{{short description|American industrial rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = 16volt | image = 16v large.jpg | image_upright = 1.2 | caption = 16volt in 2017 | origin = [[Portland, Oregon]] <small>(early)</small><br />[[Los Angeles, California]] <small>(after)</small> | instrument = | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Industrial rock]] * [[industrial metal]]}} | occupation = | years_active = 1988–present | label = [[Re-constriction|Re-Constriction]], [[Metropolis Records|Metropolis]] | website = {{URL|http://www.16volt.com/}} | current_members = *Eric Powell *John "Servo" DeSalvo *"Mindcage" Rick Furr *Jim Semonik | past_members = *Jason Bazinet *Steve Hickey *Joel Bornzin *Jon Fell *Marc Jordan *Marc LaCorte *Mike Peoples *Jeff Taylor *Von Vinhasa *[[Steve White (guitarist)|Steve White]] }}
'''16volt''' is an American [[industrial rock]] band formed by Eric Powell, with other performers added for live shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vampirefreaks.com/content/comment.php?entry=348&t=interview+with+16volt |title=Interview with 16Volt |publisher=Vampirefreaks.com |access-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.churchofhive.com/interviews/frame5.html |title=Interview with Mike Peoples of 16Volt |publisher=Church of Hive |access-date=October 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315094025/http://www.churchofhive.com/interviews/frame5.html |archive-date=March 15, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metropolis-records.com/artist/16volt |title=Metropolis Records // Artists // 16Volt |publisher=Metropolis-records.com |access-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref> The current lineup consists of Powell on vocals, John "Servo" DeSalvo on drums, "Mindcage" Rick Furr on guitars, and Jim Semonik on keyboards.
==History== 16volt was formed in [[Portland, Oregon]] by composer and vocalist Eric Powell. Powell recruited musicians drummer Joel Bornzin, guitarist Jon Fell and Jeff Taylor to record "Motorskill", which debuted on ''[[The Cyberflesh Conspiracy]]'' various artist compilation by [[Re-Constriction Records|If It Moves...]]<ref name="cdreviewcyberflesh">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=azE5AQAAIAAJ |title=Various Artists: ''The Cyberflesh Conspiracy'' |journal=[[CD Review|CD Review Digest]] |publisher=Peri Press |date=1994 |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=823 |access-date=July 26, 2020}}</ref> That band released their first full-length studio album ''[[Wisdom (16volt album)|Wisdom]]'' on May 25, 1993, after signing to [[Re-Constriction Records]].<ref name="optionmag94">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bC5LAAAAYAAJ |title=16 Volt: ''Wisdom'' |journal=[[Option (music magazine)|Option]] |publisher=Sonic Options Network |date=1994 |issue=54–58 |access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref> The album received critical attention for its [[Industrial music|industrial]]-informed beats and abrasive [[Electronic music|electronic]] textures.<ref name="a&areviewswisdom">{{cite journal|first=Jon |last=Worley |url=http://www.aidabet.com/archives/archS2.html#16VOLT |title=16 Volt: ''Wisdom'' |journal=Aiding & Abetting |date=June 30, 1993 |issue=36 |access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref> The band continued to issue albums via Re-Constriction for the next three albums: ''[[Skin (16volt album)|Skin]]'' (1994), ''[[LetDownCrush]]'' (1996), and ''[[SuperCoolNothing]]'' (1998).
The band is featured in the opening scene of video game ''[[Primal (video game)|Primal]]'', and contributed nine songs to the game's soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://totalplaystation.com/ps2/primal/news/2668/|title=Primal Ships|last1=Bishop|first1=Sam|date=January 19, 2003|access-date=January 31, 2015|publisher=TotalPlayStation|quote=Primal features extensive musical contributions from LA rockers 16 Volt, who donated nine tracks to the game, three created exclusively for the game.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419133950/http://totalplaystation.com/ps2/primal/news/2668/|archive-date=April 19, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="lastsighint1">{{cite journal |first=Kim Ann |last=Alexander |url=http://www.lastsigh.com/interviews/16volt.htm |title=An Evening With Eric Powell of 16 Volt |journal=Last Sigh Magazine |date=May 21, 1997 |access-date=July 25, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419145030/http://www.lastsigh.com/interviews/16volt.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref><ref name="lastsighint2">{{cite journal |first=Kim Ann |last=Alexander |url=http://www.lastsigh.com/interviews/ericpowell.htm |title=An Evening With Eric Powell of 16 Volt |journal=Last Sigh Magazine |date=1998 |access-date=July 25, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143609/http://www.lastsigh.com/interviews/ericpowell.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref>
16volt released its fifth album titled ''[[FullBlackHabit]]'' in 2007 for [[Metropolis Records]].<ref name="ravesfull">{{cite journal |first=Kristofer |last=Upjohn |url=http://www.raves.com/cdreviews/show/389/16VOLT-FULLBLACKHABIT |title=16volt – ''FullBlackHabit'' (Metropolis) |journal=Raves |access-date=August 15, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401071854/http://www.raves.com/cdreviews/show/389/16VOLT-FULLBLACKHABIT |archive-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref> The band followed that release with two more studio albums for Metropolis, ''[[American Porn Songs]]''<ref name="brutalresonanceamerican">{{cite journal|first=Fredrik |last=Croona |url=https://www.brutalresonance.com/review/16-volt-american-porn-songs/ |title=16 Volt - ''American Porn Songs'' |journal=Brutal Resonance |date=August 18, 2009 |access-date=August 15, 2020}}</ref> and ''[[Beating Dead Horses]]'',<ref name="soundspheremagbeating">{{cite journal|first=Dom |last=Smith |url=https://www.soundspheremag.com/reviews/cd/cd-review-16volt-beating-dead-horses/ |title=CD Review: 16Volt – ''Beating Dead Horses'' |journal=Soundsphere Magazine |date=April 15, 2011 |access-date=August 15, 2020}}</ref> which were released in 2009 and 2011 respectively. 16volt self-released the 2016 album ''[[The Negative Space]]'' on their label Murder Creek.<ref name="regennegative">{{cite journal|first=Trubie |last=Turner |url=https://regenmag.com/reviews/16volt-the-negative-space/ |title=16volt – ''The Negative Space'' |journal=ReGen |date=September 6, 2016 |access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Dead on Arrivals]]'' was self-released for Murder Creek in 2017, whereas 16volt went on a hiatus afterwards.<ref name="regendead">{{cite journal|first=Trubie |last=Turner |url=https://regenmag.com/reviews/16volt-dead-on-arrivals/ |title=16volt – ''Dead on Arrivals'' |journal=ReGen |date=January 7, 2018 |access-date=August 15, 2020}}</ref><ref name="regenmagint">{{cite journal|first=Ilker |last=Yücel |url=https://regenmag.com/interviews/16volt-interview-drifting-in-the-negative-space/ |title=16volt InterView: Defiant to the End |journal=ReGen |date=November 2, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2020}}</ref>
Powell reactivated 16volt in 2024, releasing ''Negative on Arrivals'', which combined various tracks from ''The Negative Space'' and ''Dead on Arrivals'' in order to give them a wider distribution. It was followed by the announcement of a proper studio album for 2025, titled ''More of Less''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.side-line.com/16volt-reissues-negativeonarrivals-album-in-may-out-now-is-the-last-time-video/ |title=16Volt reissues ‘NegativeOnArrivals’ album in May – Out now is ‘The Last Time’ video |website=Side-Line |date=April 18, 2024 |access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> ''More of Less'' was eventually released on July 25, 2025 on the Metropolis Records label.
==Discography== '''Studio albums''' * ''[[Wisdom (16volt album)|Wisdom]]'' (1993, [[Re-Constriction Records|Re-Constriction]]) * ''[[Skin (16 Volt)|Skin]]'' (1994, Re-Constriction) * ''[[LetDownCrush]]'' (1996, Re-Constriction) * ''[[SuperCoolNothing]]'' (1998, Re-Constriction) * ''[[FullBlackHabit]]'' (2007, [[Metropolis Records|Metropolis]]) * ''[[American Porn Songs]]'' (2009, Metropolis) * ''[[Beating Dead Horses]]'' (2011, Metropolis) * ''[[The Negative Space]]'' (2016, Murder Creek) * ''[[Dead on Arrivals]]'' (2017, Murder Creek) * ''More of Less'' (2025, Metropolis)
'''Remix albums''' * ''[[The Remix Wars: Strike 3 – 16 Volt vs. Hate Dept]]'' (1996, [[21st Circuitry]]) * ''[[American Porn Songs: Remixed]]'' (2010, Metropolis)
'''Compilation albums''' * ''[[Demography (album)|Demography]]'' (2000, [[Cleopatra Records|Cleopatra]]) * ''[[SuperCoolNothing V2.0]]'' (2002, Dark City Music) * ''[[The Best of Sixteen Volt]]'' (2005, Cleopatra) * ''Negative on Arrivals'' (2024, Metropolis)
'''Singles''' * "[[The Dreams That Rot in Your Heart]]" (1996, Re-Constriction)
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.16volt.com/}} * [https://16volt.bandcamp.com/ 16volt] at [[Bandcamp]] * {{Facebook|16volt|16volt}} * {{YouTube|channel=UC1lhP3EN8LPdPhO050foE2Q|title=16volt}} * {{Discogs artist}} * {{MusicBrainz artist|id=836d8ab6-8f06-4d92-ba15-93c62770765b}}
{{16volt}}
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[[Category:1988 establishments in Oregon]] [[Category:21st Circuitry artists]] [[Category:American industrial metal musical groups]] [[Category:Metropolis Records artists]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1988]] [[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]] [[Category:Musical groups from Portland, Oregon]] [[Category:Musical quartets from California]] [[Category:Re-Constriction Records artists]]