I mean specifically the more avant-garde stuff based around things like feedback loops, distortion, and white noise, like Merzbow or the Incapacitants. I personally consider it valid as music, but exploring different techniques and sensibilities than "normal" music.
Any noise groups/musicians y'all like?
Noise is very valid music. I admit it took a long time for it to click with me and I have to be in the mood for a lot of it, but it's kind of like ambient (there's plenty of crossover) where sometimes it just hits me right. I also like working to it since I have to do a lot of writing at my job and I can't listen to stuff with lyrics.
I'm a really big Jim O'Rourke fan. He's done tons of experimental, noise-adjacent stuff since the start of his career. I've been listening to him for like 15 years and still haven't heard it all. He had a series called Steamroom, there are a little over 50 of them now, that all incorporate droning synths, feedback, field recordings, etc. They're pretty cool. My favorite is Steamroom 40.