16

Formed in Los Angeles in 1992, the sludge-metal outfit 16 emerged as an early architect of the punishing subgenre alongside fellow travelers Acid Bath, Eyehategod, and Crowbar. Bobby Ferry on guitar, Cris Jerue handling vocals, and Jason Corley behind the drums laid the foundation, issuing their first album, Curves That Kick, the following year on Pushead’s Bacteria Sour imprint. Their sound drew from Bad Brains, Metallica, 7 Seconds, and Jesus Lizard, and the 1996 release Drop Out brought widespread critical notice.

Lineup instability and struggles with substance abuse marked the ensuing years, yet the group still managed to deliver Blaze of Incompetence in 1997 and Zoloft Smile in 2003, along with assorted EPs and singles. A formal hiatus began in 2004, only for the band to reactivate in 2007 upon signing with Relapse Records; Bridges to Burn appeared the next year to strong reviews. Relapse reissued the 1993 debut in 2010, while 2012 brought the sixth studio album, Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds. Lifespan of a Moth followed in 2016, Dream Squasher arrived in 2020, and the ninth long-player, Into Dust, surfaced in 2022, blending sludge, punk, hardcore, and stoner-metal textures. Across a nearly three-decade run, founding guitarist and vocalist Bobby Ferry has remained the sole constant member.