siLLy puPPy And here we are! Another lovely day at BUCKETHEADLAND and yet another PIKE dropped by the chicken lover named BUCKETHEAD. This one is somewhat of an achievement since PIKE 300 represents a milestone in this egg dropping from coop!

PIKE 300 - QUARRY comes just in time for Christmas but given that it’s digitally released only, don’t expect it wrapped and put under the tree. This is yet another all instrumental affair and features 5 tracks that simply are titled “Q1,” “Q2,” “Q3,” “Q4” and “Q5.” I have another Q and that would be “WTF?”

These PIKEs have started feeling like Groundhog Day quite some time ago as the PIKEs released in 2021 have generally been nothing more than recycled ideas that seem to roll off the PIKE assembly line like jars of peanut butter! This is another one of those alternative metal PIKEs that simply generates some grungy riffing, a few break downs and various shifts in direction.

“Q1” does the typical bluesy heavy rock guitar riffing dance and a little more on the metal side than recent PIKEs that were just hard rock. At 8 1/2 minutes it’s the longest track but the lengthy time length isn’t really justified. “Q2” pretty much sounds like hitting replay. Everything the same except a different melody. “Q3” just keeps the guitar riff party going. Same tempo, same guitar, bass and drum interplay. Really same same same!

And THEN guess what?!!!! You got it - “Q4” keeps it going!!! Surprise, surprise however at least on this one there are some quieter sections with some palm muted micro-riffs but basically another grungy alt metal guitar workout. And then just because you didn’t ask for it, “Q5” and another version of basically what sounds like five songs with minor variations!

OK, is it obvious i’ve grown tired of the ceaseless recycling of ideas that have been presented ad nauseam from the chicken lover? Well i find these newer PIKEs to be extremely booooooring! Are fans really continuing to buy these just because it’s BH? I wish i could recommend this for any reason but really it only offers five tracks doing the same alt metal shtick that have been featured on dozens of PIKEs at this point. Completists only (i’m not one.)