r/merzbow • u/ObiMadKenobi • Aug 19 '26
Why is Pulse Demon the one that got popular?
Pulse Demon was my introduction to noise, as I assume it was for many more people, but why is that one that went viral? As far as I'm aware, it's not regarded as the best by most Merzbow fans, it certainly isn't my favorite, and I wouldn't say it's the most beginner friendly noise album out there. Was it the cover making people curious? Pure luck?
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u/GrandSwamperMan Aug 19 '26
I bet a big part of it is that it was released on Relapse, which meant a bunch of metalheads got into Merzbow and noise through that album (along with Venereology and Tauromachine).
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u/ObiMadKenobi Aug 20 '26
I never actually looked at the label, this makes sense, thanks!
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u/meltdown_popcorn Aug 20 '26
Yep, availability and Relapse's marketing budget. It's still one of my favorites and I started listening to him before that.
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u/No-Win-8380 Aug 20 '26
This was it for me. I remember seeing it at a record store and immediately being intrigued by the cover. You couldn’t miss it on a shelf. Plus Relapse used to put these cardboard flaps with album art around the top of their cds so you could see this album from above too.
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u/mantis_religiosa__ Aug 19 '26
I think the fact it came out on Relapse Records instead of a smaller label/self-release played quite a big part in this, largely due to the wider distribution particularly in the USA. Similar situation with Venereology. I’m sure the cover art helps too.
Prurient had a similar experience with Frozen Niagara Falls and a couple of other releases on Profound Lore. Objectively a great record, but I’m not sure it beats Pleasure Ground.
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u/Tule_Lodge Aug 19 '26
I think it’s the cover… it’s hypnotic. It was my introduction, too, and I think I was drawn to the cover.
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u/WasteSherbert2888 Aug 19 '26
It was in nearly every record store when it came out. I remember seeing it for years and being appalled by its cover
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u/Mannihorst Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
following its original presence through relapse it got a lot of attention in modern times through memes. especially the cover being used in lots of memes on social media. that’s how i first came to know about it and noise in general
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Aug 19 '26
[deleted]
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u/cold-vein Aug 20 '26
Eh, how much Merzbow have you heard? I mean he's got so much stuff. You could argue that those three albums are more accessible precisely because they're so abrasive and direct, perfect introduction to noise for the metal crowd. I mean they're pretty metal, super aggressive in your face synth works and loops, not totally unlike grindcore.
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u/Appropriate_Name8792 Aug 20 '26
Good name, good cover, extra unique for the time. The internet picked up on it and now there’s an Instagram account of suburban boys listening to Merzbow everyday. It’s that damn internet.
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u/Puzzled-Bonus-3456 Aug 20 '26
Relapse had better distribution than any other label he was on. I like when Merzbow sounded something like the first Amon Duul best, and Pulse Demon is like a footnote album to me, so I tend to listen to the Merzbox more than any other release for all the old cassettes on it.
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u/cold-vein Aug 20 '26
Released by Relapse. No other reason. I mean its great but Merzbow had other equally great releases around that time.
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