16 — Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds (review)

16 — Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds album cover Album · 2012 · Sludge Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds" is the 6th full-length studio album by US sludge/groove metal act 16. 16 released their debut album "Curves That Kick" as far back as 1993. "Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds" was released through Relapse Records in April 2012.

While the band are generally considered among the pioneers of the sludge metal sound, the music on "Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds" actually reminds me more of groove oriented metal artists like Prong and Helmet than of the more standard filthy sludge metal style. That impression is only further enhanced by the relatively clear and powerful sound production, which I feel would fit a groove metal album a lot better than a sludge metal ditto. So let´s settle with calling the music on "Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds" sludge/groove metal. There´s something hardcorish about the sound too, which initially led me to the conclusion that this was a New York band, but it turns out they are from Los Angeles.

The band are very well playing and "Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds" is definitely an entertaining album. I just don´t think it´s that memorable. The tracks seem to sound pretty much the same all the way through the album and as a consequence of the vocals being harsh, shouted hardcore type vocals, there is little in terms of melodic content on the album or memorable hooks for that matter. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us