Merzbow's Pulse Demon: Pitchfork gave it an 8.7, AllMusic gave it 2.5 stars.

The 2003 reissue of this noise classic split critics right down the middle. Pitchfork called it an ‘incomparable classic’ and ’the edge of music’; AllMusic gave it a measly 2.5/5. You either get Merzbow or you don’t.