Title: Venereology
Artiste: Merzbow
Genre: Noise/Grindcore
Disclaimer: I listen to this album not only of my own free will, but at my request. Nobody forced me or tricked me into listening. Any damage --- neural, emotional, or indeed spiritual or physical --- that I sustain during the time spent experiencing this album is down to me and for which I take full and personal responsibility, and undertake and agree to hold blameless and indemnify anyone on Music Banter, or indeed the artiste himself. Assuming I survive; if not, I wish this to be entered into the record after my death. God bless you all. It has been an honour to have served with you.
Track 1 (Hate) Can't really make it out as someone is using a jackhammer outside my .... oh. Wait. Right then, who had ten seconds in the pool? Who guessed I'd last ten seconds? Come on really, this is literally just noise for almost thirty minutes? I'm not sure how I'm supposed to even process this, never mind rate it. Oh well. Just basically waiting this out now. Oh, and just to prove I did actually listen to it and didn't just skip through or stop early, at 21:50 there's a sudden pause, where I catch my breath and think maybe he's going to change things. He does, a little; it gets less harsh and static-y, but it's still basically just noise. At 25:08 I think I hear what might be a guitar, but sure it could be anything.
Track 2 (Hate) Sounds exactly the same, in fact I didn't even realise the first one had ended. OK, did I hear some sort of death vocal there near the end? No way to be sure.
Track 3 (Hate) Now I'm pretty sure there are vocals in this, but again it's much the same. I think there's a superfast guitar riff going on, but as I say, it's impossible to be certain.
Track 4 (Hate) Well at least the general buz has stopped and there's a different --- I don't know what to call it; it's not melody for sure but maybe direction? --- something anyway. Sounds like some punching drums and ... something else. Don't know what. At least it distinguishes itself from the rest of the album.
End result: Well, Batty's head is safe from being on his menu. Melody? I couldn't even pretend to find the least hint of melody on this. Not for me. Just noise. Sorry. Makes even Grindcore sound musical! Which gives me an idea for a thread...
So, Love or Hate? Think you'll have to leave this one with me while I weigh up the ....
Yeah, it's a big fat
Hate for this.
Chances of a full review: 0/10