16 – Guides For The Misguided

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · February 27, 2025

San Diego, California based sludge metal pioneers 16, originally formed in 1991. Their list of albums includes: 1993’s Curves That Kick, 1996’s Drop Out, 1997’s Blaze of Incompetence, 2002’s Zoloft Smile, 2009’s Bridges to Burn, 2010’s The First Trimester, 2012’s Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds, 2016’s Lifespan of a Moth, 2020’s Dream Squasher, and 2022’s Into Dust. The band has also released a slew of EPs, split EPs, and compilations throughout their impressive career. 16 have been through numerous lineup changes since their inception, which resulted in their heavy sound to morph as well. Most recently, the band has returned with their latest album entitled Guides For The Misguided, which came out on their long supporting label, Relapse Records. The current lineup of 16 is: original member Bobby Ferry on guitar and vocals, Dion Thurman on drums, Alex Shuster on guitars, and Barney Firks on bass. Guides For The Misguided was released on February 7th and contains eleven tracks around forty five minutes long.

I first discovered 16 through the old stoner rock dot com website back in the early 2000’s. I listened to really extreme music in the nineties and 16 was an excellent band to discover back then with my focus starting to transition towards stoner and desert rock. My two favorite 16 records back then were Blaze Of Incompetence and Zoloft Smile. I also discovered Drop Out and Curves That Kick and enjoyed their comeback in 2009, when they signed with Relapse Records and released Bridges To Burn. After that, I kind of lost track of the band and moved on to other bands and musical styles. Periodically I would try and listen to their newest releases but they never quite connected with me, to be honest. I would revisit 16 from time to time but to no avail. Which finally brings me to their latest, Guides For The Misguided. Everything synced back up with myself and the band and I believe they have created some of their best songs on this one.

The opening track “After All” delivers a heavy wallop of sludge induced metal. The dense guitar riffs chugs in a metal core manner mixed with some tremolo picking too. Bobby Ferry’s tortured, seething, and paint peeling vocals works very well with the brutal aggression of these songs. The second track “Hat On A Bed” delivers in a similar and devastating notion. The sound quality on this album is amazing! The guitars are heavily distorted and fuzzy in a down tuned menace. The drums sound thunderous and brutal also, allowing Ferry’s voice to bleed through with strength and conviction.

The real great change that 16 have acquired on Guides For The Misguided is the addition of clean vocals. “Blood Atonement Blues” introduces Ferry’s singing voice and it works out very well, in my opinion. The band are still heavy as all hell but by shifting the musical dynamics slightly to include more melodies in their songs, it really makes for a more interesting listening experience. The catchy chorus of “The debt will claim you, like a modern ruse, Lie here in comfort, with poisoned roots” is great. I applaud 16 for doing things a little differently and it continues on with the next song. “Fortress Of Hate” has a heavy and pummeling groove to go with new vocal approach. This puts a little separation for the bands typical sound of sludge and death and opens up a more stoner and riff rock flavor. 16 incorporates both styles into this track with the vocals getting more abrasive towards the end of the song.

“Proudly Damned” bulldozes ahead with mountainous riffing and trademark sludge vocals mostly. The herculean metal rhythms are grandiose sounding with the titanic drum pounding. The band flavor in some clean vocals on the chorus which gives the song a more memorable vibe also. “Fire And Brimstone Inc” has an almost flowing rock feel throughout with mostly clean yet raspy sounding vocals. The song is a knock on religion and has a very catchy essence to it. “Desperation Angel” is another great song with more heavy driving metal infused rock angst. The fierce guitar riffing throughout Guides For The Misguided doesn’t hold back at all. In addition, 16 carry out some electrifying leads also. Songs like the chug barreling “Resurrection Day” or the diabolical hardcore-ish “Give Thanks And Praises” further proves that 16 are as heavy and nasty as ever. Time has not softened this band at all because they are still producing hulking riffs and ginormous sounds with every track. “Kick Out The Chair” is further proof of that.

The final cut on the album is called “The Tower”. It’s a cover song from the indie rock/ alternative band Superchunk. The song was featured on their 1991 No Pocky For Kittie album. The heavy rumbling bass intro ignites the song into a rocking structure of crunchy rhythms and catchy vocals. It’s a cool rendition of the song and a nice bonus track for the record. My interest for the band 16 has been re-ignited. They really brought forth an excellent album and stayed true to their hate fueled and sludge heavy sound, while introducing a new element of creativity. Hopefully, this will gain the band more exposure and bring them a more diverse audience. Surviving as a band for nearly thirty five years is no small feat. 16 have managed to do just that and have definitely revived my interest in their ripping sound.