Merzbow - Hatonal (2025)

I don't review harsh noise very often, not because I don't like it, but because it's difficult to write about it. Trying to describe it seems a bit pointless. Noise is something you have to feel... What to say about this one? Merzbow aka Masami Akita is among the pioneers and great masters of noise, maybe even people not into it have seen or heard his name mentioned, maybe listened to one of his collaborative albums with rock/metal artists. On Hatonal he's doing his stuff, noise with just enough variations to keep you listening and enjoying it. Might be a patience test for most people, a pleasure for some, and in any case, an interesting listening experience.

 

The BC page

 

Merzbow / Prurient - Black Crows Cyborg (2021)

Black Crows Cyborg is a collaborative album between two famous noise artists, Merzbow and Prurient. And, even if I'd say we could have expected a more memorable result, this is anyway a  strong album. I especially enjoy the first track, more quiet and ambient than is usual from both artists, with its noise over subtle synth soundscape (my guess is Merzbow is doing the noise and Prurient the synth part). The second track isin  a more traditional harsh noise vein, with also a touch of power electronics. If you're not familiar with noise music this album would be a good introduction to it, if you are, then I guess you already are listening to Black Crows Cyborg by now...

The BC page.

 

Merzbow, Keiji Haino, Balazs Pandi - Become the discovered, not the discoverer (2019)

Become the discovered, not the discoverer, released last year, is the second album from the trio Merzbow, Keiji Haino, Balazs Pandi. It is completely improvised music and is closer to free jazz than to the harsh noise Merzbow is known for. This time his noise is more like a soundscape in the background, while Keiji Haino is playing his guitar (but don't expect riffs or melodies) and Pandi drumming. Sometimes it is heavy, but often it is more meditative, but always with a noise element provided by the guitar and machines. Good and interesting stuff. Note that a Merzbow, Mats Gustafsson, Balasz Pandi album is to be released this month, should be interesting as well.

 The BC page. 

 

Full of hell & Merzbow (2014)

At first this collaboration sounds awesome, one big name of the recent powerviolence scene (Full of hell) with one of the big name of the harsh noise japanese scene (Merzbow). wow. Then listening to it is a bit disappointing,  it sounds a lot like a good Full of hell record, with some noisy interludes and a bit of noise layers added. on the four track you even wonder where the hell is Merzbow. that still would be a good album. but a disapointing collaboration, a "waste" of a big potential... (well it's a Full of hell album with Merzbow, not exactly a full collaboration) And then you listen to the second CD and it makes a lot more sense even it comes as a "bonus". But in fact it's the main interest here. Merzbow is the main protagonist on this second CD called Sister fawn, but Full of hell, and especially it's drummer are a great addition to the tracks. So what you have is good Merzbow tracks, sometimes more pure noise oriented (quite harsh at times), sometimes with more beats and groove (but still very bleak and aggressive), and the live drumming from Full of hell bring more dynamism to the tracks, and a more organic / live feel, also a kind of tribal / ritualistic beat adding to the mesmerising effect of Merzbow noise. The result is very interesting and convincing. Slower but sonically more extreme than Full of hell (but it's quite different so you can't really compare) and adding with good effect another element to Merzbow, creating something even more powerfull. 

The BC page for first  CD (Full of hell dominated)

The BC page for second CD (Merzbow dominated)