They don't call it "harsh noise" for phony reasons.
Take it literally. My ears are still ringing.
They were passing out free earplugs, and now i regret not using some.

(why did i go there? some of those guys are Metasonix customers, and I
brought by an Agonizer for them to try.)

The best one was Emil Beaulieu. What a wild man, he easily made
it worth the $6 admission. Most of the other guys just hunched
over their little tables covered with guitar effects boxes and
made 15-20 minutes of screeching/grinding noise. The exact opposite
of the stuff on a lite-jazz station. Ultimate avant-garde.

(this Edinburgh Pub is like a classic Irish bar. It stank of
old beer and vinegar, and I could swear I smelled something dead.
Appropriate venue for a noise show.)