Abandoned Slaughterhouse

For Somewhere Over the Slaughterhouse, Buckethead incorporated the electronic and techno influences that had been used in his more techno-friendly releases. "You Like This Face" and "Pin Bones & Poultry" both sport intricate synthesizer textures and dance-friendly beats alongside Buckethead's trademark rapid-fire guitar solos. "My Sheetz," by contrast, is a much more ambient dance track, relying on spacy, occasionally tinny synths and devoid of guitar solos. However, the album does occasionally lapse into self-indulgence, such as on "Day of the Ulcer," a formless mess of guitar solos, ambient synths, and trudging, ham-fisted rhythms that seems interminable. Still, some experiments are successful, such as "Burlap Curtain" and "Knockingun," which sound like disturbing soundtrack music from a futuristic horror movie. This may not be Buckethead's most friendly or accessible release — Monsters & Robots is a better introduction — but longtime fans will not be disappointed with Somewhere Over the Slaughterhouse. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, Rovi