UPSIDE DOWN SKYWAY

PIKE 157 - UPSIDE DOWN SKYWAY is the 55th album by BUCKETHEAD released in 2015. Of course it's exclusively performed by BUCKETHEAD. Of course it is all instrumental and yes it clocks in near the half hour mark at 30:58. I think you get the hang of this PIKE thang by now. This album has seven shorter tracks instead of longer monster jams.

Track one "Caterpillar Invasion" is a short 2:20 metal rocker that has a basic metal riff and a little guitar part that actually sound like a caterpillar marching or something. It is pretty much an alternative rocker with no real developments. OK but not OMG great.

Track two "Skull Rock Cove" at 2:51 is yet another alternative metal rocker that has a basic riff and the extra guitar embellishments this time are synthesized. Nothing really happens to make this one exciting. Meh

Track three "Suspension Bridge" at 3:06 starts out with a mellow echo guitar, bass and drums at a slow tempo. A little lead guitar provides an anthemic melodic development. Another OK but nothing special track.

The title track (#4) at 8:40 is the longest on the album. This one starts out with a strong semi-funk bass line with a space rock guitar that are rather syncopated. Bass and drums keep a strong rhythmic pulse while guitar flutters around like a headless chicken. Despite this being an over eight minute song, it continues repeating the same chugging bass line and guitars. Yet another OK but nothing outstanding track.

Track five "Kendo Training Port" at 2:08 and is another alternative rocker with a little guitar riffage in the treble range and then the bass range. A short little track that never goes anywhere or does anything exciting. Meh

Track six "Braking Zones" at 6:05 is guess what! Another alternative metal rocker. This has a heavier sound with a grungy riff starting things off. Once again nothing exciting ever occurs. Just a going-through-the-motions PIKE filler. Major yawn.

Track seven "Insects" at 5:48 starts out at a slow tempo with a cleaner guitar tone and a rhythmic build up leading to a guitar lead playing with a bass line and drum beat. Kinda one of those crying bluesy guitar runs. This track stays mid-tempo and is even more uninteresting than the rest.

There's nothing on this PIKE i like! Zilch! Nada! As always it is all played well but is an empty shell of musical ideas. B-O-R-I-N-G!!!!