Nearly thirty-five years on, -(16)- remains one of the most enduring, hardest sounding rock and metal entities from North America. The San Diego band redefines heavy on their new album, Guides For The Misguided, set for release on February 7th via Relapse Records!

Bobby Ferry returns at the helm as the band’s visceral vocalist and guitarist, and in true -(16)-fashion, belts out stories of pain and unhinged anguish. Ferry is absolutely seething while the band plows through a virulent mix of rock, metal, and sludge. Dion Thurman’s pounding drum set, Ferry and Alex Shuster’s heavier-than-anything-else guitars, and the lowest low end from bassist Barney Firks herald tones so low they’re nearly apocalyptic.

In celebration of the record’s release later this week, today -(16)- unleashes “Fortress Of Hate.” Comments Ferry, “The lyrics of 'Fortress Of Hate' delve into themes of disillusionment and the self-destructive allure of nihilism, contrasting it with the ethos of empowerment in hardcore punk. The ‘Fortress Of Hate’ serves as a metaphor for the psychological and emotional walls constructed by those who choose apathy and bitterness over action and resilience. An old friend, once inspired by the defiance and self-determination of hardcore punk, has retreated into a cycle of self-defeat. Lines like, ‘You never stood on your own for long,’ and, "Now that you’re dying of thirst," highlight a dependence on others and the consequences of a squandered potential for independence. The song attempts to explain the abandonment of punk’s empowering ideals in favor of nihilism, portraying it as a destructive cycle that consumes both individuals and their relationships."