siLLy puPPy PIKE 168 - OGNARADER is the 67th album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. I have no idea what the title means. Probably doesn’t mean anything but if it does maybe it’s encoded in the music. This is another instrumental PIKE exclusively played by BUCKETHEAD. Nearing the half hour mark at 28:49 this one has four strange tracks with strange titles that add up to spell the title of the album. Also this is an album cover that stands up in the crowd when you see all the PIKES pictured next to each other. Very different from his dark collages.

“Og” at 8:14 starts with a strange alternative metal riff with weird timing. It has a slight hold back on each chord to begin with but then rips into a frenzied guitar solo and then back to the slightly off riffing. It continues to trade off these two styles of playing however the guitar solos get more sophisticated and frenetic. Quite impressive actually. This riffs change it up a bit too as the track goes on. Basically this is a semi-progressive grungy metal rocker that has some virtuosic fiery solos that erupt periodically. Also has some weird electronica at the end. I’m liking it!

“na” at 12:01 is the longest track and begins with a nicely distorted guitar that has a semi-progressive timing that is then joined by bass and drums. The bass is really deep and beefy and then a guitar solo spews forth like lightning. Stylistically this is another alternative metal jam sounding a lot like the last one except the electronic freak outs start earlier and are more intense. This one has some nice variety as well with BUCKETHEAD showing off his guitar playing chops changing up time sigs and styles in his riffing as well as his solos. Keeps it interesting even though this is a very long track. It could probably be trimmed down a bit but it is keeping my interest!

“ra” at 3:37 starts out even more distorted and aggressive and sounds like a guitar is being tortured! A main riff follows and there are start and stop chords and then a frenzied solo and then back to the grungy riff. This is a slow track that packs a punch. Lots of call and response between the bassy guitar and the trebly guitar. At the end it actually goes a little funky for a bit and then back to a rip roarin’ solo. Whew! This album is energetic and exhausting so far :P

“der” at 4:57 starts with a hammer on guitar riff. Both hands are obviously contributing many fingers to the frets! It then abruptly turns into a mid-tempo alternative metal rocker that has kind of an anthem type of melodic style. Of course a frenetic solo erupts after a bit. This is the slowest track in tempo. Feels a lot different. Wondering if this is a remake of some national anthem of some country of the world. It has that kind of sing along feel to it. A strange electronic freak out at the end.

I like this PIKE! Bravissimo!