siLLy puPPy PIKE 130 - DOWN IN THE BAYOU PART TWO is the 29th album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. Believe it or not, this title has a PART ONE as well but it is the next release! This one is all instrumental with BUCKETHEAD on all instruments and clocks in near the half hour mark at 29:49. It has four tracks.

Track one “Critter” is a grungy alternative rocker. It clocks in at 6:55 and has lots of crunchy riffing with heavy bass and drum strikes. This is nothing out of the ordinary and i’m wondering how many tracks like this one can BH possibly record and put out? Apparently quite a friggin’ few. Meh

Track two “Marshmallow” clocks in at 4:12 starts off with a stop / start guitar grunge and then kinda goes into a groove metal sequence with a tortured guitar squeal here and there. The drums, bass and guitar actually groove together fairly well. This is a decent heavy distorted rocker. I like the sound.

Track three “Water Gardens” clocks in at 6:39 and also starts out as a heavy metal rocker that pretty much sounds like track two with the grunge groove metal only it change the riffs up a bit. Less effective because it’s so derivative and a little repetitive but decently played.

The title track finishes off the album and clocks in at 12:03. I swear it starts off sounding like AC/DC’s “For Those About To Rock We Salute You” only much louder and more distorted. It then changes into a standard alternative grungy rocker that meanders through different riffs, heavy bass and drums. This one has a hypnotic effect at times despite its aggressiveness. Kinda reminds me of some doom metal bands that have a thrashy veneer.

I kinda like this album although i don’t find it extraordinary by any means. Many of these PIKES are quite boring but this one has a certain charm to it that keeps me interested.