BUCKETHEAD — Pike 262 - Nib Y Nool (review)

BUCKETHEAD — Pike 262 - Nib Y Nool album cover

Album · 2017 · Progressive Metal

3/5 · 2017-04-16
siLLy puPPy

BUCKETHEAD (as Bucketheadland) / Pike 262 - Nib Y Nool / 19th release of 2017 / All instrumental / Contains 10 tracks all titled “Nib Y Nool” / Clocks in at 29minutes 18seconds / everything played by Buck-buck-buckethead. Like most PIKEs with identical track names, this one pretty much seamlessly flows as one giant track with only minor changes between them for the most part but surprises do occur

“Nib Y Nool 1” 4:02) ferociously attacks the listener with instant frenetic metal riffing that are jangled and highly caffeinated. Some little solos break through the din and then the fast riffing returns for a while. There are little breaks of jangly slowdowns and more licks and solos that jump in randomly. It sounds like the music is somewhat dissonant and has a sludge metal feel to it at times. Drums are quite well performed

“Nib Y Nool 2” (2:56) picks up without missing a beat and jumps into another series of heavy riffs that trade off with licks. Sounds much like “Nool 1” but has some more thrashy parts dispersed throughout

“Nib Y Nool 3” (5:24) also picks up imperceptibly but becomes a little more progressive in its erratic time signatures until the solo erupts then it’s more of a smooth flow. It continues to trade off in a series of heavy riffs, feisty licks and more extended solos. There are also moments of little licks that remind me of early Van Halen as well as industrial type metal riffs

“Nib Y Nool 4” (2:24) seamlessly transitions only creating more progressive sludgy riffs while the solo erupts fairly soon. It slows down into a strange sliding frenzy and then back to heavy distorted riffs and solos

“Nib Y Nool 5” (2:06) likewise picks up with heavy riffing but then becomes extremely erratic with angular rhythms and heavy staccato breaks before jumping back into scorching solos and slower jangly segments

“Nib Y Nool 6” (2:13) offers the most abrupt change between tracks as the previous solo changes into a bassier riff line but then jumps into the same proggy sludge metal attack again and then solos and then more riffs

“Nib Y Nool 7” (2:57) offers another interesting change. Tempo slows and jangly chords appear and disappear before bursting into a thrashy heavy riff much like Pantera cranked out in their heyday but then it all follows the general gist of the PIKE and alternates heavy riffs with solos and guitar licks all delivered as blistering speeds

“Nib Y Nool 8” (1:53) slows down a little and sounds like doom metal for a little ways but becomes more progressive and avant-garde with finger acrobatic riffs and squeals then back to just plain riffing. Then a nice feedback finish that begins a new melody only to change to…

“Nib Y Nool 9” (2:30) …. a heavier thrashy riff track like many other tracks of this PIKE. The usual riff, solo, jangle parts alternate in varied shuffled ways. “Nib Y Nool 10” (2:53) pretty much picks up only with more of a bluesy shuffle for a little segment but then starts breaking down more syncopated and progressive time sig chops erupt and then the regular riffs, solos etc. After a while an unexpected acoustic guitar (?) or some strange stringed instrument that steps out of the Halloween series and becomes one of those bizarre dark ambient tracks out of the blue and that’s the way it all ends

I have absolutely no idea what the title NIB Y NOOL means but it is a strong PIKE that is adventurous all the way through if not a little one-dimensional in terms of the tones and timbres at least until the very end. While the riffs, licks and compositions are fairly well done, there is a lot of repeating the same ideas and just shuffling them around. I would classify this one as an adventurous album with experimentation aplenty but there’s something about this one that just isn’t as much of a wild ride as other PIKEs that delve into this territory and i’m not sure exactly why some of these work for these more than others. Subtle variations are often the deciding factor. This one is well performed and a true proggy head banging experience but probably needed a little more variation to be in the top tier of the PIKE world