16VOLT - Wisdom
With roots dating back to the early days of the industrial rock genre, 16Volt have been successfully crossing over into multiple related genres for over three decades and retained a significant worldwide fan base while doing so. Group founder, songwriter, lead vocalist, programmer and rhythm guitarist Eric Powell signed his first record deal in 1991 while in his teens, releasing debut album ‘Wisdom’ in 1993.
A newly remastered version of 'Wisdom’ now marks its first ever appearance on LP, appearing in a translucent yellow vinyl edition limited to 300 copies. A download card is included that include five bonus tracks already available on streaming services.
The orginal album was recorded at Chicago Trax Recording Studio (Chicago, Illinois) and Whitehorse Studios (Portland, Oregon) and co-produced by Powell with Dave 'Rave’ Ogilvie (Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails) and Keith 'Fluffy’ Auerbach (Ministry).
A brand new album by 16Volt is being prepared for release in July 2025 via Metropolis Records.
‘Wisdom’ was followed in the ‘90s by ‘Skin’ (1994) and ‘LetDownCrush’ (1996), records that saw Powell again work with Ogilvie and Auerbach, as well as Jeff ‘Critter’ Newell (Ministry, Angels & Airwaves, blink-182), plus guest musicians like William Tucker (Ministry), Marc LaCorte (Schecter Guitars) and Bryan Black (Black Asteroid). Earning critical praise and pole positions on the US Alternative Chart, the band toured extensively and signed a major deal with Mercury Records.
Producer Bill Kennedy (Nine Inch Nails, Megadeth, Sepultura, Mötley Crüe) was hired to help make ‘SuperCoolNothing’ (1998), which featured appearances from film composer Joseph Bishara (Insidious, The Conjuring, Marylin Manson, Danzig), Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails), Mike Peoples (Skrew) and Kraig Tyler (Crazytown), but the group found themselves in the middle of a legal battle when their label was bought by Seagram. In a genius move, Powell bought back the rights and made a deal with Sony to feature it within the Playstation game ‘Primal’ as well as a 2xCD European release that included both the album and the game.
The mid-’00s saw 16Volt sign to Metropolis Records and release the albums ‘FullBlackHabit’ (2007), ‘American Porn Songs’ (2009) and ‘Beating Dead Horses’ (2012), which featured guests such as Paul Raven (Ministry, Killing Joke, Prong), Steve White (KMFDM) and Bildeaux (Lance Herbstrong), as well as mix engineer Shaun Thingvold (Strapping Young Lad, Lamb of God).
An extensive live schedule was also maintained that included headlining tours plus stints with KMFDM, Korn, Filter, Chemlab, Orgy, Prong, Stabbing Westward, Revolting Cocks, Fear Factory, Front Line Assembly, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Front 242 and more.
2016 saw the release of ‘The Negative Space’, produced by Marc Jordan (Velvet Revolver, The Cult, Hyro Da Hero, Die Antwoord), with ‘Dead On Arrivals’ following a year later. After a period of inactivity that saw 16Volt unable to tour, Powell began working on new material in his studio and re-signed with Metropolis Records for a brand new album entitled ‘More Of Less’ to be issued in July 2025.
