Citacis

Citacis, released in May 2014, is the 61st installment of Buckethead's ambitious 'Pike' series. While the artist is often celebrated for his avant-garde metal and high-speed shredding, Citacis represents his more melodic, groove-oriented side. The album is characterized by its serialized track titles (Citasis 72 through 80), suggesting a suite-like structure or a collection of ideas recorded in a single session. Sonically, it leans into art rock and progressive rock territories, utilizing clean electric guitar tones and prominent, melodic bass lines. The production is notably dry and intimate, lacking the dense layering of his more 'maximalist' studio efforts. This record is often cited by fans as a standout for its consistency and its ability to maintain a specific late-night mood without descending into aimless noodling. It serves as a bridge between his ambient works and his technical rock albums.