# Pulse Demon

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1996 studio album by Merzbow

Pulse Demon Studio album by Merzbow Released May 28, 1996 (1996-05-28) Recorded October–November 1995 Studio ZSF Produkt Studio, Tokyo, Japan Genre Noise Length 73:20 Label Relapse Records Producer Masami Akita Merzbow chronology Music for Bondage Performance 2 (1996) Pulse Demon (1996) Spiral Honey (1996)

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [1] Pitchfork 8.7/10[2]

***Pulse Demon*** is a studio album by the Japanese noise musician [Merzbow](/source/Merzbow), released 28 May 1996.[3] The album was reissued on [vinyl](/source/Phonograph_record) in May 2018 by Bludhoney Records,[4][5] and again in November 2019 by [Relapse](/source/Relapse_Records), with a bonus track.[6]

## Background

The holographic, shiny silver artwork is a homage to the [1970s](/source/1970s_in_music) Prospective 21e Siècle imprint of [Philips Records](/source/Philips_Records),[7] in particular the albums of [Ivo Malec](/source/Ivo_Malec).[8] However, the art is most similar to the work of [Bridget Riley](/source/Bridget_Riley), "Fall" and "Current" in particular.

Basically, this shiny silver is the color of [Heavy Metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music). I mean it the way [William Burroughs](/source/William_Burroughs) said it. My basic idea is I think this idea has been approached in the past by [Heldon](/source/Heldon) and [King Crimson](/source/King_Crimson).

— Masami Akita[7]

The title was inspired by the 1970s [afro-rock](/source/Afro-rock) band [Demon Fuzz](/source/Demon_Fuzz) and Akita's use of a [fuzz box](/source/Effects_unit) as a pulse generator.[8] Some song titles were inspired by [Jon Appleton](/source/Jon_Appleton)'s *[Appleton Syntonic Menagerie](/source/Appleton_Syntonic_Menagerie)* LP.[7]

## Reception

Critical reaction to *Pulse Demon* was mixed. *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))* gave the album's 2003 re-release a score of 8.7/10, their highest rating out of their eight reviews of Merzbow albums. Calling it an "incomparable classic", the reviewer describes the album as "simply pure sound, viciously unadulterated static", going on to state that "music cannot get much more extreme than this. Maybe [John Cage](/source/John_Cage)'s *[4′33″](/source/4%E2%80%B233%E2%80%B3)*, and that's so far to the limit, it's probably cheating. This is the edge of music, of sound in general." Also praised was the album's packaging, being called "more valuable than some people's lives."[2] However, [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)'s dismissive two-line review from Jason Ankeny simply said "Merzbow's second American release offers more of the deafening [white noise](/source/White_noise) that is his trademark, [mastered](/source/Mastering_(audio)) for maximum loudness. Not for the faint of heart, but ideally suited for the hard of hearing."[9] Being given only 2.5/5 stars, *Pulse Demon* is one of the four lowest rated of AllMusic's 31 (solo) Merzbow reviews. *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*, in their review, described the album as "genuinely extreme, downright torturous sounds that are strangely compelling in their shredding intensity."[10]

## Track listing

### Original version

All music is composed by Masami Akita.

CD track listing No. Title Length 1. "Woodpecker No. 1" 6:42 2. "Woodpecker No. 2" 3:37 3. "Spiral Blast" 4:30 4. "My Station Rock" 4:54 5. "Ultra Marine Blues" 11:29 6. "Tokyo Times Ten" 11:09 7. "Worms Plastic Earthbound" 24:53 8. "Yellow Hyper Balls" 6:03

### Remastered version

Side one No. Title Length 1. "Woodpecker No. 1" 6:43 2. "Woodpecker No. 2" 3:37 3. "Spiral Blast" 4:30 4. "My Station Rock" 4:54

Side two No. Title Length 1. "Ultra Marine Blues" 11:29 2. "Yellow Hyper Balls" 6:03

Side three No. Title Length 1. "Tokyo Times Ten" 11:08 2. "Extract 1" (bonus track) 5:01

Side four No. Title Length 1. "Worms Plastic Earthbound" 24:52

## Notes

- All composed by live noise [concrete](/source/Musique_concr%C3%A8te). No [over dub](/source/Overdubbing).

- Mastered at SAE Mastering, Phoenix, AZ, January 1996.

## Personnel

- Masami Akita – metals, [EMS](/source/Electronic_Music_Studios), audio generator, shortwave, noise electronics, tape, voice

- Colour Climax – visual

- Bill Yurkiewicz & David Shirk – mastering

## Release history

Release history and formats for Pulse Demon Region Date Label Format Quantity Catalog Notes United States 1996 Release CD 3,000 RR 6937-2 Holographic sleeve 1998 unknown Jewel case May 11, 2018 Bludhoney 2×LP 500 BLUD-20 Colored vinyl Cassette 100 n/a Only available with LP bundle November 29, 2019 Relapse LP 1,950 RR6937 Includes bonus track Italy March 2023 Old Europa Cafe CD n/a OECD 333 Remastered, includes bonus track

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Pulse Demon](https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000648129) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pitchfork_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pitchfork_2-1) Linhardt, Alexander Lloyd (September 10, 2003). ["Merzbow: Pulse Demon / Animal Magnetism Album Review"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11778-pulse-demon-animal-magnetism/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. Retrieved 12 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Merzbow - Pulse Demon (CD, Album)"](http://www.discogs.com/release/96797). *Discogs*. Retrieved May 24, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ele-king_4-0)** ["Merzbow - Pulse Demon | メルツバウ"](http://www.ele-king.net/review/album/006263/). *ele-king* (in Japanese). May 8, 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-japanvibe_5-0)** ["Merzbow's legendary Pulse Demon finally gets a vinyl reissue… and sells out immediately"](http://japanvibe.net/merzbows-legendary-pulse-demon-finally-gets-a-vinyl-reissue-and-sells-out-immediately/). *Japan Vibe*. Retrieved 12 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["MERZBOW – Relapse Records To Reissue Remastered Edition Of Pulse Demon Album"](http://bravewords.com/news/merzbow-relapse-records-to-reissue-remastered-edition-of-pulse-demon-album-woodpecker-no-1-streaming). *Bravewords.com*. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-coc_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-coc_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-coc_7-2) ["Corridor Of Cells - Interview - Merzbow"](https://web.archive.org/web/19991130203529/http://www.geocities.com/~zaraza_doom/merzbow.htm). *Corridor of Cells*. 1997. Archived from [the original](http://www.geocities.com/~zaraza_doom/merzbow.htm) on November 30, 1999. Retrieved May 24, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-neural_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-neural_8-1) ["MERZBOW - interview"](https://web.archive.org/web/19990127211112/http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/2958/ntmerzbow.html). *Neural Therapy*. Archived from [the original](http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/2958/ntmerzbow.html) on January 27, 1999. Retrieved April 22, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Pulse Demon](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r241844) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-avclub_10-0)** Thompson, Stephen (March 29, 2002). ["Merzbow: Pulse Demon"](https://www.avclub.com/merzbow-pulse-demon-1798193834). *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*. Retrieved 12 May 2018.

v t e Merzbow Discography Studio albums Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets Venereology Pulse Demon Merzbox Collaborations 04092001 Sun Baked Snow Cave Merzdub Walrus / Groon Rock Dream SYR8: Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth Keio Line Klatter Cuts Full of Hell & Merzbow Cuts of Guilt, Cuts Deeper Merzxiu Flying Basket Gensho Kouen Kyoudai An Untroublesome Defencelessness 2R0I2P0

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pulse Demon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_Demon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_Demon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.