Sludge. It can be done incredibly well, it can be done incredibly bad. It can stand out from the rest of the pack sometimes or it can remind you of stuff you’ve already heard. Well, in 16′s case, Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds reminds me of what I’ve already heard. It sucks too because these guys have been around for awhile but I feel like they are just too late to spring up from the underground because every track on this album reminds me of early Mastodon, just without that edge and charm. The album’s name and track titles even remind me of an older band; Acid Bath’s “When The Kite String Pops” comes to mind. When 16 is at their best, it still ends up falling short for me. The riffs have no character about them, they don’t pop out and grab me. There are some decent parts on the album but as a whole it made me want to listen to something else.

16 is going into their 20 years, it’s painful to hear the band that should have pioneered a genre and a new sound yet finally come into the spotlight and sound just like everyone else. The album isn’t an immediate shut off but it made me want to listen to something else each time. Nothing truly bad, just a been there, done that moment for me.

Pros: Decent music, vocals aren’t annoying

Cons: Makes you want to listen to something else

2.5 out of 5