Like: Nurse With Wound, Prurient, Wolf Eyes
Label: Signal Noise
Adjectives: Abstract, Propulsive, Surreal
Description: Heaviness takes many forms—not just the crushing metal riffs we usually highlight in these pages. Legendary experimental artist Merzbow knows this well. With a sprawling discography spanning hundreds of releases, he has redefined what sonic weight can mean. On his latest release, Sedonis, Merzbow teams up with forward-thinking electronic label Signal Noise. The collaboration reflects the label’s mission: cultivating a globally connected roster that shares a distinct, deliberate aesthetic—both sonically and visually.
Sedonis A kicks off with driving drum machines and Merzbow’s signature koto, custom-built from guitar strings and coaxed into eerie resonance with a violin bow. The result is as intense as it is otherworldly.
“In terms of imagery, I was thinking of something similar to Barunga, the balloon monster from Ultra Q,” he explains, describing the classic ‘60s Ultraman kaiju. “A cloud-like form floating in the sky or outer space, with tendrils or tentacles — that kind of presence.”
