US sludge metal warriors -(16)- premiere new album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972 - 1984"

Californian sludge metal giants -(16)- are premiering their upcoming 11th studio album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972-1984" ahead of its official release on Heavy Psych Sounds and the start of their European tour tomorrow.

On their 11th studio record Forgeries 1972-1984, -(16)- return to the impulse that first dragged them into loud rooms and bad ideas: the urge to steal what they love and make it semi-unrecognizable through devotion. "We’ve always believed that a great cover is not mimicry but revelation. It’s finding a song that's already lived inside you since youth and letting it crawl out, bruised and changed," says the band.

Spanning genres, eras and attitudes, Forgeries 1972-1984 is ten searing, tar-thick covers ranging from the Bee Gees, Scorpions, Black Flag to Blue Öyster Cult or Black Sabbath. -(16)- have treated these covers as translations rather than as replicas — acts of tribute and emulation all filtered through distortion, fatigue, and lived experience. "These are songs that taught us how to stand, how to fall, and how to keep going. Forgeries 1972-1984 stands as both a thank you note and a theft, a reminder that all music worth a damn is borrowed, broken, and passed on between friends." 

The band is set to hit Europe and the UK for a full run of shows, including appearances at Desertfest, Heavy Psych Sounds Fest and SWR Metalfest.

Formed in 1991 in Santa Ana, California, 16 stylized as -(16)- emerged from the Southern California skate scene. The original lineup featured Bobby Ferry (guitar), Cris Jerue (vocals), Ben Clark (bass), and Jason Corley (drums). Initially called *15*, the band quickly rebranded after discovering another group with the same name. Drawing influence from 7 Seconds, Bad Brains, Metallica, and the Amphetamine Reptile roster, -(16)- developed a sound that helped define both their early years and the sludge subgenre itself.

Their 1993 debut, Curves That Kick, arrived on Pushead’s Bacteria Sour and was followed by a Japanese tour and shows with Slayer. Drop Out (1996) and Blaze of Incompetence (1997) followed, with Phil Vera joining on guitar. After a 1998 U.S. tour with Grief and the 2002 release Zoloft Smile, the band toured the U.S., U.K., and Japan before entering a hiatus in 2004 amid personal struggles.

Reforming in 2007, -(16)- signed to Relapse Records for Bridges to Burn (2009), followed by Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds (2012). With Bobby Ferry now on vocals, the San Diego–based lineup of Alex Shuster (lead guitar), Barney Firks (bass), Dion Thurman (drums) released Lifespan of a Moth (2016), Dream Squasher (2020) and Into Dust (2022) to critical acclaim. Heavy touring across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, plus major festival slots, cemented their reputation for intense, connecting live performances.

In 2025, -(16)- released Guides for the Misguided on Relapse Records, which was named one of Decibel Magazine’s Top 40 Albums of the Year. That same year, the band headlined a three-week European tour and later performed select shows in California with Acid Bath, High on Fire and Fu Manchu.

Stream / Buy / Download the album on Bandcamp

New album "Forgeries Vol 1, 1972 - 1984"
Out May 1st on Heavy Psych Sounds - Preorder

In 2026, the band partnered with Heavy Psych Sounds to release Forgeries 1972–1984, a covers album spanning influences from Black Flag to the Bee Gees. That May, they return to Europe for a tour that includes Desertfest Oslo and London, as well as the Italian and Swiss Heavy Psych Sounds Festivals. With a legacy built on resilience and constant reinvention, -(16)- continue to evolve and captivate audiences, affirming their lasting relevance in heavy music.

-(16)- is
Bobby Ferry - Guitars / Vocals
Alex Shuster - Lead Guitar
Barney Firks - Bass
Dion Thurman - Drums / Percussion

-(16)- links
Facebook⎜Instagram⎜Bandcamp

Heavy Psych Sounds links
Website⎜Facebook⎜Bandcamp⎜Instagram⎜Youtube

Thank you very much Purple Sage PR

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Photo by © Chad Kelco