siLLy puPPy BUCKETHEAD (as Bucketheadland) / Pike 263 - Glacier / 20th release of 2017 / All instrumental / Contains 5 tracks / Clocks in at 30minutes 57seconds / everything played by Buck-buck-buckethead

“Glacier” (13:50) slowly begins things with a nonchalantly unfolding guitar riff that becomes joined by bass and drums and then the riffing becomes a bit heavier. All stays mid tempo but after a while a cool echo effect takes over for a bit but reverts back to the alternative riffing that is punctuated by slower clean guitar segments. Melodically this track doesn’t change it up too much and is remnant of countless other PIKEs that have come before but the dynamics are mixed up a bit with riff changes and tempo shifts. Nothing is jarring with this one and all is smooth as silk with riffing segments, soloing and predictable chord changes. One of those tracks that’s perfectly listenable and unobtrusive but at the same time has been done many times before and has absolutely no luster to loose not to mention it becomes quite repetitive and outstays its welcome. Nice but not outstanding unless this is the first BUCKETHEAD track you’ve ever heard

“Relic” (4:03) begins soft and sensual sounding like a new wave guitar track but with also sounds a little flamenco in guitar strumming with a little surf guitar style mixed in. Sort of a new sound for BH actually. All stays subdued with clean guitar and a little Spanish guitar flair but never bursts out into anything energetic. The percussion remains light and fluffy and just when it all sounds like it’s ready to burst into a full-fledge production, it steps back and becomes super mellow. Nice track though

“Food” (5:19) completely shifts gears and immediately pumps out blistering adrenaline fueled metal riffs at light speed. The riffs are a bit thrashy as they gallop along with alternative grungy distortion turned up. Between the gallops is a little dance of progressive licks but never hang around too long and jump back into the steady stream of metal madness. Nice melodic development that combines heaviness with a heady flow. Nice track

“Evaporate” (4:06) begins with clean guitar and ambient background. As the melodic flow unfolds it morphs into different riffs and then picks up steam after a while by incorporating a more energetic percussive drive but the ambience remains thick and the clean guitar tone never changes. It never picks up past mid tempo and then slows down again. Pretty mellow track and fairly average actually

“Plate” (3:39) jumps back into metal with jittery riffs and a bouncy rhythm. Sounds like something from the 80s hard rock scene but i can’t put my finger on exactly what. Maybe a tad Van Halen but not quite. The riff dances around for a while and then a sizzling solo takes over until it derails and then the bouncy riff is back. Nice track but nothing OMG original

This is an average PIKE. Lots of nicely delivered tracks with a little bit of originality but for the most part rehashes of ideas already well covered on previous PIKEs. Nice to listen to but not one that compels me to return for future listens. Well played and good but nothing more