Photo by Chad Kelco
“Some of the most misanthropic, miserable, and black-hearted metal this side of a thrice-divorced, needle-sharing, scrapyard-squatting suicidal junkie…” – Decibel Magazine
Nearly thirty-five years on, -(16)- remains one of the most enduring, hardest sounding rock and metal entities from North America. The San Diego band redefines heavy on their new album, Guides For The Misguided, set for release on February 7th via Relapse Records!
Bobby Ferry returns at the helm as the band’s visceral vocalist and guitarist, and in true -(16)- fashion, belts out stories of pain and unhinged anguish. Ferry is absolutely seething while the band plows through a virulent mix of rock, metal, and sludge. Dion Thurman’s pounding drum set, Ferry and Alex Shuster’s heavier-than-anything-else guitars, and the lowest low end from bassist Barney Firks herald tones so low they’re nearly apocalyptic.
In celebration of the record’s release later this week, today -(16)- unleashes “Fortress Of Hate.” Comments Ferry, “The lyrics of ‘Fortress Of Hate’ delve into themes of disillusionment and the self-destructive allure of nihilism, contrasting it with the ethos of empowerment in hardcore punk. The ‘Fortress Of Hate’ serves as a metaphor for the psychological and emotional walls constructed by those who choose apathy and bitterness over action and resilience. An old friend, once inspired by the defiance and self-determination of hardcore punk, has retreated into a cycle of self-defeat. Lines like, ‘You never stood on your own for long,’ and, “Now that you’re dying of thirst,” highlight a dependence on others and the consequences of a squandered potential for independence. The song attempts to explain the abandonment of punk’s empowering ideals in favor of nihilism, portraying it as a destructive cycle that consumes both individuals and their relationships.”
Stream -(16)-’s “Fortress Of Hate” HERE.
Watch -(16)-’s previously released video for “Proudly Damned” HERE and a visualizer for “After All” HERE.
Guides For The Misguided will be released on CD, LP, and digital formats. Find preorders at Relapse.com HERE.
Ferry further comments on Guides For The Misguided, “The album came together after we wrapped the final mix of our last one, Into Dust. It’s all about harnessing creative momentum when it strikes and we’ve been in a kind of creative autopilot for about a decade. When inspiration is there, the rest seems to fall into place effortlessly. Thankfully, we’re still driven to write and perform even after all these years. There’s no grander meaning behind it than simply following that primal urge to create — put your head down and just make something.
“Age has of course given us a fresh perspective,” he continues. “In the eight years since Lifespan Of A Moth, our lineup has shifted. We lost a singer, gained Alex Shuster on lead guitar/producer, and I slid into the lead vocalist rhythm guitarist spot. Lyrically, we’ve moved beyond the personal and inward grievances of our earlier work and embraced broader themes of conflict, like the hypocrisy of religion and its negative effects on the psyche.
“There’s a song called ‘Blood Atonement Blues’ that delves into the story of Ervil LeBaron, often referred to as the ‘Mormon Manson,’ while ‘Proudly Damned’ explores addiction and how it turns into a Pagan Ritual with a witch-like character posing as the opiate – both in substance abuse and the spiritual realm – in parallel. In many ways, this album might be the closest we’ve come to creating a concept record. Including the two covers on the album is meant to lessen this heavy hand and lighten the focus.
“Musically, we are still grasping for the perfect riffs married to the most ideal arrangements. We’re not afraid to lean into the stuff we love: noise, classic rock, hardcore, doom metal, and thrash. We are well aware we are not reinventing the wheel but lovingly fashioning something from us and basically for us, first and foremost.”
Guides For The Misguided closes with the soberingly titled “Kick Out The Chair.” While the track sounds like a culmination of a thirty-five-year career, the band shows no signs of stopping; although the road ahead looks bleak, -(16)-‘s unrelenting trajectory continues upward.
-(16)- Live [remaining dates]:
2/03/2025 Altroquando – Zero Branco, IT
2/04/2025 Vintage Industrial – Zagreb, HR
2/05/2025 Explosiv – Graz, AT
2/06/2025 Kabinet Muz – Bmo, CZ
2/07/2025 Liverpool Club – Wroclaw, PL
2/08/2025 Rockhouse – Salzburg, AT
2/09/2025 7er Club – Mannheim, DE
2/10/2025 V11 – Rotterdam, NL
2/11/2025 Gasttatte Ziller – Goppingen, DE
2/13/2025 Kuudes Linja – Helsinki, FI
2/14/2025 Raindogs House – Savona, IT
2/15/2025 Blah Blah – Torino, IT
-(16)-:
Bobby Ferry – guitar, vocals
Alex Shuster – lead guitar
Barney Firks – bass
Dion Thurman – drums
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