Margaret Chardiet, the mind behind Pharmakon, returns after a five-year hiatus with her fifth studio album, Maggot Mass, set to release on 4 October through Sacred Bones Records.
Known for her visceral approach to sound art and industrial atmospheres, Chardiet’s latest work confronts the toxic relationship humanity has forged with the environment. The album marks a significant shift in Pharmakon's sonic and lyrical approach, reflecting Chardiet's evolving artistic vision.
The announcement is accompanied by the release of the single "WITHER AND WARP," a nearly nine-minute journey that begins with the unsettling buzz of insects and evolves into a dense, droning soundscape punctuated by cavernous guitars. Chardiet’s snarling vocals cut through the noise, delivering a stark commentary on the disintegration of self and the inevitability of decay. Inspired by a dream of ego death and dissolution into the earth, the track serves as a fitting introduction to an album that explores the destructive impact of capitalism on both personal and environmental levels.
Chardiet describes the genesis of the track as rooted in a euphoric dream where the concept of self dissolved, leaving only the sensations of being part of the earth. This vision of becoming one with the natural world, free from the trappings of human identity, reflects the album’s broader themes of rebirth through decay and the cyclical nature of life and death.
Maggot Mass is Pharmakon’s most ambitious project to date, blending her trademark power electronics and noise with new elements of industrial and punk. The album represents a rebirth for Pharmakon, breaking from the internal rules and structures that previously defined the project. With more traditional song structures and a direct lyrical approach, Chardiet pushes the boundaries of her sound while maintaining the intense, confrontational energy that has always been a hallmark of her work.
Maggot Mass tracklist:
WITHER AND WARP
METHANAL DOLL
BUYER'S REMORSE
SPLENDID ISOLATION
OILED ANIMALS
Fans can catch Pharmakon on her upcoming European tour, which kicks off on September 30th in Innsbruck, Austria, and includes stops in major cities like London, Berlin, and Brussels. With the release of Maggot Mass, Pharmakon continues to challenge listeners, inviting them to confront uncomfortable truths about humanity’s place in the world and the consequences of our actions.
Save the date for Maggot Mass, and watch the video for “WITHER AND WARP”:
Upcoming tour
Sept 30 - Innsbruck, AT @ PMK
Oct 1 - Zurich, CH @ Dynamo
Oct 2 - Frankfurt, DE @ WW2 Bunker
Oct 3 - Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang
Oct 5 - Uppsala, SE @ Otherworldly Festival
Oct 6 - Oslo, SE @ Vaterland
Oct 7 - Jonkoping, SE @ The Hush Hush Club
Oct 8 - Gothenburg, SE @ Oceanen
Oct 9 - Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen
Oct 11 - Nijmegen, NL @ Soulcrusher
Oct 12 - Brussels, BE @ Magasin 4
Oct 13 - London, UK @ Underworld
Oct 15 - Dunkirk, FR @ 4Ecluses
Oct 17 - Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia
Oct 18 - Poznań, PL @ Pawilion
Oct 19 - Lodz, PL @ DOM
Oct 20 - Prague, CZ @ Bike Jesus
Oct 21 - Brno, CZ @ Kabinet Muz
Oct 22 - Budapest, HU @ Instant
Oct 23 - Zagreb, HR @ Mochvara
Oct 25 - Ljubljana, SL @ Gromka
Oct 26 - Bologna, IT @ Improved Sequence II Festival
