The New Blockaders

Formed in the early 1980s, The New Blockaders (TNB) are widely regarded as one of the foundational projects of modern noise music. Their debut release, Changez Les Blockeurs (1982), was described by Ron Lessard (RRRecords) as “the first true Noise record of the modern era.” This recording, alongside Live At Morden Tower (1983) and Pulp (1984, a collaboration with Organum / David Jackman), proved highly influential.

These early works had a significant impact on the emerging Japanese noise scene, influencing artists such as Merzbow, Hijokaidan, Incapacitants, Hanatarash, and many others.

Over time, TNB’s influence has extended beyond the core noise underground into related fields including noise rock, noisecore, and thrashnoise. Their uncompromising approach has shaped generations of artists, to the point that their impact is often considered pervasive within extreme experimental music.

Although they have been variously described as neo-futurist, industrial, or post-industrial, TNB have consistently distanced themselves from genre classifications. They frame their output not as music, but as “anti-music” — an aesthetic stance sometimes characterised as pure sonic nihilism. In both theory and practice, TNB reject conventional notions of music, art, anti-art, and categorisation itself.

Collaborations with artists such as Nurse With Wound, Coil, Organum, Das Synthetische Mischgewebe, Kommissar Hjuler, Raymond Dijkstra, Gosplan Trio, The Haters, Merzbow, and Thurston Moore have introduced TNB’s work to a broad and diverse audience, further cementing their position as one of the defining forces in the worldwide noise movement.

NOTE: DO NOT ADD ANY MEMBERS TO THIS GROUP. All other artists who are 'members' of TNB for a particular release should be listed in the Extra Artist field on the release.