Send "16Volt " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 16Volt should be better than they are, but they just can’t seem to get their formula right. The band started as a straight-up industrial act, but they really hit their stride when they started to incorporate a post punk aesthetic that instantly caused their sound to become much more organic and powerful. The issue is that they didn’t stop there. Almost since the moment they established their core sound, they have been trying to figure out the best way to make it more accessible without abandoning their roots. The band have actually been fairly successful at executing this goal, but they have always struggled with the mellower songs. In fact, Beating Dead Horses is the first album in the band’s career where they seem comfortable with writing these subtler songs, but they’ve also taken it too far. Beating Dead Horses is full of songs that lack the band’s typical energy levels and even the best aren’t good enough to carry the entire album while marginalizing their traditional strengths.This problem won’t be apparent at first, because the album actually begins with its three strongest tracks; songs that work because they utilize the band’s strengths. Those strengths are, and always have been, the band’s ability to mix dirty riffs and rhythmic industrialized percussion with well-built hooks and appealing electronics. The album begins with the title track; a song that hits all the right buttons with its use of pounding beats, gritty, yet accessible riffs and a strong chorus that manages to be catchy despite being comprised of distorted shouts. The third track, “Fight or Flight”, takes the punk attitude even further by pushing the aggressive edge and upping the energy levels with a solid hardcore beat. Unfortunately, this level of energy is brief as the raucous industrial punk gives way to a mellower direction after only three tracks. The main problem on this album, however, isn’t the quality of the mellower songs (most aren’t bad, actually), it’s that there are so many of them....full text |
| Headfullofnoise |
| Industrial rockers 16Volt are getting ready to release their new studio album, Beating Dead Horses May 10th. A full album preview with one minute long samples can be heard at Metropolis Records website. It sounds like the songs have some nice, heavy riffs and beats to go along with the mellow scream vocals....full text |
| Coma-online |
| Eric Powell founded 16Volt in 1991 and has slowly but relentlessly built a name as one of the top industrial rock bands in the scene. With six original, two compilations and appearances in video games and films, 16Volt is releasing their latest effort, Beating Dead Horses, on Metropolis Records. And while the term “beating a dead horses” generally means is an idiom that means to continue in any endeavor is a waste of time as the outcome is already decided, this album is most certainly not a waste of time and perhaps 16Volt’s best effort to date. Starting with the title track, the album begins with a religious laced sampled diatribe condemning those who do not believe and follow the same god as the speaker. The song then kicks off with the grinding guitar line that 16Volt is known for. Heavy drums and well-mixed aggressive vocals move the song along, carrying you with it. “The Wasteland That is Me”, begins with some very interesting percussion sounds backing up a heavy guitar line. The vocals are captivating, understated to a point of almost being down-tuned and backed by so many different layers of sound it is quite easy to get lost within the tones. The track “Fight or Flight” comes next and simply challenges you to make that choice. Aggressive to the point of almost being an actual physical attack, it is relentless and eerily reminiscent of some 80s hardcore in its tempo and pace. The song “Burn” slows things down to an almost sedate pace in comparison to the previous track. Plenty of sounds layer and move giving this song a very expansive feel....full text |
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