a song, you can drive your friends crazy by making them sit through all 35 minutes of Fishmans’ song “LONG SEASON.” Beat that, Led Zeppelin. Beat that, hobbits.