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Nearly thirty-five years into their unrelenting career, San Diego’s sludge metal veterans -(16)- return with Guides For The Misguided, a crushing new album set for release on February 7th via Relapse Records. Frontman Bobby Ferry, who now takes on lead vocal and rhythm guitar duties, describes the album as a natural progression following Into Dust. “It’s all about harnessing creative momentum when it strikes,” Ferry states. “Thankfully, we’re still driven to write and perform even after all these years.”

Since their last full-length, the band has undergone a lineup shift, losing a singer and bringing in Alex Shuster on lead guitar and production duties. This evolution has also influenced their lyrical themes, which now tackle broader conflicts, including religious hypocrisy and psychological trauma. Tracks like “Blood Atonement Blues” explore the dark history of Ervil LeBaron, while “Proudly Damned” delves into the cyclical nature of addiction, using a witch-like character to represent the seductive and destructive force of opiates.

Musically, -(16)- continues to craft punishing riffs with raw intensity, blending elements of 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,” Ferry adds. Tracks like “Proudly Damned” showcase the band’s signature fusion of heaviness and storytelling, with seething vocals, apocalyptic guitar tones, and thunderous drumming from Dion Thurman.

Closing with the ominously titled “Kick Out The Chair,” Guides For The Misguided stands as a testament to -(16)-'s staying power. Despite the bleak road ahead, their trajectory remains unwavering, solidifying their legacy as one of North America’s most enduring heavy acts.

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