Venereology | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by Merzbow | ||||
Released | September 1994 | |||
Recorded | January–February 1994 | |||
Venue | Yaneura II, Tokyo | |||
Studio | ZSF Produkt Studio, Tokyo | |||
Genre | Noise | |||
Length | 50:16 | |||
Label | Release Entertainment | |||
Producer | Masami Akita | |||
Merzbow chronology | ||||
|
Venereology is an album by the Japanese noise musician Merzbow. It was inspired by death metal and grindcore.
It was the first of five Merzbow albums released by the American heavy metal label Relapse Records, under their Release Entertainment imprint, and as such was responsible for bringing Merzbow's work to a much wider audience in the United States. The liner notes includes an extensive thank you list in the style of many metal releases.
Venereology was my first release on a death metal label. So, my target was "death metal" itself. I used more serious dead visuals than on the usual death metal albums. For me, it's like J. P. Witkin or J. G. Ballard. The rhythm in Venereology was a little slower than in my past releases, but more heavy. Also, the tone of Venereology was lots of overlevels and dirty sound. It's important to know that I made Venereology while drinking lots of beer. These essences are all influenced by death metal. But not musically. I liked something more extreme than the death metal rules.
Akita then explained that his next album for Relapse, Pulse Demon, was back to his normal sound and was recorded sober.
All music composed by Masami Akita.
Notes adapted from the album notes.
Credits adapted from the album notes.