siLLy puPPy PIKE 162 - FOUR FORMS is the 61st album by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. Once again we get an all instrumental album that clocks in over the half hour mark at 34 minutes and 44 seconds. BUCKETHEAD steals the show as he performs all the instruments and sounds. While the album has seven tracks most are short and only the first one is over ten minutes.

Track one “Midnight Sun” at 13:33 is by far the longest track and begins things with an almost symphonic beginning as the guitar is processed to sound as smooth as a baby’s butt. There is lots of ambient noise in the background and we get a mid-tempo drum beat. The space rock guitar joins as does the bass which make this another one of those Pink Floydian tracks, however it is actually quite successful in not sounding like its too derivative while still being obvious. The melodic development is pleasing as well. Good choices of sounds, tempo, mixing etc. This is actually one of the better PIKE tracks in this style that i’ve heard so far although it might not need to go on for almost half the album.

The title track (#2) at 6:03 is the second longest track and begins with a much more aggressive alternative metal riff with some synthesized background swirlies. After the riff goes on for a while there is some of the synthesized guitar action with some playful riffs. In accord with many of this kind of track, the two trade off and add a few variations to the theme.

Track three “Collapse Surface” at 3:28 ups the tempo even more and is an aggressive alternative metal rocker with some thrash elements added this time. The aggressive riff alternates with the cleaner guitar riff but when the metal riff returns it becomes fully furious thrash metal with crunchy gallops and solos.

Track four “Open Warp” at 3:48 is yet another alternative metal rocker that incorporates thrash metal elements. I like the opening riff as it maintains the fast and furious approach but after a few bars it suddenly changes into an avant-garde post-metal type of sound for a while and then reverts back into thrash metal for a while and then alternative metal. Also some electronica in the background.

Track five “Dripping Castle” at 3:09 slows down the tempo considerably and starts with highly distorted and echoey guitars. Sort of a spacey grunge and then once the drum and bass kick in it has a steady beat and becomes more of an alternative metal rocker with the synthesized space sounds weaving their way around the main guitar riffs.

Track six “Ricochet Laser” at 2:01 starts out immediately as a heavy metal rocker. It’s more of a classic 80s metal type of riff with a little thrashy crunchiness to it. It ends more as a synthesized alternative rock song.

Track seven “Thing From The Sea” at 2:42 is another alternative metal type concoction with heavy riffing, a few solos thrown in and a heavy bass and drum interaction. Quick and to the point but nothing OMG special.

Much to like about FOUR FORMS but lots of meh moments as well. I don’t find that this is very consistent at all yet i don’t find it an overall horrible listen either. When it’s smokin’ hot it really hits the spot but when it doesn’t it can sound recycled. The performances are very good especially on the most aggressive tracks.