Longtime Southern California sludge quartet 16 are releasing their bleak, blown-out sixth LP Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds on April 24 via Relapse. The collection follows 2009's Bridges to Burn, which after in-band implosions, exits, and rehab, was their first proper record in seven years. As you might expect from no-bullshit underground lifers, they sound plenty vital in 2012: Frontman Cris Jerue, especially, puts his back and shredded vocals into the sharply descriptive "Ants in My Bloodstream".