KK Null
Japan · last active 2026
KK Null (Kazuyuki Kishino, b. 1961, Tokyo) is a prolific Japanese noise and experimental musician — composer, guitarist, vocalist and electronicist — who founded the progressive-hardcore trio Zeni Geva and the project Absolut Null Punkt, and has released well over 100 albums. His solo electronics moved onto Neurot Recordings with Atomik Disorder (2003) and Oxygen Flash (2009). He has collaborated widely, with named partners including Merzbow, Keiji Haino, James Plotkin, John Zorn, Fred Frith, Jim O'Rourke and Boredoms' Seiichi Yamamoto.
SCORE PROFILE
Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.
WHY THOSE SCORES
- Jazzy 2 — Free-improvisation collaborations with Zorn, Fred Frith and others lend an improv/free-jazz streak.
- Hardcore 3 — Fronts the 'progressive hardcore trio' Zeni Geva, riff-driven and abrasive.
- Technical 5 — Composer-guitarist with intricate, controlled electronic and instrumental structures.
- Glitch 7 — Core practice is harsh electronic noise, synthesis and digital abstraction.
- Drone 5 — Sustained, slab-like electronic and guitar drones underpin much of the solo work.
- Ambient 4 — Cosmic, space-themed electronic works (Oxygen Flash) drift into ambient territory.
MEMBERS
- KK Nullguitar, electronics, vocals, drums· also in Zeni Geva
CONNECTIONS
- James Plotkinpath →
Named as a recurring collaborator in KK Null's Neurot biography. source ↗
- Keiji Hainopath →
Named as a recurring collaborator in KK Null's Neurot biography. source ↗
- Merzbowpath →
KK Null's first few albums were collaborations with Merzbow before he founded Zeni Geva. source ↗
- Melt-Bananapath →
K.K. Null mixed Melt-Banana's Hedgehog (1994) and It's In The Pillcase (1995). source ↗
- 6:33path →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: 6:33's "Orphan Of Good Manners" (2011) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Acid Mothers Templepath →
Both bands' cover art was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt (Discogs id 652485): Acid Mothers Temple's "Crystal Rainbow Pyramid Under The Stars" (2007) and this band's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7); AMT joins the Seldon Hunt cluster as its 19th atlas client. source ↗
- Blind Idiot Godpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: Blind Idiot God's "Before Ever After" (2015) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Burning Witchpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: Burning Witch's "Crippled Lucifer" (2008) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Earthpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: Earth's "Live Europe 2006" (2007) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Ephel Duathpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: Ephel Duath's "Through My Dog's Eyes." (2009) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defectspath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects's "Sol Niger Within" (2016) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Goatsnakesatellitepath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: Goatsnake's "1" (2022) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- House of Low Culturepath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: House of Low Culture's "Live From The House Of Low Temperature!" (2003) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Jesupath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: Jesu's "Sun Down / Sun Rise" (2007) and KK Null's "Extropy" (2009). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Lotus Eaterspath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: KK Null's "Extropy" (2009) and Lotus Eaters's "Lotus Eaters" (2002). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Made Out of Babiespath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: KK Null's "Extropy" (2009) and Made Out of Babies's "The Ruiner" (2008). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Nadjapath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: KK Null's "Extropy" (2009) and Nadja's "Thaumogenesis" (2007). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Neurosispath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: KK Null's "Extropy" (2009) and Neurosis's "A Sun That Never Sets" (2001). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Orthodoxpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: KK Null's "Extropy" (2009) and Orthodox's "Amanecer En Puerta Oscura" (2007). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Pelicanpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: KK Null's "Extropy" (2009) and Pelican's "Live In Chicago 6/11/03" (2005). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Sunn O)))path →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: KK Null's "Extropy" (2009) and Sunn O)))'s "Black One" (2005). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- The Oceanpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Seldon Hunt: KK Null's "Extropy" (2009) and The Ocean's "Pelagial" (2013). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7, the exception to hub-and-spoke) — Hunt is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Acid Mothers Templepath →
Shared label roster: Dirter Promotions, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Bastard Noisepath →
Shared label roster: Ground Fault Recordings, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Bologna Violentapath →
Shared label roster: Bar la Muerte, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Boris (drone/doom era)path →
Shared label roster: Hello From the Gutter, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Circlepath →
Shared label roster: Fourth Dimension Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Earthpath →
Shared label roster: Autofact, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Gnaw Their Tonguespath →
Shared label roster: Crucial Blast, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Incapacitantspath →
Shared label roster: 4iB Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Intestinal Disgorgepath →
Shared label roster: Underground Pollution Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Jarboepath →
Shared label roster: Vivo Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Keiji Hainopath →
Shared label roster: Forced Exposure, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- KTLpath →
Shared label roster: Touch, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Melt-Bananapath →
Shared label roster: Charnel Music, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Merzbowpath →
Shared label roster: CX Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Nadjapath →
Shared label roster: Beta-lactam Ring Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- OvOpath →
Shared label roster: SunShip Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Ruinspath →
Shared label roster: Sonore, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Scornpath →
Shared label roster: Ohm Resistance, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Tribes of Neurotpath →
Shared label roster: Alley Sweeper, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Zeni Gevapath →
Shared label roster: Black Hole Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
FURTHER LISTENING
Nearest score profiles in the atlas.
- UnaffiliatedEI 19Bastard NoiseGlitchDroneHardcore
Bastard Noise is an American noise/powerviolence project founded in 1991 in Los Angeles by Eric Wood, Henry Barnes, and W.T. Nelson as a sister project to Man Is the Bastard; Wood has been its sole constant member since Man Is the Bastard's 1997 breakup. The project builds harsh-noise walls of feedback, crackling electronics, and low synth drones under guttural vocals, with Wood collaborating live and on record with artists including Merzbow and Keiji Haino. The band favors physical releases over streaming/digital distribution.
- Patton-verseEI 18ExcepterGlitchDroneTechnical
Excepter are a Brooklyn experimental/noise group founded in 2002 by John Fell Ryan (ex-No-Neck Blues Band), released on Load Records and Animal Collective's Paw Tracks — often grouped with Animal Collective and Black Dice as part of a mid-2000s New York noise/psych "class of 2003." Their 2013 record Christisland was recorded in Copenhagen with an expanded, Escho-scene lineup that included Düreforsög's Nis Bysted and KLoAK's Niels Kristian Eriksen.
- Southern Lord / droneEI 25MerzbowGlitchDroneAmbient
Merzbow is the project of Japanese musician Masami Akita, the most prolific and definitive figure in harsh noise, working in distortion, feedback, synthesizers and homemade noisemakers since the late 1970s. His vast collaborative discography connects him deep into this atlas: he has recorded with Boris continuously since 1997 (Megatone, Gensho, 2R0I2P0), mixed the tracks "O)))Bow 1/2" on Sunn O)))'s Flight of the Behemoth (2002), and later performed live with Sunn O))) at Tokyo's Earthdom in 2007. His early-career work also included collaborations with KK Null.
- UnaffiliatedEI 20shrieking violetGlitchTechnicalDrone
shrieking violet (lowercase, as styled on all official releases) is the Stavanger, Norway duo of Finn Baker and Nora Wiee, building noise-industrial collages out of harsh noise wall, glitch-damaged electronics and screamed vocals across albums like 'dead things with teeth' (2022) and 'the earth was split open' (2023, about, in the band's words, 'men who are pieces of shit'). Citing Lingua Ignota, Aaron Dilloway, White Suns and Have A Nice Life as touchstones, they fuse post-punk songcraft with abrasive noise and ambient decay, landing on RYM/Album of the Year under post-industrial, experimental rock and avant-garde metal tags.
- UnaffiliatedEI 23ZonalGlitchDroneAmbient
Zonal are the British duo of Justin Broadrick (Godflesh) and Kevin Martin (The Bug), a reactivation of their 1990s Techno Animal partnership trading in cavernous bass, cacophonous dub and ear-splitting drone. Their debut album Wrecked was released on Relapse Records on 25 October 2019, with Philadelphia poet-vocalist Moor Mother featured across its first six tracks. The record was mastered by Stefan Betke (Pole) and pairs industrial hip-hop menace with drone-metal weight.
- UnaffiliatedEI 18BattlesGlitchTechnicalAmbient
Battles is an experimental/math rock band formed in New York City in 2002, celebrated for welding the muscle of a live rock band to loop-based electronics and processed vocals. Their debut album Mirrored (2007) on Warp Records, and its lead single "Atlas," became touchstones of the era's digitally-augmented rock. Anchored by drummer John Stanier's metronomic power and guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams' looping, they have continued as a duo since bassist Dave Konopka's departure, releasing Gloss Drop (2011), La Di Da Di (2015) and Juice B Crypts (2019).
- Post-metalEI 25ScornGlitchAmbientTechnical
Scorn is an experimental industrial, dub, and isolationist project formed in Birmingham, England, in 1991 by drummer Mick Harris and vocalist/bassist Nic Bullen, both former members of grindcore pioneers Napalm Death. Beginning as an industrial metal band on the 1992 debut Vae Solis, the project rapidly moved away from its metal roots toward dark dub, hip-hop, and post-industrial ambient, notably on 1994's Evanescence. Bullen left in April 1995, after which Harris (also of Painkiller with John Zorn and Bill Laswell) continued Scorn as a solo vehicle focused on extremely low, heavy bass frequencies.
- UnaffiliatedEI 18Roxy RadclyffeGlitchTechnicalDrone
North Carolina solo producer (Roxanne Jonas Radclyffe) whose December 2024 album VIRLGOID pairs maximalist, self-mixed/mastered production with metal riffing and a fragmented trans-vigilante narrative concept; RateYourMusic tags the record Avant-Garde Metal/Post-Metal, and her own Bandcamp genre tags span deathstep, drone metal, industrial metal, nu metal and "metamodernism." One of dozens of aliased projects in a prolific, DIY internet-native discography.
- Dissonant tech-deathEI 20White MothGlitchAmbientTechnical
White Moth is a one-off 2010 studio collective assembled by Pyramids' R. Loren, splicing black-metal guitar churn, digital-hardcore breakbeats, no-wave saxophone, and musique-concrete textures into a single dense suite. The guest roster (Colin Marston, Sam Hillmer, Alec Empire, Lydia Lunch, Dälek, Christoph Heemann, Jacob Kirkegaard) reads like a cross-section of the American and European experimental underground rather than a touring band. It sits closer to a curated art-collaboration than a genre act, but its metal-guitar/electronics collision earns its avant-garde-metal chart placement.
- Turner-verse / Hydra HeadEI 20GreymachineGlitchDroneTechnical
Greymachine is an experimental industrial noise project formed in 2006, built around Godflesh and Jesu frontman Justin Broadrick and Isis frontman Aaron Turner, with bassists Dave Cochrane (Head of David) and Diarmuid Dalton (Jesu). Broadrick described it as needing "something black to Jesu's white," pairing crushing beats, dissonant guitar, and harsh electronics. Their debut album Disconnected was produced by Broadrick and released on 4 August 2009 via Turner's label Hydra Head Records.