PIKE 249 - THE MOSS LANDS

BUCKETHEAD (as Bucketheadland) / Pike 249 - The Moss Lands / 6th release of 2017 / All instrumental / Contains 6 tracks / Clocks in at 28minutes 30seconds / everything played by Buck-buck-buckethead

"The Moss Lands" (2:49) begins with a grungy groovy metal guitar riff that is quite rhythmic but also repetitive. It basically continues an easily digestible alternative metal hook with a couple break downs and doesn't do much else

"Crescent Moon" (4:15) starts a little slower in tempo but retains the medium distortion of the guitar but then picks up with more energetic strut with some treble squeals and alternates with riffs in the bass range. It then adds a wailing solo. It continues on with different changes in the rhythmic approach but basically alternates riffs with solos

"Antique Wall" (2:36) starts with a slower echoey guitar that creeps in slowly and then is joined in by the bass which is more energetic than the lazy feel of the guitar. The drum is simply tagging along and doesn't perform any vital services. The guitar changes into a grungy series of power chords before developing into a riff that changes up the timing a bit more. It's all rather bluesy but in an alternative way

"City of Lutes" (2:31) i was hoping this would be something cool with lutes but it is actually a series of heavy metal riffs stacked against each other at a fairy fast tempo. Guitar and bass are on fire but drums are lazy and just follow the pack doing nothing more than keeping the beat

"Groves" (3:36) turns down the distortion a bit but not the speed. The drum picks up substantially and a semi-distorted guitar echoes into the scene with the bass. It soon turns into a more metallic rocker with alternating riffs on the guitar

"Sunless Stream" (4:44) begins with a slower distorted guitar arpeggio with bass and drums. It then slows down even more for a while before picking up. Sounds like one of those slower tracks only with the distortion turned up significantly. It basically meanders on and on with some slower breakdowns but a rather generic track

"Faint Clicking" (2:51) is yet another semi-quickened distorted alternative metal riff monster. This one has a little reverb to the mix and adds a much needed break from the monotony of this PIKE. This one has a nice little series of riffs. More catchy than the others

"Vague Visions" (2:33) is a bit more frenetic and progressive than the rest. It is also distorted guitar riffs, bass and drums but a bit more jittery in the beginning before becoming stabilized into the status quo

"Ribbons" (2:35) is also an energetic alternative metal series of riffs that pretty much follows suit

This is an average PIKE that dazzles in playing ability but is quite lackluster in the composition department and it's the kind of stuff that's been done many times before

2.5 rounded down