The albums that define
noise music.
Our picks for where to start with noise music — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top noise music artists
Start with one of these.
The noise music essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Merzbow
Full of Hell & Merzbow
A cacophonous blend of harsh noise and dark ambient textures that challenges auditory boundaries.
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Thurston Moore
Psychic Hearts
An introspective blend of avant-garde noise and melodic rock that challenges conventional structures.
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Thurston Moore
Trees Outside the Academy
A tapestry of experimental sounds woven with confessional lyrics and a lo-fi aesthetic that invites introspection.
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The Velvet Underground
Loaded
A vibrant blend of rock and pop, brimming with catchy melodies and introspective lyrics.
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Thurston Moore
Demolished Thoughts
A meditative blend of avant-garde guitar work and introspective lyrics, echoing with emotional resonance.
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The Velvet Underground
Another View
A collection of raw, unrefined tracks that encapsulate the Velvet Underground's experimental spirit and lyrical depth.
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The Velvet Underground
Peel Slowly and See
A sprawling collection that captures the Velvet Underground's raw experimentalism and lyrical intensity across demos, live tracks, and studio versions.
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The Velvet Underground
White Light/White Heat
A chaotic blend of raw energy and avant-garde experimentation, punctuated by haunting melodies and provocative themes.
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The Velvet Underground
Gold
A haunting blend of avant-garde experimentation and visceral storytelling wrapped in lush, atmospheric instrumentation.
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The Velvet Underground
The Very Best of The Velvet Underground
A kaleidoscopic mix of avant-garde experimentation and melodic pop sensibilities that captures the essence of counterculture.
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Fuck Buttons
Tarot Sport
A pulsating exploration of sonic textures blending hypnotic rhythms with expansive soundscapes.
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Fuck Buttons
Street Horrrsing
Pulsating electronic textures blend with chaotic noise, creating an immersive soundscape that challenges and captivates.
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Merzbow
Pulse Demon
A relentless barrage of intense noise and feedback creates an immersive sonic landscape that defies conventional structure.
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Merzbow
Cloud Cock OO Grand
A sprawling tapestry of dissonance and texture, merging harsh noise with deep sonic exploration.
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Merzbow
Venereology
A relentless barrage of harsh noise intertwines with unsettling ambient textures, creating a disorienting sonic landscape.
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Merzbow
Batztoutai with Memorial Gadgets
A dense tapestry of harsh noise collides with experimental textures, creating an immersive auditory experience.
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Merzbow
Keio Line
A relentless exploration of harsh noise and drone that evokes the chaos of urban life.
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Gnaw Their Tongues
Reeking Pained and Shuddering
A harrowing blend of noise and despair, enveloping listeners in an abyss of anguished soundscapes.
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Gnaw Their Tongues
Collected Atrocities 2005–2008
A harrowing exploration of sound, blending extreme noise with unsettling atmospheres and haunting vocals.
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Gnaw Their Tongues
Bubonic Burial Rites
A cacophonous blend of distorted noise and haunting ambiance, evoking a nightmarish descent into madness.
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Gnaw Their Tongues
An Epiphanic Vomiting of Blood
A visceral onslaught of dissonance and chaos, merging industrial noise with harrowing soundscapes.
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Gnaw Their Tongues
My Womb Is Barren
A harrowing exploration of sonic despair, blending dense noise with haunting atmospheric textures.
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Gnaw Their Tongues
The Blotched and the Unwanted
A harrowing blend of harsh noise and dark ambient soundscapes that evokes visceral emotions through dissonance.
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Gnaw Their Tongues
Eschatological Scatology
A harrowing descent into chaos, blending dense noise textures with unsettling atmospheres and dissonant melodies.
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