BUCKETHEAD — Pike 39 - Twisterlend (review)

BUCKETHEAD — Pike 39 - Twisterlend album cover

Album · 2013 · Alternative Metal

3/5 · 2016-08-01
siLLy puPPy

PIKE 39 - TWISTERLEND is the 28th album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2013 and the 68th solo album overall. Perfromed exclusively by the chicken lover and produced by Dan Monti and Albert. This one has SEVEN tracks and are pretty much all separated from each other.

"The Closed Triptych” (11:25) is the longest track by far covering a third of the album and begins as an alternative metal rocker with heavy guitar riffs, bass and drum. It lets the riff play for a while and then changes it up. This is alternative metal with its grungy sound but more like a classic 80s metal riff. It tends to have a sublet melody going on with the lead guitar while the rhythm guitar is muddy. This one tends to meander with the same chord progressions as the lead guitar changes up from one riff to a full-fledge solo but becomes a bit monotonous. By the 10 minute mark i’m so ready for it to be over already

"Ghouls of the Sea" (4:00) starts out very subdued and then breaks into a totally new kind of riff then some soloing in the upper register accompanies the grungy rhythm guitar. This one has some seriously delicious finger workouts as BH proves he can really make the guitar speak in new ways when he wants to. All the way through the playing together of two guitars tackling different styles is done very well and makes for an entertaining listen. Ends in a rather bad boy boogie woogie fashion

"Canal System" (1:53) is another alternative metal grungy riff monster that seems to get stuck on two chords for a while with a lead guitar over it but then breaks free and changes up the riffs while the lead accompanies

"Forbidden Fold" (3:50) changes abruptly from the previous track and starts out with a slow contemplative clean guitar with slight echo and bass but then bursts into full heavy metal glory with guitar riff, bass and drums that become joined by a bluesy lead guitar. After a bit it goes back to the intro clean guitar and bass for a few measures and then back to heavy metal

"Gloomy Emptiness" (2:29) begins with military drum march and heavy guitars but then drums go away and distorted guitar arpeggios begin. Drums and bass come back to create a loud raucous alt metal soundscape and then a sizzling solo and then back to chugga riffage.

"Bowling for Slaughters" (2:43) is yet another heavy alternative metal rocker that trades off with strange guitar runs that have a strange effect. Turns into bluesy riffs and then back to alt then back to a solo and then back to alt. Well, i’m sure you get how this one works

"Twisterlend" (4:16) begins with clean guitar in a very slow tempo with some slight cymbal action but then abruptly bursts into a highly caustic metal fury with heavy riffs, aggressive drums and a bouncing bass. It doesn’t take long for a sizzling guitar solo to erupt and then just as abruptly back to slow, placid, clean unaccompanied guitar. Of course, it jumps back into a new super heavy riff and back to clean. It pretty much changes between these passages with new heavy riffs appearing when the earache segments reemerge.

This one is overall pretty decent except for the ridiculously overlong first track which should be cut by 2/3 of its length. The rest of the album has some great moments that keep my interest despite being firmly rooted in alternative metal all the way through.