16volt

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = 16volt

| image = 16v large.jpg

| image_upright = 1.2

| caption = 16volt in 2017

| origin = Portland, Oregon (early)
Los Angeles, California (after)

| instrument =

| genre = {{flatlist|

| occupation =

| years_active = 1988–present

| label = Re-Constriction, Metropolis

| website = {{URL|http://www.16volt.com/}}

| current_members = *Eric Powell

| past_members = *Jason Bazinet

Steve Hickey
Joel Bornzin
Jon Fell
Marc Jordan
Marc LaCorte
Mike Peoples
Jeff Taylor
Von Vinhasa
Chris Carey
Steve White

}}

16volt is an American industrial rock band featuring Eric Powell, with other performers added for live shows.{{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}}{{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 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.metropolis-records.com/artist/16volt |title=Metropolis Records // Artists // 16Volt |publisher=Metropolis-records.com |access-date=October 26, 2012}}

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 If It Moves...{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=azE5AQAAIAAJ |title=Various Artists: The Cyberflesh Conspiracy |journal=CD Review Digest |publisher=Peri Press |date=1994 |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=823 |access-date=July 26, 2020}} That band released their first full-length studio album Wisdom on May 25, 1993, after signing to Re-Constriction Records.{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bC5LAAAAYAAJ |title=16 Volt: Wisdom |journal=Option |publisher=Sonic Options Network |date=1994 |issue=54–58 |access-date=July 12, 2020}} The album received critical attention for its industrial-informed beats and abrasive electronic textures.{{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}} The band continued to issue albums via Re-Constriction for the next three albums: Skin (1994), LetDownCrush (1996), and SuperCoolNothing (1998).

The band is featured in the opening scene of video game Primal, and contributed nine songs to the game's soundtrack.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}}

16volt released its fifth album titled FullBlackHabit in 2007 for Metropolis Records.{{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}} The band followed that release with two more studio albums for Metropolis, American Porn Songs{{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}} and Beating Dead Horses,{{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}} which were released in 2009 and 2011 respectively. 16volt self-released the 2016 album The Negative Space on their label Murder Creek.{{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}} Dead on Arrivals was self-released for Murder Creek in 2017, whereas 16volt went on a hiatus afterwards.{{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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}