A pioneering American sludge metal troupe based out of Los Angeles, 16 is credited with helping to shape the seismic hard rock subgenre alongside accordant extreme metal acts like Acid Bath, Eyehategod, and Crowbar. Emerging in 1993 with Curves That Kick, the group inked a deal with Relapse in 2009 and has gone on to release a string of punishing sludge-rock efforts like Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds (2012), Dream Squasher (2020), and Into Dust (2022). The aptly named 16 has cycled through dozens of members over its nearly 39-career, with founding guitarist/vocalist Bobby Ferry serving the longest and most consistent tenure.

Founded in 1992 by Bobby Ferry (guitar), Cris Jerue (vocals), and Jason Corley (drums), the band issued its debut full-length album, Curves That Kick, in 1993 via hardcore punk/heavy metal scene maker Pushead's independent Bacteria Sour label. Citing a wide array of influences that included Bad Brains, Metallica, 7 Seconds, and Jesus Lizard, the band broke big in 1996 with the release of the critically acclaimed Drop Out. Despite enduring numerous substance abuse issues and lineup changes, they continued to release new music, issuing Blaze of Incompetence in 1997 and Zoloft Smile in 2003, as well as a flurry of EPs and singles. The band went on an official hiatus in 2004, but re-formed in 2007 after signing with Relapse. The resulting Bridges to Burn arrived the following year and earned high marks all around. 2010 saw Relapse reissue the group's 1993 debut, and 2012 yielded the band's acclaimed sixth studio long-player, Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds. The bruising and uncompromising Lifespan of a Moth arrived in 2016, followed in 2020 by the equally punitive Dream Squasher. 2022 saw the veteran rockers issue their ninth studio effort, Into Dust, which combined elements of sludge, punk, hardcore, and stoner metal. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi