16 was formed back in 1992 and in the last sixteen years the band has released four full length albums and a variety of eps, singles and splits. Bridges to Burn is my first taste of the band and I have to say that it sounds like I’ve missed out on a top class band.

16 play a sludgy mix of hardcore and metal with the emphasis on the sludge. The songs are all very heavy but the band’s reliance on catchy grooves and a slight thrash sensibility in their songwriting means that Bridges to Burn is definitely a bit more accessible than your usual sludge band. Bridges to Burn also reminds me a fair bit of Soilent Green’s Confrontation in terms of tone and the overall feel of the songs except that 16 do not have the countless time changes per song that Soilent Green specialize in.

The album starts off with a bang as the first four songs are all high quality with Me & My Shadow and its sly nod of the head to Megadeth’s Hangar 18 really standing out of the pack. The consistency in songwriting doesn’t really drop after that either. Flake introduces a mid tempo groove and almost melodic guitar line into the equation but the melody is tempered by a Black Flag like verse and the song works superbly. Monday Bloody Monday is completely pissed off sludge and again reminds me of Soilent Green but just way catchier. Album closer Missed the Boat ends things perfectly with its mid tempo bass heavy stomp and torturously slow chorus.

There are no bad songs or even boring songs on Bridges to Burn. With the whole thing getting over in about 45 minutes the album is of ideal length. Musically, there’s nothing here that’s particularly special. The guitars are loud and fat, the bass is content to play along behind the guitar, the drums are solid and the shouty, slightly hoarse vocal style fits the music but isn’t anything special. What is special though is that the band get together to write some great songs and it’s almost like an assembly line of heavy as fuck, kick ass grooves that just keep coming.

Being signed on to Relapse might heighten the profile of the band but 16 really can just let the music do the talking. Bridges to Burn is a solid album of sludgy hardcore/ metal and should appeal to most fans of heavy music.

Year of Release - 2009

Label - Relapse