PIKE

Experimental/Post Metal • Sweden

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Pike biography
PIKE is an experimental sludge metal band from Kungs�r, Sweden. The band is a trio consisting of Alex RISBERG on bass and vocals, his drumming brother Alvin RISBERG and guitarist Erik PALM. They had previously played in various constellations and under different names, but never all three of them together.
When all their previous bands disbanded, around the same time, the three guys got together and decided that they would form their own band, which is when PIKE was born.

After making a name for themselves by playing live, PIKE released an 18 minute demo in late 2008 titled "Beneath Death Valley". The demo received positive response from fans and critics alike, featuring a very raw Sludge/Doom Metal sound. Late 2009 marked the release of their first proper EP titled "Beyond The Surface" featuring the same raw energy as their demo but with a more experimental approach to their sound.

Still, it wasn't until the release of their debut album, titled "To Cross The Great Divide", that the band completed their transition into a more laid back experimental territory. Released in March 2012, the album featured five compositions and a total running time of 50 minutes which are full of twists and turns that will make most fans of experimental sludge metal feel right at home.

Biography by Rune2000

PIKE Videos (YouTube and more)

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PIKE discography

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PIKE top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.90 | 2 ratings

To Cross The Great Divide
2012

PIKE Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

PIKE Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

PIKE Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

PIKE Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

2.00 | 1 ratings

Beneath Death Valley
2008

2.00 | 1 ratings

Beyond The Surface
2009

PIKE Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

To Cross The Great Divide by PIKE album cover

Studio Album, 2012
3.90 | 2 ratings
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To Cross The Great Divide
Pike Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Rune2000
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

I was introduced to Pike when they were featured as supporting act for Baroness during the band's 2012 Yellow & Green promotional tour. My initial impression of the band wasn't all that great while the trio performed their first composition, held back by pretty weak vocal performance by Alex Risberg on the track Nothing But Dust. Luckily the music had quite a few interesting twists to it and the instrumental interplay between the three members was surprisingly effective once the band entered the mellow experimental section of the track.

Still, it wasn't until the energetic second track, titled Mountainous, that Pike slowly began to win me over. There was a genuine feeling of excitement on my part as the trio progressed through this relatively short composition and, little did I know, the best was yet to come! The band took a short break as the front man, Alex Risberg, gave a short introduction to what would be their last track for the evening. Reassuringly, the composition in question was a 14 minute At The End Of Existence and it was a performance unlike any other that I've seen in quite some time! The intricate passages leading to the sludge metal meets James Hetfield vocal section was a huge improvement over the style I previously heard on Nothing But Dust as the track slowly progressed to the next section of its multi-part layering. The fast and heavy section that starts right around the forth minute is easily my favorite as it really takes the listener by surprise, especially on the album which until now has featured 40 minutes of slow experimental sludge metal! I'm really not going spoil the ending of this masterful composition as it really has to be heard to be believed.

To Cross The Great Divide is a colorful re-imagining of Pike in their live mode, professionally recorded on a disc in a studio for everyone to enjoy. I can't say I enjoy the first half of the album as much as its glorious second part, starting with Mountainous and Ned Land. But, overall, this is a solid record well worth discovering!

***** star songs: At The End Of Existence (13:38)

**** star songs: Nothing But Dust (9:03) Mountainous (5:39) Ned Land (11:32)

*** star songs: Rituale Romanum (10:55)

Thanks to Rune2000 for the artist addition.