The second 16 (sometimes stylized as –(16)-) album, “Drop Out”, was a kick in the teeth there in the middle of the weird ‘90s, which helped – and how! – to define and guide what the hell was that sludge thing that had been going around because of guys like Eyehategod, Melvins or Grief, among others. Despite the constant chaos around the band during those first years (to be expected, we would say, given the kind of drugged-up, muddy music they were playing), it was from that primordial swamp that 16 built a career, influencing armies of other bands along the way, that seems more solid than ever these days. After decades of line-up instability, the four-piece led by the rock that is vocalist/guitarist Bobby Ferry has been constant for almost a decade, and the records keep coming at a steady pace. Plus they always kick ass, like “Dream Squasher”, “Into Dust”, or “Guides For The Misguided” did, just to remember the latest ones. During SWR (literally) they will even release a covers album, playing songs from people like Scorpions, Kiss or Black Sabbath, but also Black Flag, Rudimentary Peni or Agent Orange. Maybe they’ll play a couple, if we ask nicely.
