Industrial and punk elements define Pharmakon’s Maggot Mass

Pharmakon, the musical project of Margaret Chardiet, has released her fifth studio album, “Maggot Mass,” today through Sacred Bones. The album is now available for streaming and purchase. Chardiet is currently on a European tour with a show scheduled at Camden Underworld in London next week.

Title: Maggot Mass
Artist: Pharmakon
Release Date: 2024-10-04
Genres: Noise Rock, Post-punk
Label: Sacred Bones
Description: Pharmakon releases new album Maggot Mass today via Sacred Bones and begins European tour with London show next week.

“Maggot Mass” marks the first release from Pharmakon in five years, representing a shift in her musical approach. The album expresses themes related to humanity’s problematic relationship with the environment, self-destruction, and mutual harm. Chardiet describes this release as emerging from a departure from the internal structures she originally established for Pharmakon, leading to a transformation in the project’s style. The album incorporates elements of industrial and punk, while retaining the power electronics and noise influences that have characterized Pharmakon’s previous work.

The tracklist for “Maggot Mass” includes:

1. Wither and Warp
2. Methanal Doll (official video available on YouTube)
3. Buyer’s Remorse
4. Splendid Isolation
5. Oiled Animals

Margaret Chardiet began her work as Pharmakon in the early 2010s, drawing upon sound art techniques to create complex industrial soundscapes. Known for her visceral live performances and experimental sound, Chardiet has explored a wide range of themes, often involving existential questions and human relationships with technology and the natural world. Her music is characterized by its intensity, often incorporating noise elements and unsettling atmospheres to challenge the audience’s expectations.

Chardiet’s work under Pharmakon has often drawn comparisons to other artists in the noise and industrial genres, but it stands out for its deeply personal and confrontational themes. Her first album, “Abandon”, was released in 2013, followed by subsequent records that have consistently pushed the boundaries of noise music. Chardiet has been associated with Sacred Bones Records throughout her career, a label known for its experimental and diverse roster of artists.

As part of her current tour, Pharmakon will perform in several European cities, including Stockholm, Berlin, and Prague, before continuing with a co-headlining tour in North America alongside Uniform and opening act True Body. The European tour dates will conclude with a performance at the Improved Sequence II Festival in Bologna on October 26. The North American leg of the tour will begin in Washington, D.C., on December 3 and will include shows in cities such as Chicago, Toronto, and Philadelphia.

The album “Maggot Mass” is available for listening and purchase through streaming platforms, with additional content including the music video for “Methanal Doll” accessible on YouTube.

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