16 Horsepower was an American
alternative country music group based in
Denver, Colorado. Their music often invoked
religious imagery dealing with conflict, redemption, punishment, and guilt through
David Eugene Edwards's lyrics and the heavy use of traditional
bluegrass,
gospel, and
Appalachian instrumentation cross-bred with
rock. For the bulk of its career, the band consisted of Edwards, Jean-Yves Tola, and
Pascal Humbert, the latter two formerly of the French band Passion Fodder. After releasing four studio albums and touring extensively, the group broke up in 2005, citing "mostly political and spiritual" differences. The members remain active in the groups
Woven Hand and
Lilium.