13

13 was a seminal force in the 1990s sludge and doom metal underground, primarily based in New York City. Formed in 1990 originally as Thunderpussy, the band was founded by guitarist Liz Buckingham and drummer Ellen Mieczkowski.

They quickly became a cornerstone of the East Coast sludge scene, closely associated with bands like Grief and Eyehategod. Their sound identity is defined by extreme down-tuning, a focus on low-end frequencies, and a nihilistic lyrical focus on alienation and abuse. Historically, 13 is significant for being a prominent female-led group in an overwhelmingly male-dominated subgenre, though they resisted being pigeonholed by gender, focusing instead on sonic extremity. The band's influence extends through the subsequent careers of its members, most notably Liz Buckingham, who later joined Electric Wizard and Sourvein. Critical consensus views 13 as a 'musician's band,' respected for their uncompromising adherence to the 'slow and heavy' ethos during a period when metal was diversifying into more polished territories.